Karl A. Weiss
Principal
Practice Emphasis
With over 20 years of experience and 250+ merger/acquisition transactions (ranging up to $120M), Karl provides comprehensive legal and tax counsel, personalized to all types of closely held and family businesses throughout the Pacific Northwest. Drawing upon a significant federal and state tax background, he enjoys assisting clients with choice of entity and formation, governance and operating agreements, employment and compensation plans, service agreements, as well as business dissolutions, succession planning, mergers/acquisitions, and advanced estate/tax planning. Utilizing a team approach, he works closely with the clients’ other professional advisors.
Prior to joining Lasher Holzapfel Sperry and Ebberson, Karl was a Manager with a big-four accounting firm in its state and local tax consulting practice, where he assisted Fortune 500 clients, middle market businesses, and emerging growth companies in tax and strategic planning.
During law school, Karl served on the Willamette Law Review, was a member of Inns of Court (mentored by Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice Wallace P. Carson), and clerked for the five Magistrates of the Oregon Tax Court.
Education
- LL.M. (Taxation), New York University
- Juris Doctor, Willamette University
- Accounting Technician, Northern Arizona Institute of Technology, Flagstaff, AZ
- Bachelor of Arts (Behavioral Science & Law), University of Wisconsin-Madison
- The Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, NJ
Representative Cases
- IRC 368(a)(1)(F) Reorganization and conversion of existing corporation to limited liability company for tax-deferred rollover treatment in sale transaction
- Represented separate gaming and/or software companies in sale transactions to private company/public company.
- Assisted professional engineering firm from formation to $20M in revenue and ultimate sale to public company.
- Stock acquisition of a specialized construction firm with an accompanying IRC Section 338(h)(10) election (stock sale treated as asset sale).
- Reorganization of a manufacturer’s representative business pursuant to IRC Section 368(a)(1)(D) (split off), when owners failed to agree on future course of business.
- Equity participation plans and other non-qualified employee incentive plans in light of IRC Section 409A (deferred compensation).
Publications and Presentations
- Contributing Author – Washington Partnership and Limited Liability Company Deskbook” (3rd Ed. 2020 and 2nd Ed. 2010), Washington State Bar Association
- Co-Author – “Estate Planning for Timber Families,” Northwest Woodlands Magazine
- “Favorably Negotiate Complicated Business Contracts with Strategic Tools,” National Business Institute
- “Splitting up Businesses (in a divorce),” The Seminar Group
- “Limited Liability Companies,” National Business Institute
- “Tax Opportunities and Issues for the LLC,” National Business Institute
- “LLC Workshop: Choose, Draft and Maintain,” National Business Institute
- “Drafting LLC Operating Agreements,” National Business Institute
- “Tax Primer for Business Attorneys,” King County Bar Association
- “To LLC or not to LLC,” Northwest Entrepreneur Network
Professional & Civic
Managing Principal, Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson PLLC, 2019, 2020
Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® in the practice areas of ‘Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law’ and ‘Tax Law’ (2021 – 2025 eds.)
Super Lawyers magazine Washington (business/corporate law) – 2010-2024
Seattle Met magazine Top Lawyer (business/corporate law) – 2011-2020
Washington Law & Politics magazine, Rising Star, 2008 and 2009
Seattle Business Monthly magazine (tax law) 2007
Seattle magazine, Top Lawyer (tax law) 2007
Admitted to U.S. Tax Court 2008
Washington State Bar Association, Taxation Section
Past Director, Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club
Past Director, Bellevue International School PTA
Past Committee Member, Northwest Entrepreneur Network
Division I NCAA swimming – team captain and school record holder at University of Wisconsin- Madison
Division I NCAA swimming – team captain, school record holder, New England Intercollegiate champion, Boston University
U.S. Swimming – Nationally ranked 100m Butterfly / competed in two U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials
U.S. Masters Swimming National Short Course Champion (free relay)
YMCA National Age Group record holder (relay)