Summary Profile
I am a graduate of the University of Washington from which I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1962 and a Juris Doctor degree in 1965. I am a member of the Washington State Bar Association and since 1965 have practiced law continuously from offices in Tacoma.

Practice Orientation and Experience
My practice is devoted to the transactional representation of private companies. I advise clients respecting exempt offerings of equity and debt securities, negotiated mergers, acquisitions or divestitures, corporate borrowings, financial restructurings and franchising. I am familiar with the transactional exemptions from registration available under federal and state securities laws, the rights, remedies and registration requirements provided by Washington’s Franchise Investment Protection Act and the principles of corporate and merger and acquisitions law. My work involves transaction planning, legal due diligence and the preparation, appropriate use and enforcement of implementing contracts and related documents. Significant transactions in which my representation of a party is a matter of record have involved daily and weekly newspapers, cable television companies, food and beverage franchises, commercial printing companies, industrial equipment manufacturers, residential and commercial real estate developers and transportation companies.

Practice Philosophy
I am convinced that the first goal of a transaction lawyer should be to resolve legal issues on terms that support the client’s financial plan. To achieve that goal, the lawyer must appreciate the realities of the transaction process and the value of clearly articulated transaction objectives.

Community Service and Professional Recognition
I have been an Adjunct Faculty Member, Business Law, 1968-1969, at Tacoma Community College; a Board Member, 1988-1994, and Chair, 1991-1992, of the Pierce County Community Development Corporation; and a Board Member, 2007-2008, of the Pierce County Library Foundation. Since 2008, I have been a Public Member of the Washington State Board of Accountancy. I am honored to have an “AV” Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Publications
I have written a series of Bulletins and Essays on subjects that arise frequently in my practice. Please click “Publications” to view or download them.

Robert G Hutchins