Tag: Contract
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Behind on Paid Leave Premiums? Interest, Penalties, and a Grant You Could Lose
Washington’s Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) program is funded by a premium that nearly every Washington employer has to report and pay to the Employment Security Department (ESD) every quarter. It is easy to let a quarter slide—especially for a small business without a dedicated payroll department—but a past-due PFML balance is one of…
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Goodbye, Pet Rent: Everything You Need to Know About Seattle’s New Rental Junk Fee Ban
Finding an apartment in Seattle has long been an exercise in complex math. For years, prospective tenants have browsed rental listings and found a price that seemed to fit their budget, only to be hit with a slew of add-on fees at the lease signing. From monthly pet rent to package processing charges, these recurring…
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FinCEN Permanently Ends Beneficial Ownership Reporting Requirements for Millions of Small Business Owners
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is issuing a final rule that permanently removes the requirement for U.S. companies and U.S. persons to report beneficial ownership information to FinCEN under the Corporate Transparency Act. The final rule became effective on August 14, 2026. FinCEN today also announced that it will delete previously reported information…
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Regulatory Shift: DOL Proposes New Standards for Independent Contractor Classification
On February 26, 2026, the Department of Labor (DOL) introduced a Proposed Rule aimed at redefining the boundaries between employees and independent contractors. This update marks a pivot away from current standards, moving toward a framework that mirrors the 2021 “employer-friendly” guidelines. Notably, the DOL intends to apply this classification logic not just to the…
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Ninth Circuit Upholds Religious Hiring Preferences
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently bolstered the legal standing of religious employers in Union Gospel Mission of Yakima v. Brown. Interpreting the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), the court upheld a preliminary injunction that prevents the state from penalizing the Mission for its faith-based hiring preferences. This decision continues a broader judicial trend…
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New Sales Tax Obligations: Key Professions Impacted by Washington SB 5814
Effective October 1, 2025, Washington has implemented a major shift in its tax landscape through Senate Bill 5814. This legislation “modernizes” the tax code by reclassifying several traditionally exempt service sectors as “retail sales.” If you operate in any of the following fields, you are now required to register for a retail tax endorsement, collect…
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ABA Releases 2025 Deal Points Study
The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Business Law Section has released its 2025 Private Target Deal Points Study. Studying deals between $25 Million and $900 million, the study analyzes trends in business deals, including: For more information, check out the alert issued by K&L Gates. To learn more about buying or selling a business, go to https://martinkreshon.com…
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Why You Should Transfer Property to a LLC Before Renting
So, you’ve got a fantastic property in the Evergreen State and you’re ready to jump into the rental game. That’s great! But before you hand over the keys and start cashing those rent checks, there’s one critical step you might be skipping: transferring that property into a limited liability company or LLC. While it may…
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Baskets & Caps
When businesses change hands, the journey can be full of unknowns. From a buyer’s perspective, what if the financial records aren’t as tidy as they seemed? From a seller’s perspective, how long will they be on the hook for potential problems with the business they just sold? This is where tools like baskets, deductibles, and…
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Lending a Hand or Getting Burned? The Crucial Role of Security in Promissory Notes
Let’s say a friend, family member, or even a business associate needs a loan. Perhaps they pitch it as a business investment. You’re willing to help / invest, and you’re smart enough to know that a simple handshake isn’t going to cut it. You’ve decided to use a promissory note – excellent choice! This legally…