Washington Dental Law: How Cohen Law Firm Helps
Cohen Law Firm, PLLC represents Washington dentists and dental specialists from our Seattle Area Office in Kirkland, WA. With 300+ dental practice transactions per year nationwide, we focus exclusively on the legal needs of dental professionals — practice acquisitions, sales, DSO transactions, partnerships, dental office leasing, and Washington Dental Practice Act compliance. Schedule a Washington dental law consultation.
Washington Dental Law We Handle Every Day
Washington has some of the most distinctive dental law in the nation — particularly its strict non-compete statute. Out-of-state firms routinely misadvise on these rules. Our Washington practice covers:
- Washington Dental Practice Act (RCW 18.32) — licensure, ownership, and clinical practice restrictions specific to Washington. Washington allows licensed dentists to own and operate clinical practices but imposes strict requirements on entity structure and management arrangements.
- RCW 49.62 — Washington’s Non-Compete Law (the strictest in the nation) — Washington restricts post-employment non-competes for any employee earning under approximately $120,560 per year (2026 threshold, adjusted annually for inflation). Even for higher-earning associates, non-competes are limited to 18 months maximum. Washington courts do NOT blue-pencil overbroad restrictions — they void them entirely. We draft Washington-compliant restrictive covenants and advise on garden leave alternatives.
- Washington PLLC & PS Entity Requirements — Washington Professional Limited Liability Companies and Professional Service Corporations have specific formation, ownership, and operating requirements distinct from for-profit corporations.
- Washington DSO & Management Services Agreements — structuring Management Services Organizations to comply with Washington corporate practice rules, including service fee arrangements and operational control limitations.
- Washington Dental Office Leasing — Puget Sound commercial real estate dynamics, dental-specific build-out coordination, and lease assignment on practice sale. See our dental office lease attorney page.
Services for Washington Dentists
- Dental practice sales & acquisitions — buy-side and sell-side representation across Seattle, Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond, Tacoma, and statewide
- DSO transactions — joint ventures, equity rollover, recapitalizations with Washington-compliant MSA structures
- Dental partnerships — formation, buy-ins, dissolution, and dispute resolution
- Employment contracts & associateships — Washington RCW 49.62-compliant restrictive covenants and garden leave structuring
- Dental office lease & real estate — Washington commercial lease review, purchase, and lease assignment
- Vendor & contract review — DSO management agreements, employment contracts, supply contracts
- Practice transitions — retirement planning, partner buy-out, generational succession
Cohen Law Firm — Seattle Area Office (Kirkland, WA)
Cohen Law Firm, PLLC
Seattle Area Office — Kirkland, Washington
Phone: 972-695-9359
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00am–6:00pm PT
Service area: Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Tacoma, Everett, Olympia, Spokane, and all of Washington
Schedule a Washington dental law consultation →
Frequently Asked Questions — Washington Dental Law
Why is Washington’s non-compete law different from other states?
RCW 49.62 makes Washington the strictest non-compete jurisdiction in the country. Non-competes are unenforceable against employees earning less than approximately $120,560 per year (2026 figure, adjusted annually). For higher earners, non-competes are capped at 18 months. Washington courts do not blue-pencil overbroad clauses — they void them. Many Washington dental practices use garden leave or non-solicitation provisions instead of traditional non-competes.
Can I use a Texas or California non-compete template for a Washington dental associate?
No. Templates from other states almost universally violate RCW 49.62 and will be voided by Washington courts. A void non-compete provides zero protection — meaning a departing associate can compete immediately within blocks of your practice. Every Washington associate agreement requires state-specific drafting that anticipates the salary threshold, 18-month cap, garden leave alternatives, and Washington’s mandatory disclosure rules.
Do I need a Washington PLLC or PS to own a dental practice?
For most Washington dentists, yes. A Washington Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) or Professional Service Corporation (PS) provides liability protection while satisfying Washington’s ownership requirements for licensed health professionals. The entity must be owned exclusively by Washington-licensed dentists. We handle entity formation as part of every Washington dental transaction.
How do Washington DSO deals differ from other states?
Washington DSO transactions require careful structuring of the Management Services Agreement to comply with Washington’s corporate practice rules. Service fees cannot be tied to clinical revenue in ways that constitute a fee-split, and the Management Services Organization cannot exercise operational control over clinical decisions. Equity rollover structures are commonly used, with the seller-dentist retaining ownership of the Professional Entity while selling business assets to the DSO. See our DSO attorney page for the full structure.