EXHIBIT 5.1
August 31, 2006
Board of Directors
EvergreenBancorp, Inc.
301 Eastlake Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98109-5407
EvergreenBancorp, Inc.
301 Eastlake Avenue East
Seattle, WA 98109-5407
Re: Legality of Shares to be Issued
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as counsel for EvergreenBancorp, Inc., a Washington corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of a maximum 666,667 shares of the Company’s common stock, no par value per share (the “Shares”) to be sold by the Company in an offering to existing shareholders and to the public. A Registration Statement on Form S-1, including the Prospectus contained therein (collectively the “Registration Statement”), is being filed under the Act with respect to the offering of the Shares.
In connection with the offering of the Shares by the Company, we have examined (a) the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation as currently in effect; (b) the Registration Statement; and (c) such other documents as we have deemed necessary to form the opinion hereinafter expressed. As to various questions of fact material to such opinions, where relevant facts were not independently established, we have relied upon statements of officers of the Company.
Based and relying solely upon the foregoing, we advise you that in our opinion the Shares, or any portion thereof, when duly issued by the Company after the Registration Statement has become effective, in the manner described in the Prospectus, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable under the laws of the State of Washington.
Consent is hereby given to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference in the Prospectus to this firm under the caption “Legal Matters” as having passed upon the legality of the Shares. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are experts within the meaning of the Act.
Very truly yours,
Graham & Dunn PC
| /s/ Graham & Dunn PC | Pier 70 | |
| 2801 Alaskan Way ~ Suite 300 | ||
| Seattle WA 98121-1128 | ||
| Tel 206.624.8300 | ||
| Fax 206.340.9599 | ||
| www.grahamdunn.com |
Graham & Dunn PC is a member of MSI,
a network of independent professional firms
a network of independent professional firms