Welcome to
Brettin Law Office
Seattle real estate lawyer Lee Brettin employs a practical, responsive, and cost-effective
approach to representing individuals, entrepreneurs, and businesses in
real estate, business, and franchise transactions.


SEATTLE REAL ESTATE LAWYER
Residential and Commercial Purchase and Sale Commercial Leasing, Management, Receiverships
Easements and Boundary Adjustments
Conveyances and Quiet Title


SEATTLE BUSINESS LAWYER
Entity Formation
Franchise Transactions
Business Sales
Contracts and Agreements
You are never alone on this journey
Seattle real estate attorney Lee Brettin has successfully represented people just like you with their real estate and business affairs. We pride ourselves on multi-faceted experience, focused diligence, competence, practical results, and client satisfaction. I will personally make sure you are 100% onboard with our plan for your project before we accept a dime from you. Tirelessly advocating for our clients, from inception to closing, we’ll guide you every step of the way.


Off-Market Sales
Are you considering an off-market residential or commercial real estate sale? Seattle real estate lawyer Lee Brettin has you covered with decades of experience and full NWMLS and CBA access. We will spend the time necessary to understand your needs and advise you on every step and detail of the transaction from the all-important business terms to the small details so you can make smart decisions. In addition to sales, we assist with a variety of title, use, planning, implementation, neighbor “issues” and more. Check out our FAQs for details on our off-market sale flat fee pricing. Put our decades of deal making experience to work for you today!


Off-Market Sales
Are you considering an off-market residential or commercial real estate sale? Seattle real estate lawyer Lee Brettin has you covered with decades of experience and full NWMLS and CBA access. We will spend the time necessary to understand your needs and advise you on every step and detail of the transaction from the all-important business terms to the small details so you can make smart decisions. In addition to sales, we assist with a variety of title, use, planning, implementation, neighbor “issues” and more. Check out our FAQs for details on our off-market sale flat fee pricing. Put our decades of deal making experience to work for you today!
Commercial Leasing
For more than 30 years, Seattle real estate attorney Lee Brettin has represented landlords and tenants in hundreds of commercial occupancy leases, complex ground leases, option agreements, and multi-million-dollar development deals on a local and national basis in major US real estate markets. From neighborhood commercial to the mega malls, to downtown core, put my insight and experience to work for you today. At Brettin Law Office, we view commercial leasing from a team perspective that considers the needs of the owner, tenant, lender, asset management and operations, with intimate knowledge of market analysis, tenant mix, marketing and how the numbers and ratios really work. If you want a lawyer who has lived through multiple market expansions and contractions representing both landlords and business owners, one who is versed and understands deal making and deciphering and negotiating the fine print from the broker, business owner and landlord perspectives, then give us a call.


Franchising
From restaurants and transmission shops, to home service businesses, we assist and guide prospective franchisees in their review of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and Franchise Agreement, including evaluation of the management team to financial disclosures, based on decades of experience gained working for franchisors and franchisees of local and national retail and service brands. Seattle franchise lawyer Lee Brettin represents new and seasoned franchisees and territorial developers with expansion and sales as well as day-to-day operational issues. Lee Brettin is capable of settling franchisor and franchisee differences and franchise terminations with confidence. We also successfully represent franchisors with compliance issues involving the Washington State Department of Financial Institution. Call to find out how we can provide you with the individualized, detail orientated service you require now.


Franchising
From restaurants and transmission shops, to home service businesses, we assist and guide prospective franchisees in their review of the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and Franchise Agreement, including evaluation of the management team to financial disclosures, based on decades of experience gained working for franchisors and franchisees of local and national retail and service brands. Seattle franchise lawyer Lee Brettin represents new and seasoned franchisees and territorial developers with expansion and sales as well as day-to-day operational issues. Lee Brettin is capable of settling franchisor and franchisee differences and franchise terminations with confidence. We also successfully represent franchisors with compliance issues involving the Washington State Department of Financial Institution. Call to find out how we can provide you with the individualized, detail orientated service you require now.
Business Transactions
Seattle business lawyer Lee Brettin’s clients run the spectrum from first time independent business owners, international manufacturing and distribution operations, franchises to family legacy businesses. Whether you are looking for seasoned guidance on setting up a new business, evaluating a franchise opportunity, navigating a regulatory morass, buying or selling an existing business, general counsel services, or someone to prepare or review a contract, you’ve come to the right place! Give us a call or drop us an email. We listen!


