Taro Kusunose

Managing Principal

Practice Areas

Corporate & Business Law • Real Estate • Tax Law • Trademark Registrations

Contact

(206) 654-2430

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Attorney bio

Taro acts as “outside general counsel” to countless local, national, and international businesses. He has been a transactional attorney in downtown Seattle since 2000. He joined the Lasher firm in 2005, and became a Principal of the firm in 2008. Taro grew up in Bellevue, after moving from L.A. in the second grade.

Corporate and Business Law; Commercial Real Estate Acquisitions & Financing; Complex Commercial Leases; Trademark Registrations

Industries served include: manufacturing, services, trading, commercial real estate, U.S. subsidiaries and affiliated companies of foreign businesses

Despite growing up in Bellevue, Taro is fluent in business-level Japanese.

For Taro’s bio in Japanese, please click here.

Education

University of Washington School of Law

LL.M., Taxation

University of California, Davis School of Law

Juris Doctor

University of California at San Diego

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa

Recognition & Activities

Current Managing Principal, Lasher
General Counsel to the Japan Business Association of Seattle (Shunju Club)
Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America^® in the practice areas of Real Estate Law, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Corporate Law
Washington Law & Politics magazine “Super Lawyer”
Washington Law & Politics magazine “Rising Star”
Nikkei Concerns board member, 2003-2012
Judicial Extern to the Hon. Christopher M. Klein of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California, 1998-1999
Newport High School (Bellevue, WA), Alumnus, 1991

Representative Work and Cases

Corporate and Business Law – Structuring tax-efficient domestic and international transactions; negotiating and drafting contracts; preparing key business operational documents; negotiating and drafting documents for the purchase and sale of businesses and major company assets; analyzing business entity selection, structure, formation and maintenance issues; analyzing disputes involving each of the foregoing.
Real Estate – Negotiating and drafting documents for purchase and sale of commercial and investment real estate; negotiating and drafting complex leases; drafting real estate financing documents; drafting property co-ownership agreements; analyzing disputes involving each of the foregoing.
Trademarks – Obtaining federal (USPTO) and state trademark registrations, as well as Madrid/WIPO international and worldwide trademark registrations; drafting documents for the licensing and transfer of trademarks and other intellectual property; analyzing disputes involving each of the foregoing.

Publications & Presentations

Publications

Single Application International Trademark Registration Now Available to the United States, International Association of Defense Counsel Intellectual Property Committee Newsletter 1-2 (Feb. 2004) (with James D. Nelson).
Barring Consequential Damages Despite the Failure of an Exclusive Remedy, International Association of Defense Counsel Business Litigation Committee Newsletter 1-5 (Sept. 1999) (with James D. Nelson).

Presentations

Advanced LLC Issues: Forming an LLC to Purchase Real Estate, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education Seminar (Seattle, WA, September 2017), Speaker
Resolving Commercial Lease Disputes, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education Seminar (Seattle, WA, June 2015), Speaker
Retail, Office and Restaurant Leases: Key Provisions and Warranties, National Business Institute Continuing Legal Education Seminar (Seattle, WA, June 2013), Speaker

I cannot say enough good things about Lasher! We worked with several people at Lasher over time, starting with Eugene Wong, then Mario Bianchi, and even Taro as we got a new business off the ground. Every step of the way, the team was sharp, professional, and genuinely supportive. I especially want to shout out Mario Bianchi. He was an absolute beast in helping us navigate a very tricky and emotional situation. More than just legal advice, Mario helped keep things calm, grounded, and focused on the bigger picture. He consistently gave thoughtful guidance, helped us avoid unnecessary escalation, and reminded us of the value of our time and energy. When things felt heavy, he had a way of steadying the ship and keeping us moving forward. Mario was always on the ball, proactive, easy to work with, and incredibly sharp. In the end, the outcome exceeded what we even thought was possible, and I credit a huge part of that to his leadership and judgment. Huge thank you to Mario and everyone at Lasher. Hopefully we do not need you again anytime soon, but if we ever do, there is no question where we are going. And if anyone needs help navigating a complex or sensitive situation, this is the firm I would recommend without hesitation.

—Dane G. via Google Reviews