Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2027 
Susan Dippold advises privately held companies, entrepreneurs, and business owners in mergers and acquisitions, strategic business transactions, corporate governance, and succession planning. She serves as outside general counsel to family-owned, founder-led, and growth-stage businesses, helping clients navigate critical business decisions at every stage of the company lifecycle.
Susan has extensive experience representing buyers and sellers in mergers, acquisitions, recapitalizations, and other complex business transactions. She has successfully closed transactions with enterprise values of up to $460 million and has represented companies across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, aerospace, software, food and beverage, seafood, retail, consulting, and professional services. Her practice focuses on helping business owners evaluate legal and business risks, negotiate favorable outcomes, and achieve strategic objectives while preserving important business relationships.
In her role as trusted counsel to privately held businesses, Susan advises clients on entity formation, corporate governance, ownership transitions, business succession planning, equity compensation arrangements, and growth strategies. She works closely with entrepreneurs and business owners to position their companies for investment, expansion, acquisition, and long-term success.
Susan also brings advanced tax knowledge to her corporate practice. After earning her law degree, she obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation, allowing her to provide practical guidance on the tax implications of business formations, ownership structures, compensation arrangements, and transaction planning. Her ability to integrate corporate and tax considerations helps clients make informed decisions that support both operational and financial objectives.
Additionally, Susan's background in estate planning and probate administration enables her to advise business owners on the intersection of business succession, ownership transitions, and personal wealth planning.
Before joining Carney Badley Spellman, Susan practiced with Davis Wright Tremaine in Seattle and Bingham McCutchen in Los Angeles.