ABOUT LEE BRETTIN

As an in-house general counsel for one of his clients, a local, well-respected national retail brand and wholesale coffee company, Lee had the responsibility for retail store leasing, site selection, franchise operations, business acquisitions, partnerships, co-branding, down-the-isle retail deals, trademarks, and other intellectual property negotiations working with various team captains and outside specialty legal counsel. At the time, the company was opening stores in Washington, Oregon, Northern and Southern California, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York and DC.
Other general counsel responsibilities over time have included the negotiation and drafting of option and purchase agreements for shopping center development parcel assemblages, commercial purchase agreements, complex shopping center easements, CC&Rs and other entitlements, clearing title encumbrances, negotiating and drafting development covenants and development agreements, Walgreen owner-developer lease and development deals and shop store leases, entity formation, capitalization and loan documents processing, and shopping center sales for Pacific Northwest projects.
Since reentering private practice in 2005, Lee has enjoyed the privilege of representing individuals, and families, local business owners, and national business interests and transactions in Washington State and beyond. Through this, he has engaged in all manner of real estate, business, and franchise transaction and litigation.
University of Puget Sound School of Law (now Seattle University Law School)
University of Oregon Lindquist College of Business – B.S. Finance and Real Estate
Washington State Bar Association – Member
King County Bar Association – Member
King County Bar Association Country Doctor Legal Clinic volunteer – over10 years
Wayfind, a KCBA outreach program assisting entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises – over 10 years
Real Estate Managing Broker License – Washington State Department of Licensing
Northwest Multiple Listing Service – Member
Commercial Brokers Association – Member
Certified Property Manager – Institute of Real Estate Management (retired)
Journeyman Carpenter – United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners (retired)
Local 1453 – Huntington Beach, California (closed)
PRACTICE AREAS
Seattle real estate lawyer Lee Brettin has represented clients in every phase of the real estate development process, from land assemblage, entitlement, marketing, branding, development, leasing management and sales since 1980. Here is a sample of specific real estate matters that are part of my current practice areas:
Seattle Business Lawyer Lee Brettin represents individuals, families, start-up and mature businesses in all aspects of business transactions. Here is a sample of specific business matters that are part of my current practice areas:
• Commercial and shopping center and mixed-use leasing
• Easements, CC&Rs, entitlements for retail and commercial developments
• Due Diligence on land and income properties
• Clearing commercial and residential title
• Simple to complex deed conveyances
• Land and shopping center development from dirt to asset management
• Earnest money disputes and interpleader actions
• Commercial Receiverships of retail and mixed-use project
• Boundary and neighbor disputes / Land use consultations
• LLC agreements, amendments and resolutions
• Outside contract general counsel
• Employment agreements
• Stock and asset sales business sales
• Market evaluation, planning and product placement
• Non-competition / non-disclosure agreements
• Franchise transactions and disputes (compliance and violations)
• Contract drafting, negotiation interpretation, and amendments
• Service and retail businesses branding, and trademark services
– Eric T., Ballard
In addition to this, Lee is approachable, compassionate, and will take the time to really listen to your concerns. This made a complex, difficult situation much easier to handle, as I felt my questions were well-answered and resolution of the issue went very smoothly.
All in all, I cannot recommend Lee highly enough if you are looking for a compassionate, informed business or real estate lawyer.
– Jennifer C.
Testimonials
As a national franchise company...
– JS
I’m writing to say how satisfied I was with...
– Eric T., Ballard
After we made an offer for our first home...
– Judith K., Sammamish, WA
Thank you so much for...
– Pricilla, S, Seattle, WA
This year I decided to break away and start a new business...
– Sandy Roden, Managing Member, Wax Sabbath Spa LLC, Seattle, WA
I've known and worked with Lee Brettin for over 15 years...
– Craig Hillis, Managing Director, Manufactured Home Association of Washington
My wife and I relocated to Washington State...
