Let the “Virtual” Battle begin!

Battle of the Barristers – the most informative and entertaining real estate legal event of the year – will be held virtually on October 16 from 9 AM to 12 PM. This popular annual event brings highly knowledgeable real estate attorneys together to highlight, analyze, and debate the hottest real estate legal topics.

Long-time member and past President Van Anderson

In addition to providing three clock hours, Battle of the Barristers raises funds for the Seattle First Citizen Scholarship Foundation, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that has provided nearly $443,000 in educational scholarships to REALTORS® and their families since 1999. This year, the Scholarship Foundation recognized the top student applicant with the Van Anderson Scholarship. Thank you Van and Happy 94th Birthday!

Mike Spence, Affiliate at Helsell Fetterman LLC., will be back to moderate the debate with a series of scenarios about various relevant legal topics (with fictional characters). Joining Mike are long-time Barristers Doug S. Tingvall, Chris Osborn, Annie Fitzsimmons, and Lars Neste.

This year’s hot debate topics will include:

• How to deal with undisclosed encroachments, encroachment issues, and how to interpret covenants, conditions and restrictions in a development.
• Obligations: to transmit all offers, written notices and other written communications in a timely manner. Obligations regarding communicating with a Seller who is represented by another licensee working in the same office. Obligations regarding the “Selling Office Commission” rule implemented by NWMLS.
• Dealing with risks in multiple offers, septic inspection issues, environmental issues, rescission issues, post-closing obligations and foreign sellers.
• Identifying and dealing with “Common Interest Communities”, which are authorized by RCW 64.90.

“I think it’s extremely important for not just agents but for everyone in this business to have well-rounded knowledge of real estate legal issues and how the industry works,” said Ada Alvarado, a first-time attendee in 2019. “It’s great to learn from the attorneys who work on this stuff every day.”