Overview
Kelly Rutledge represents clients in commercial and residential real estate sales and acquisitions, leasing, financing, development-related issues, easements, and co-ownership arrangements. She has experience in matters related to floating homes, including representation of moorage owners, negotiation of houseboat construction agreements, and purchase and sale of floating properties, including complex title analysis.
Kelly has also advised clients on various general business matters, including business entity selection and formation, corporate governance, and business-related contracts, and managed M&A transactions from term sheet to closing, including due diligence, drafting purchase agreements, ancillary documents, and disclosures.
Before joining Stoel Rives, Kelly was an attorney with two regional law firms; a legal extern in the Small Business and Self-Employed Division of the Office of General Counsel, Internal Revenue Service; and a legal intern in the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Washington State Bar Association.
Education
University of Washington School of Law, LL.M., Taxation, 2024
Seattle University School of Law, J.D., 2020, cum laude; Technology, Notes and Comments Editor, Environmental, and Innovation Law Journal; Presidential Law Scholarship
University of Washington, B.A., Political Science, 2016
Admissions
Washington
Experience
- Represented buyer in acquisition of a food tour company. Negotiated and revised stock purchase agreement and ancillary transaction documents.
- Represented commercial landowner in negotiation of renewal of cell phone tower lease, including negotiation of additional profit-sharing agreement for collator services.
- Part of a team representing seller of a premium communications agency in $20 million membership interest transaction. Coordinated due diligence, preparation of disclosure schedules, amendments to real property leases, and consents to assignment as necessary for contracts.
- Part of a team representing lender in negotiation and preparation of $25.25 million commercial financing package secured by commercial property in Seattle.
- Part of a team representing borrower in procurement of commercial financing package secured by multi-state commercial property.
- Part of a team representing Seller in $42.5 million equity purchase transaction. Managed due diligence production, prepared disclosure schedules, obtained consents to assignment of agreements with vendors, landlords, and other third parties.
- Drafted construction loan packages for construction of residential housing communities in the Seattle area ranging from $3.2 million to $16.7 million.
- Represented various Washington companies with negotiation of leases, subleases, amendments, and modification agreements, and advised on default and tenant insolvency/bankruptcy situations.
Recognition
- Included in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, 2023–present
- Listed among Rising Stars (Business & Corporate, Real Estate), Washington Super Lawyers®, 2024
- CALI Awards for Excellence (highest grade in course) in Individual Income Tax and Innovation and Technology Research Practicum
Affiliations
Professional
- Member, CREW Seattle, 2024
- Washington State Bar Association, Real Property, Probate, and Trust Section
- Washington State Bar Association, Business Law Section
- Washington State Bar Association, Taxation Section