– Luke Currier
Governor
Raising The Barre LLC d/b/a The Bar Method
I am the director of Agape Family Counseling...
– Rev. Dr. Philip “Gene” Anderson.
Agape Family Counseling
Lee was a pleasure to work with...
– M.C.
I was referred to Lee Brettin by a lawyer...
– M.F., Duvall, WA
I met Lee Brettin in 2003...
I was impressed with Lee’s professionalism and representation for his client. I later retained him for commercial unlawful detainer work. Lee approached each case aggressively with fees in line with our expectations, reporting his progress on a regular basis through conclusion.
Lee is well versed in commercial real estate, including matters such as tenant mix, rent, property management and the probability of a retail tenant’s likelihood of success or failure depending on economic, experience and competition. I recommend him without reservation.”
– Allen Gray, CPM®,
President, Lakeshore Investment Corporation
I've known and worked with Lee as my personal and professional lawyer for 15 years...
– J.G., Seattle WA
https://www.yelp.com/biz/brettin-law-offices-seattle-2
https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/98133-wa-leroy-brettin-21457.html
CONTACT US
Send us an inquiry. We’d love to hear from you. Most inquires are answered same day or evening. This is the fastest and surest way of making contact. We office a free ten-minute telephone case evaluation to help you determine if our services are well suited to your needs and matched to your every expectation.
FAQs
Hiring Us and Fee Schedules
Call or send me an email through the Contact Us portal or to the email address at the top of the page and I will personally respond to you in most cases the same day. If, based on our initial email exchange we mutually decide that your needs, goals and timeframe are a good fit for our practice, then we will send you a confidential client questionnaire for you to return to us. This gives us a basic profile, contact information, names of parties, objectives and issues involved for our conflict check. Once we have the intake form back, we will schedule a time for an initial free ten-minute call to discuss how we can help you.
How do you screen clients?
Through the initial exchange of emails, review of your confidential client questionnaire and our ten-minute initial consultation to discuss your specific goals and objectives we can determine if your case is a good fit for our practice, our fees are inline with your budget and expectations, and if we have the current resources to devote to your project. During that call, you will have the opportunity to interview Lee Brettin about his background and experience as it relates to your project, scheduling availability, and the specific next steps. If we mutually decide that your needs are a good fit for our practice and that we can deliver the results you are looking for within your time frame then we will firm up our arrangement with you via an agreement outlining terms and conditions of our services.
How much do your legal services cost?
Hourly rates vary depending on the nature of the undertaking. Our current fee schedule is $275.00/hr. for general legal services; $175.00/hr. for paralegal services; $85.00/hr. for administrative services and $350.00/hr. for litigation. First hour is $300.00. Minimum project billing for a new client is $500.00, usually paid in advance. Once you are in our system as a client, the minimum charge is waived on future projects.
Do you ever work on a flat fee basis?
Each legal project is unique. In that regard, we try to creatively undertake as many routine tasks on a flat fee basis as possible. Many basic real estate and business transactions quite easily fit the flat fee billing model. Depending on complexity and the number of ‘moving parts,’ some projects necessitate an hourly billing format. In other cases, we are able to complete part of a project on a flat fee and other components on an hourly basis.
What are your flat fees for Off-Market / FSBO sales or to represent a real estate buyer?
Basic real estate sale transactions are normally done on a flat fee basis. Flat fee pricing is variable depending on when in the process we engage. Every transaction is unique. In some instances we engage with our clients when they are first considering a purchase or sale. In other cases we engage after an offer has been tendered, parties identified or on a document review basis. The following are general guidelines. Fees start as low as $1,500.00 for representing a home or single tenant commercial building buyer or seller on a no contingency, no due diligence sale under $500,000. For no due diligence, no contingency sales between $500,001 and $800,000, the fee is $2,000.00; for no contingency, no due diligence sales between $800,001 to $1,100,000 the fee is $2,500.00. For sales over $1,100,000, please call to discuss. Typically, residential transactions with basic financing, title and inspection contingencies will increase the flat fee by $500.00. Payment is generally split with half due in advance of writing or reviewing an offer, and the balance due upon opening escrow. On sales of listed properties, we are often able to apply the equivalent amount of the selling broker’s commission – often 2.5% to 3% of the listing price – to the buyer’s closing costs and loan points, up to the full sale commission thereby potentially saving clients thousands of dollars over hiring a traditional broker to perform the same basic service.
