Douglas S. Palmer, Jr.  
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Profile

From 1969 to 1974, I worked in a law firm in Tokyo, primarily representing U.S. and other foreign companies entering into joint ventures, technology licenses and other business arrangements in Japan. Since returning to Seattle, my practice has encompassed a broad range of business and real estate matters, including the representation of many overseas companies in the United States, and acting as general counsel to companies and individuals. Clients span a broad range of industries, from fish processing to real estate development, and from the wholesale and retail of food products to the manufacture of printers and fiber optic switches. My specific experience includes the structuring, formation, acquisition, financing, operation and disposition of business entities; commercial agreements; real estate acquisition and development; real estate and equipment leasing; and international business transactions.

Professional Highlights

• Helped develop the first securitization program for insured pools of equipment leases, rated AAA by S&P.

• Assisted a publicly-traded Japanese printing company in forming R&D joint ventures in the U.S. for holographic imaging and in other hi-tech fields.

• Assisted a manufacturer of fiber optic switches in completing a strategic round of venture funding.

• Acted as general counsel for two minority founding shareholders and directors of a pioneer international courier company in connection with shareholder, corporate governance, corporate restructuring and other related issues.

• Acted as general counsel in the U.S. for a publicly-traded Japanese company, the largest builder of homes in Japan. Activities in the U.S. included real estate investment and development, and the syndication and management of real estate projects.

• General counsel in the U.S. to a Hong Kong-based conglomerate. Activities in the U.S. include real estate and golf course development and sale of plywood and other wood products in the U.S. produced by their mills in China.

• General counsel for a Seattle-based supermarket chain, specializing in Asian specialty items, including in connection with the development of their flagship store as a mixed-use residential and commercial project.

• Foster, Pepper & Shefelman, Seattle, Washington, Feb. 1975 - Feb. 2002 (partner or member since 1978).

• Adachi, Henderson, Miyatake & Fujita, Tokyo, Japan, 1969-1974.

• Admitted to practice in Washington, 1969.

• National Defense Foreign Language Fellowship (Chinese), 1968-1969.

• Conversant in Japanese and Mandarin Chinese.

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Professional and Community Activities

Japan-America Society of the State of Washington, Director.

Center for Career Alternatives, Director.

American Bar Association; Co-chair for East Asia & Pacific, Asia-Pacific Law Committee, Section of International Law and Practice, 1995-1996.

Washington State Bar Association; Business Law Section.

King County Bar Association; Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section.

Education

Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1969.

Yale University, A.B. in Chinese Studies, cum laude, 1966.

Outside Interests

I love skiing, white-water kayaking and scuba diving, and have recently taken up an even more challenging sport - golf. In addition, I enjoy cooking from time to time and travel that is off the beaten track whenever I can.

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