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Tuesday, October 7, 2008 - 5:30 PM PDT | Modified: Tuesday, October 7, 2008 - 5:32 PM

Microsoft shows interest in Washington Mutual bankruptcy

Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle) - by Kirsten Grind

Microsoft on Tuesday filed a legal document in the Washington Mutual bankruptcy case indicating that it wants to be kept abreast of all future developments as the case moves through court in Delaware.

Joseph Shickich, a Microsoft attorney, declined to comment on why Microsoft and its wholly owned affiliate, Microsoft Licensing, filed what’s called a “notice of appearance” in the case in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.

Shickich, an attorney with Riddell Williams P.S. in Seattle, would not say whether Microsoft was a creditor, was owed licensing fees, or was keeping track of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy because of interest in WaMu’s downtown Seattle office space.

However, the filing indicates that Microsoft likely has a claim or an interest in the case, said Danial Pharris, a bankruptcy attorney and principal of Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson in Seattle.

“They may not be a creditor, but they may be a shareholder or a partner in a business transaction or somehow have some related financial interest to the debtor,” said Pharris.

JP Morgan Chase, the new owner of WaMu’s banking operations, acquired WaMu’s headquarters building as part of its purchase of WaMu assets, but has not made a decision on its plans for the downtown Seattle building.

Washington Mutual has not released its list of creditors in the bankruptcy case, which was filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware a day after WaMu was seized by Federal regulators on Sept. 25.

Other parties across the country have claimed interest in the case — including counties in Texas concerned about property tax payments — but Microsoft appears to be the first local company to express an interest.