Fennemore Attorneys & Employees

Brett T. Sullivan

Brett T. Sullivan’s practice focuses on business and real estate law, with particular emphasis on the intersection of these two areas. He advises business and individual clients in all aspects of business and entity formation, management, governance, financing, operations, and business closings. His clients include real estate investors, developers, agribusinesses, and closely held companies across Washington state.

Brett also serves as outside general counsel to closely held service, consulting, and agribusiness companies, as well as real estate developers and investors, advising on day-to-day contracts, corporate governance, risk management, and strategic transactions. Drawing on his prior experience as in-house general counsel to a regional general contractor and developer, he brings a practical, business-first approach to legal strategy. Brett also provides focused real estate counsel to publicly held companies, including leasing, financing, and asset acquisition and disposition matters across Washington state.

In addition to his general counsel and business advisory work, Brett provides neutral escrow services for business purchase and sale transactions and the sale of unique assets, including water right transfers. He also provides a full spectrum of services to owner associations, including governance, compliance, and transactional matters.

Brett brings to the table significant experience in commercial and residential real estate development matters as well as entity formation and governance, and his experience includes both transactional and litigation representation in these areas. His clients benefit from his previous in-house general counsel experience and entrepreneurial mindset, and he is well known for applying his pragmatic business experience as a counselor and advisor to management teams and business owners.

Brett first started practicing law in 1994 after having clerked with a Spokane law firm during law school. In 1997, he joined a large regional general contractor and developer as general counsel, where he helped expand and grow its operations and gained firsthand experience with the legal and business issues faced by operating companies. In 2008, he returned to the private practice of law.

Committed to serving the legal community, as well as his clients, Brett previously served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Washington State Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, along with having served on several non-profit boards in the Spokane area. He frequently lectures to groups of attorneys and business advisors in areas of real estate and business law.

In his spare time, Brett enjoys the many recreational opportunities found in Eastern Washington, North Idaho, and British Columbia, including sailing, fly fishing, and skiing.

Education

J.D., Gonzaga University School of Law, cum laude
B.A., University of Washington

Areas Of Practice

Business & Finance

Our business and finance attorneys represent national, regional and local clients participating in significant transactions.

Real Estate

Our real estate practice is one of the largest in the American West, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and Washington with experience in all aspects of the real estate development process, from due diligence, acquisition and finance, through land use permitting and entitlements, to leasing and sale.

Emerging Businesses & Technologies

Our business attorneys recognize and appreciate the value of entrepreneurship and innovation, and are committed to providing efficient, straightforward and business-oriented solutions that facilitate success and avoid pitfalls while recognizing early capital is precious and expensive.