Legal Solutions for You,
Your Family & Your Business
Find a Lawyer >
Business Law lawyers serving Pierce County, WA >
F. Richard Ricketts
Back to Search Results
F. Richard Ricketts
Law Offices of F. Richard Ricketts, PLLC
703 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98402
Phone: (888) 253-1002 | Fax: (253) 237-1730
http://richardricketts.com
Law at the Speed of Business
Legal Topic
Business Law
Preferred New Clients
I provide a full range of services for the small or medium sized business which addresses their legal needs from startup through operations and finally winding down the business. I also have active practices in the area of family law, estate planning and probate.
Sub-Categories
Business Law
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Business Successions
- Buying & Selling
- Closely Held Businesses
- Corporations
- Directors' & Officers' Liability
- Franchising
- Joint Ventures
- Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
- Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures
- Nonprofits & Tax-Exempt Corporations
- Partnerships
- Professional Corporations
- Corporate Income Taxes
- Excise Taxes
- IRS Disputes
- Negotiating Payments & Settlements
- Property Taxes (Ad Valorem Taxes)
- Sales Taxes
- Tax Evasion Defense
- Tax Filing & Compliance
- Breach of Contract
- Contract Disputes
- Contract Drafting & Review
- Employment Contracts
- Non-Compete Contracts
- Secured Transactions
- Uniform Commercial Code
- Warranties
- Commercial Construction Contracts
- Construction Defects
- Construction Disputes
- Dangerous Property
- Mechanics' Liens
- Debarment
- Defense Contracts
- Defense Procurement
- Federal Contracts
- State & Municipal Contracts
- Identity Theft
Bar Admissions
WA, Jun 2003
Bar Number: 33641
Other Court Admissions
Washington, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Association Memberships
Washington State Bar Association, Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and Institute of Management Accountants.
Continuing Education
I attend continuing legal education (CLE) classes on business, tax, trusts and family law areas, as well as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). I also gain CLE credits through my volunteer work for Volunteer Legal Services.
Example Cases
It is really difficult for me to point to one case that I feel exemplifies my practice, because every client is important to me. To me, the most rewarding cases are often the simple ones where I take a pro bono case for someone who really needs the assistance and achieve the desired result. The appreciation shown by the client makes the case rewarding.
Education
Degree:
Bachelors in Business Administration
School:
Seattle University
City:
Seattle
State:
WA
Year:
1995
Honors:
National Finance Honor Society.
Degree:
Masters
School:
Keller Graduate School of Management
City:
Federal Way
State:
WA
Year:
2009
Focus and Accomplishments:
Accounting and Financial Management.
Degree:
Juris Doctorate
School:
Seattle University School of Law
City:
Tacoma
State:
WA
Year:
1998
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
Washington
Firm Focus and History
I have focused my firm on the needs of the small business, and provide services across the full spectrum of legal needs, from formation to dissolution and everything in between. I also have developed my practice to include those areas that are complementary to the small business person, to include trusts and estates, wills and probate, and family law.
While finishing law school, I was hired by Wajax Limited to work in a position which combined both law and operational responsibilities, ultimately rising to the Director of Corporate Development, a direct report of the CFO. This position required me to live in Toronto and travel extensively. Following several years of non-stop travel where I literally didn't know what town I was in half the time, I made a difficult decision to return to Seattle and open my practice. My intent from the beginning was to bring the skills I had gained in the corporate world to help small businesses and not for profits achieve success in their areas of expertise. It is this passion which has driven my practice and which continues to be the guiding light for most ventures I undertake. I have been helping clients since 2003 throughout Western Washington solve their legal problems or avoid them entirely through proper planning.
Previous Employment Summary
I owned and operated my own small business to put myself through college. Once I completed law school, I joined a large Canadian corporation and rapidly rose through the levels, ultimately reporting to the CFO in Toronto.
Activities and Awards
I have been named Pro Bono Attorney of the Month and dedicate a considerable amount of time towards staffing legal aid clinics in Pierce County.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
My role is partially to guide a client through the legal system and to give them the information they need to make sound informed decisions, so educating my clients is a priority. I have written numerous legal guides which are available on my website and on other websites to assist in providing the information to potential clients.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I will review documents prepared by clients, but often that takes longer than simply doing the document myself. I have a proven forms library that I draw from which I trust and know which changes are necessary.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I do offer coaching to clients who are trying to save money by representing themselves. I feel the legal system is incredibly complex and frustrating to people who are not in it every day. Providing a resource where people can purchase an hour of my time and I am really available to answer any questions they may have has proven invaluable to many clients.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
Being the first person in my family to go to college, I placed great importance on a graduate degree. In evaluating whether to pursue a traditional MBA or something else, I chose to go to law school, because I felt the legal degree sharpened my critical reasoning and communications skills far more than a MBA course would have at the time. My original intent was to use the legal degree in business rather than practice law, but I am really happy when I can help a small business become successful.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I am convinced that the fact that I was the first person in my family to go to college allows me to identify with far more people than if I had been sheltered and privileged. This understanding influences my practice and allows me to be a much better attorney than I otherwise would have been had everything been given to me.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
As someone who has owned and operated small businesses, I know how important it is to surround yourself with competent advisors. I chose to work with small business clients because the transition from idea to successful business is exciting and very rewarding. The other areas of law are complementary to the legal needs of the small business person.
What do you like best about your career?
I have come to the realization that I am better suited for practicing law and working for my many clients than anything else. The rewards of helping a small business grow and achieve success are great.
Tell us about your law firm:
I am a solo practitioner so my clients work directly with me. I answer the phone and am available for my clients after traditional hours.
What are your strengths and style?
I think strategically and act tactically. I am confident and able to quickly assess a situation to identify what needs to be done and quickly prepare a work plan to achieve the desired goals and objectives of the representation.
Personal Interests:
I have spent a lot of time outside of the U.S., living abroad for nearly ten years of my adult life. This has given me a worldly view and an ability to relate to people from all different cultures and lifestyles. I enjoy traveling and experiencing foreign cultures.
Fax
(253) 237-1730
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Other hours available upon request.
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Foreign Languages
Korean.
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
I am offering a 10% discount to all new clients who mention seeing my profile on Nolo, but I also offer other discounts from time to time, just as any other business does. I also have a full slate of flat rate services where I am able to effectively deliver services at a fixed price. This places the onus on me to be efficient, and avoids the typical incentive to be inefficient that is inherent with the hourly rate.
Hourly Rates
$225.
Free Initial Consultation?
I do offer a free consultation of 30 minutes for potential new clients.
Typical Retainer
$2,250 (ten hours of my time).
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
