Based in the firm’s Seattle office, Chris Lynch is a business lawyer who advises clients on commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and government contracting matters across a range of industries, including technology, interactive entertainment, waste and recycling, and hospitality. He also works with businesses operating in regulated sectors such as cannabis, alcoholic beverages, and solid waste management.
Chris focuses on understanding each client’s business goals and working through the legal and regulatory issues that can affect how those goals are achieved. He regularly assists clients with structuring and negotiating transactions and has experience working with both emerging companies and more established businesses in complex industries.
Licensed in Washington and California, Chris brings a cross-jurisdictional perspective to his work, particularly for clients operating along the West Coast. In addition to transactional matters, he has experience working with regulatory agencies and industry groups on rulemaking and legislative processes, including drafting and reviewing proposed regulations and legislation.
Outside of his practice, Chris is an avid gym-goer and gamer. He was a Division I collegiate swimmer and previously held certifications in exercise and strength training, including USA Weightlifting and CrossFit.
Education & Credentials
Education
Seattle University School of Law
J.D., 2016- cum laude
Seattle University
B.A., English, 2013- magna cum laude
Bar Admission
Acknowledgements
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® (Seattle, WA)
- Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), 2026–present
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2026
- Administrative/Regulatory Law, 2024–2026
- Washington Super Lawyers®
- Rising Star, Business & Corporate, 2021–2026
- Legal 500 City Elite – Seattle
- Tier 3, Corporate and M&A
Prominent Assignments
Technology Transactions
- Structure, negotiate, and draft a broad range of agreements involving the development, manufacturing, licensing, sale, and commercialization of technology, including artificial intelligence and software-as-a-service (SaaS) agreements.
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Represent clients in a wide range of mergers, acquisitions, and asset sales, including structuring, negotiating, and drafting transaction documents, as well as managing and coordinating complex closings.
Regulated Industries & Government Contracting
- Advise on structuring, negotiating, and drafting multimillion-dollar agreements for the disposal, processing, and/or treatment of waste materials.
- Provide counsel on compliance and permitting matters across regulated industries, including cannabis, hemp, liquor, and solid waste management.
- Advise clients responding to government requests for proposals and assist in negotiating government contracts.
Rulemaking & Legislative Action
- Draft and coauthor rulemaking petitions and legislative bills to advance client interests in the cannabis industry.
- Advocate for passage of petitions and bills, including providing public testimony at state and local hearings and participating in agency workgroups to develop and interpret laws, rules, and policies.
Professional Involvement
- Washington State Bar Association, Member
- California Bar Association, Member
- Los Angeles County Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
Publications/Presentations
- Speaker, “Transitioning Ownership of Liquor and Cannabis Licenses in WA and OR,” International Business Associates (IBA), Legal Symposium, March 2024.
- Author, The Turbulent History of Cannabis Regulatory Enforcement in Washington State, 31 Cornell J.L. & Pub. Pol’y 121, Fall 2021.
- Author, “At Long Last, FinCEN Offers Much-Awaited Guidance Regarding BSA Due Diligence Requirements for Hemp Businesses,” Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, Bank Law Monitor, July 2020.
- Coauthor, “COVID-19: Cannabis Industry Resources,” Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, March 2020.