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… Read More
Blog
Washington’s 2027 Minimum Wage: What to Expect
Every fall, Washington employers get one number they cannot plan payroll without: the next year’s minimum wage. Here is what is coming, when, and why it also quietly resets a second threshold that catches salaried employers off guard. The mechanics of the annual increase Washington’s minimum wage is adjusted for inflation every year. Under the… Read More
Washington’s 2027 Paid Leave Premium Update
Alongside the minimum wage, the other year-end number Washington employers need is the Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) premium rate. The Employment Security Department (ESD) resets it annually, and the 2027 rate will be announced later this fall. How the premium is set PFML is funded by a premium assessed on employee wages up… Read More
Are You Registered to Hire Remote Workers in Washington?
An out-of-state company hires a software developer who lives in Washington and works from home. Does that single remote employee hire mean the company is doing business in Washington? Must it register with the Secretary of State? However, as of 2026, the Legislature answered the Remote employee registration portion. It left the tax half open…. Read More
What Still Works After the Noncompete Ban: Nonsolicitation, Confidentiality, and the Sale-of-Business Exception
Washington’s ban on noncompetes (Chapter 149, Laws of 2026) does not leave employers with nothing. It preserves a short, narrowly drawn set of protections. The catch is that each one is defined tightly, and the statute tells courts to construe these exceptions narrowly. Here is what survives after June 30, 2027—and where the traps are…. Read More
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… Read More
General Compliance Counseling: The Smart Way to Stay Ahead and Out of Trouble
Stay Ahead of Regulations and Mitigate Risk—Without Losing Sleep Running a business is exciting—but it can also feel like you’re constantly dodging landmines. Employment laws change. Industry regulations evolve. One misstep, and you could find yourself facing penalties, lawsuits, or even a knock on the door from a regulator. That’s why general compliance counseling isn’t… Read More
The Noncompete Notice Cliff – Don’t Fall October 1, 2027
Washington’s non-compete ban comes with an affirmative duty most employers have not yet put on the calendar. It is not enough to stop enforcing noncompetes—by a fixed date, employers must proactively tell affected workers that their covenants are dead. The requirement The enacted law, amending chapter 49.62 RCW, provides that by October 1, 2027, an… Read More
Washington Just Voided Almost Every Noncompete Agreement
Washington has taken its 2019 restrictions on noncompetes to their logical conclusion: a near-total ban. Under ESHB 1155 (Chapter 149, Laws of 2026), signed March 23, 2026 and effective June 30, 2027, virtually every noncompetition covenant with a Washington worker becomes void and unenforceable. This is one of the most significant changes to Washington employment… Read More
Noncompetes Were Already Getting Harder to Enforce: David v. Freedom Vans
Washington’s 2026 ban on noncompetes did not come out of nowhere. Even before it passed, Washington courts and the 2019 noncompete statute were steadily narrowing what employers could enforce. The Washington Supreme Court’s 2025 decision in David v. Freedom Vans, 4 Wash.3d 242 (2025) (En Banc) is a useful marker of that trend—and a preview… Read More