“The Best Battle Yet!” Record attendance at REALTOR® legal seminar

More than 470 REALTORS® and Affiliates showed up today for the annual “Battle of the Barristers” legal education program which raised close to $19,00 for the First Citizen Scholarship Foundation. You can find out more about the scholarship program here.

Known as “the most informative and entertaining real estate legal event of the year,” the popular program has five of the top real estate attorneys in the region debating big issues affecting REALTORS® and their clients. You can read more about this year’s hot topics here.

Seattle King County REALTORS® President Sam DeBord kicked off the 3-clock hour event by welcoming the battling attorneys and event sponsors. “Over the past 21 years, we have funded nearly $300,000 in scholarships to members and their families. But the scholarship is just one of the many things that your Association does on your behalf,” Debord said.  We are focused on improving the local real estate marketplace for you and your clients.  Debord touched on the Association’s legislative priorities, such as increasing housing supply, stopping new taxes on commissions, and efforts to fix the Hirst “water rights” decision (you can find out more at www.fixhirst.com).

The legal program was moderated by Mike Spence, partner at Helsell Fetterman LLC. Joining Spence were four attorneys who all teach clock-hour classes for industry professionals:

• Annie Fitzsimmons, attorney for Washington REALTORS® (WR) and its legalhotline;
• Lars Neste, a shareholder at Demco Law Firm, P.S., where he specializes in real estate law;
• Chris Osborn, of Foster Pepper, PLLC, who is general counsel to the NWMLS; and
• Doug S. Tingvall, an attorney with 30-plus years of experience representing residential real estate professionals.

Seattle King County REALTORS® is grateful to Chase, the premier event sponsor of the event, and to its other sponsors and affiliate partners who helped support the event.