Susan Dippold (Schalla)
Top rated Mergers & Acquisitions attorney in Seattle, Washington
Carney Badley Spellman, P.S.
Practice areas: Mergers & Acquisitions, Business & Corporate, Closely Held Business; view more
Licensed in Washington since: 2006
Education: University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2026 Call today:
206-622-8020
Free Consultation Carney Badley Spellman, P.S.
701 Fifth AvenueSuite 3600
Seattle, WA 98104 Visit website
Susan (Schalla) Dippold is a member of the Board of Directors and Director of Associates at Carney Badley Spellman, P.S., in Seattle, Washington, where she provides sophisticated legal counsel to a diverse range of business clients. Focusing on business counseling, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate finance & commercial lending, she serves as a strategic partner to companies at every stage of their lifecycle. Her practice is defined by a meticulous approach to complex transactions, ensuring that her clients navigate the intricacies of corporate growth, and financial structuring with confidence and legal precision.
Ms. Dippold’s academic pedigree is a testament to her deep knowledge of corporate law and fiscal strategy. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Chicago in 1997, followed by her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law in 2003. To further refine her mastery of the financial aspects of business law, she obtained an LL.M. in taxation from New York University in 2006. She maintains active bar admissions in both California and Washington.
The legal community has consistently recognized Ms. Dippold for her judicious skill and professional standing. She is notably listed in the Legal 500 for 2026, a distinction that underscores her reputation as a leading practitioner in the field. Her influence extends into the regional business community through her leadership roles, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Association for Corporate Growth, Seattle Chapter, and acting as Co-Chair of the Makers Committee.
Beyond her transactional work, Ms. Dippold is an active member of the Washington State Bar Association and the King County Bar Association. She also contributes her legal acumen to organizations such as Northwest Family Business Advisors and the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Puget Sound, reinforcing her commitment to the economic vitality of the Pacific Northwest.
Practice areas
Mergers & Acquisitions, Business/Corporate, Closely Held BusinessFocus areas
Business Formation and Planning, Business Organizations, Contracts, Limited Liability Companies, Partnership, Sub-chapter S Corporations
- 70% Mergers & Acquisitions
- 20% Business/Corporate
- 10% Closely Held Business
First Admitted: 2003, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.carneybadleyspellman.com/attorney/susan-dippold/
Bar / Professional Activity
- King County Bar Association, Business Section Member, 2015
- Washington (2006)
- California (2003)
- Center for Advanced Manufacturing Puget Sound
- Northwest Family Business Advisors
- Washington State Bar Association (Business and Tax Sections)
Representative Clients
- Represented Westward Seafoods and Maruha Nichiro in the acquisition of a fleet of Alaskan pollock fishing vessels and a Bering Sea processing plant from Icicle Seafoods
- Represented private equine veterinarian practice in acquisition by NVA (National Veterinary Associates, Inc.)
- Represented Johansen Construction Company, an essential infrastructure and heavy civil construction company, in the sale of a majority interest to Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation, an Alaska Native Corporation
- Represented Déjà vu Security, specializing in security design and testing of enterprise software platforms and internet of things technologies, in its acquisition by Accenture
- Represented Celerity Consulting Group, LLC, a leading provider of information management services for utilities, state governments, law firms and corporations, in its recapitalization by Hastings Equity Partners
Educational Background
- University of Chicago, B.A., 1997
- New York University, LL.M., Major: Taxation, 2006
White Papers
- A summary of the securities law considerations on the federal and state levels when a startup company awards equity to its employees and consultants, Startup Equity Awards: Securities Law Considerations, Startups, Venture Capital, 2015
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- “Tax and Regulatory Update” presented to the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Puget Sound, November 2025
- Co-author: “Start-Up Equity Awards: Securities Law Considerations” Practical Law Institute Practice Note, July 2015
- Co-author: “The Entrepreneur’s Roadmap: From Concept to IPO” New York Stock Exchange, 2017
- Co-presenter with Zach Haveman, “M&A Transaction Process” Business Owner Summit, July 2023
- Panelist, “Pre-Planning a Business Transition” ACG Seattle Chapter, November 2023
- Panelist, “Considerations in Sell-Side M&A: Preparing for an Exit” Venture Mechanics, June 2024
- “Business Succession Planning” presented to King County Bar Association Business Section, October 2024
Honors
- Listed in Legal 500 (2026)
- Selected to Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2026
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“Smart, organized, decisive.”
Office location for Susan Dippold (Schalla)
701 Fifth Avenue
Suite 3600
Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-622-8020
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2023 - 2026
