Washington Partnership and Limited Liability Company Deskbook

Andrew I. Aley (Executive Editor) is Associate General Counsel of Saltchuk Resources, Inc. Prior to joining Saltchuk, he was an owner at Garvey Schubert Barer, where his practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and entity structuring; prior to that, he served as a law clerk to Judge Alfred T. Goodwin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Mr. Aley earned his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law, graduating with honors and serving as managing editor of the Washington Law Review.

Douglas L. Batey (Executive Editor) has practiced law in Seattle since 1980. He was a partner at Jones, Grey and Bayley, P.S., until its 1987 merger with Stoel Rives LLP, and was then a partner with Stoel Rives through 2014.

In 2015, Mr. Batey opened his solo law practice in Redmond. His practice focuses on business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance, including limited liability companies and partnerships, corporate governance, and commercial contracts. He co-chaired the Partnership and Limited Liability Company Committee of the Business Law Section of the WSBA during the process of revising Washington's Limited Liability Company Act, which became effective January 1, 2016, is currently co-chair of the Partnership and Limited Liability Company Committee, and was formerly chair of the Business Law Section.

He received his B.S. in mathematics, summa cum laude (1972), and his J.D., with honors (1980), from the University of Washington

Chris Brown (Executive Editor) is a member of the business and finance practice group at Karr Tuttle Campbell. His practice focuses on federal income tax law, counseling businesses on various Washington state tax issues, mergers, leveraged buy-outs, asset sales, acquisitions, closely held businesses, and debt restructuring. Mr. Brown frequently counsels clients in major business transactions and often serves as special tax counsel in deals involving unique tax obstacles–including cross-border matters, Section 280G and 409A issues, and partnership tax matters. He has advised companies and individuals in all forms of equity and deferred compensation.

In addition to his tax practice, Mr. Brown serves as general counsel to a number of businesses, with a particular emphasis on the Washington Limited Liability Company Act. He has extensive experience in LLC and partnership law, advising clients in complex voting and economic arrangements and drafting and negotiating LLC and partnership agreements. Mr. Brown also represents taxpayers in disputes with the IRS and Washington Department of Revenue.

Robert B. Spitzer (Executive Editor) practiced for 29 years with Garvey Schubert Barer, and now practices with the merged firm of Foster Garvey PC. He serves as outside general counsel for a number of businesses, and practices in the areas of business entities and real estate. For 24 years he was a member of the faculty of the University of Washington Commercial Real Estate Certificate Program. He graduated from Stanford University (B.A. with honors), and the Columbia University School of Law (J.D.).

Judee Wells (Executive Editor) was of counsel with Foster Pepper PLLC and a member of Hawthorn Retirement Group LLC prior to retirement. Her practice focused on limited liability companies, partnerships, real estate transactions, and federal and state tax issues. She graduated cum laude from Southwest Missouri State University, received her J.D. with honors from the University of Texas, and her LL.M. in taxation from New York University. Ms. Wells is the author of the Real Estate Excise Tax Deskbook.