Please note that the forgoing pricing model is intended for basic real estate sales. Transactions where a party may need our counsel to obtain entitlements or satisfy feasibility studies, or those that present issues of compromised or clouded title, the need to negotiate complicated ownership or partnership issues, prepare financing documents, and sales involving so-called “pre-built” homes, or the review of condominium disclosure documents for new sales or resale certificates for pre-owned condos entail additional work that may take the project out of the above price structure. These are typical add-ons to off-market sales that in some cases may make sense to include in a flat fee bid or in other cases may be more fitting of a hybrid flat/hourly fee proposal. During our free consultation we will be able to give you a solid quote on either a flat fee or hybrid pricing basis, depending on the needs of your project.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN CONTACTED “OFF MARKET” BY A BUILDER, INVESTOR OR FLIPPER FOR YOUR IN-CITY UP-ZONED HOME, CALL ME BEFORE RESPONDING TO AN UNSOLICITED OFFER OR AGREEING TO ANYTHING.
Do you accept credit cards?
Most major cards are accepted.
Will I need to pay a retainer?
In some cases, we ask for a retainer or advance payment to reserve immediate time for your project if it is to be completed on an expedited basis. In other cases, we may ask for a deposit to be placed in our lawyer IOLTA trust account. IOLTA trust funds are client monies until they are earned and are usually applied to your final invoice. In most all cases, a new client will need to pay a retainer or deposit prior to our commencing work on a project. Existing or return client are not asked for a new IOTLA deposits.
How fast can you go to work for me?
Once we have a signed engagement letter back with your deposit or retainer, we can schedule your project. On expedited matters with a rush deadline, we are often able to complete our initial consultation, circulate and sign the engagement letter and start work on your case the same day. In all cases, timing on commencement of work and estimated initial turn-around will be agreed-to in advance.
Legal Resources
American Bar Association
http://www.americanbar.org/aba.aspx
Washington State Bar Association
http://www.wsba.org
King County Bar Association
http://www.kcba.org
Pierce County Bar Association
http://www.tpcba.com
Snohomish County Bar Association
http://snobar.org
National Association of Realtors
www.realtor.org
North Puget Sound Association of Realtors
http://www.npsar.com
Washington State Commercial Association of Realtors
www.wscar.com
Washington State Courts
www.courts.wa.gov
King County Bar Association
http://www.kcba.org
King County Department of Assessment
http://www.kingcounty.gov/Assessor.aspx
King County Recorders Office
http://www.kingcounty.gov/business/Recorders.aspx
King County Superior Court
http://www.kingcounty.gov/courts/SuperiorCourt.aspx
Washington Residential Landlord-Tenant Act:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/Rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18
Seattle Landlord-Tenant Laws: Please review this page before entering into or terminating a residential lease:
https://www.seattle.gov/dpd/cs/groups/pan/@pan/documents/web_informational/dpdd016420.pdf
Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections:
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/
King County Bar Association Neighborhood Legal Clinics:
https://www.kcba.org/For-the-Public/Free-Legal-Assistance/Neighborhood-Legal-Clinics
King County Bar Association Housing Justice Project:
https://www.kcba.org/For-the-Public/Free-Legal-Assistance/Housing-Justice-Project
Rental Housing Association of Washington:
http://www.rhawa.org/
Washington Attorney General Residential Landlord-Tenant Resources
http://www.atg.wa.gov/residential-landlord-tenant-resources
Washington Landlord Association
http://waapt.org/
Institute of Real Estate Management
http://www.irem.org/
International Counsel of Shopping Centers
https://www.icsc.org/
SIOR Real Estate Glossary
http://www.sior.com/docs/default-source/membership-docs/LeaseGlossary