By Karen Sutherland
Well, I’ve beaten back the demon of procrastination to take Dictaphone in hand. You know how it goes--the baseball game went into extra innings, the billable work takes priority, the living room needs vacuuming, the pizza guy is finally here, etc. In any event, I can’t put off “Bar Talk” any longer or I will be facing unbearable deadline guilt. With that cheerful introduction, here’s what’s been happening in the last month in the King County legal community:
We Need An Editor
The Bar Bulletin’s editor, Bob Anderton, has decided to find something else to do with his spare time and announced that he will be leaving his position this summer. We are running an editor search announcement elsewhere in the paper, but so many of you tell me that you only read “Bar Talk” I thought I would announce it here too. In a nutshell, the editor is a lawyer who is a KCBA member with an eye for detail and the ability to meet deadlines. The editor gets a stipend, cooks up themes and story ideas with the Bar Bulletin committee, follows up with folks who promised to write something, makes final article selections and does an initial edit, figures out where articles should go in each issue, reviews and edits the proofs (twice), occasionally interfaces with the powers that be at the Bar, and has a monthly one-hour lunch meeting in my office with the Bar Bulletin Committee. The editor does not sell ads, proof ads, sell subscriptions, post content on the Web, do paste-up, or deal with address lists or paper delivery. For more details, e-mail bob@andertonlaw.com. The new deadline for applications is June 30.
New Firm Owners
Lucy Clifthorne has become a principal of Vandeberg Johnson & Gandara. Her practice concentrates on business and corporate law, intellectual property, employment and civil litigation. She served as clerk to the Washing-ton State Court of Appeals, Judge J. Dean Morgan and joined VJ&G in 1998. Clifthorne was awarded a J.D., magna cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law in 1997, an M.A. in journalism from the Ohio State University in 1987 and a B.A. from Beloit College in English in 1981.
Reed McClure recently announced that Nancy Elliott has been elected a shareholder in the firm. She will continue her representation of healthcare professionals. Additionally, Greg Silvey has joined the firm as a principal. Silvey’s experience includes insurance coverage and coverage litigation, the defense of bad faith litigation, commercial disputes, product liability and professional negligence cases. He received his J.D. from Willamette University College of Law in 1985 and his BA from the University of Puget Sound in 1982.
Gillis Reavis has joined Foster Pepper & Schefelman PLLC as a member in the litigation practice group, where he focuses on environmental litigation, insurance coverage for policyholders, toxic torts and class action litigation. He was previously a partner with Brown Reavis & Manning PLLC. He received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1981.
Dorsey & Whitney has elected Michael Cohen as a partner in its tax, trusts and estates group.
Merchant & Gould has added Richard Siefert as a partner. Sie-fert focuses on intellectual property and antitrust cases. He graduated from North-western Univer-sity School of Law and holds a B.A. from DePauw University. He was a Trial Attorney with the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice, and a Special Assistant United States Attorney.
Heller Ehrman White & McAu-liffe recently announced that John Morrow, Kenneth Payson and Felix Luna have become shareholders at the firm.
Stephen Ellis was appointed the executive partner at Holland & Knight’s Seattle office as well.
Associate News
Kelly Hebert and Terry Price have joined Reed McClure as associates. Hebert’s practice focuses primarily on insurance defense litigation, including personal injury and health care matters. She received her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law in 2003 and her B.A. from the U-Dub 1998. Price practices litigation concerning insurance defense matters. He received his J.D. from the U-Dub School of Law in 2001, his M.A. from Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, MA, in 1991, and his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1983.
Jennie Laird has joined Seattle Divorce Services as an associate where (not surprisingly) her practice will focus on divorces.
Andrew Bryant has joined the Seattle office of Stoel Rives LLP as an associate in the tax section of the firm’s corporate practice group. Bryant has experience in litigation in the areas of professional liability, bankruptcy and commercial law, and in drafting corporate documents, advising clients on related tax strategies and researching and analyzing banking law issues. He was a graduate at the University of San Diego School of Law, where he received his LLM in 2004, the U-Dub School of Law, where he received his J.D. in 2002, and the U-Dub Undergraduate School, where he received a B.A. in 1992. He was previously an associate with a firm in San Diego, California, and is awaiting his admission to the Washington State Bar.
Victoria Pond and Jody Campbell recently joined Betts, Patterson & Mines, P.S. as associates in the firm’s complex litigation group. Pond received her undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Wellesley College and her J.D. from Stanford Law School. Campbell received her undergraduate degree from the U-Dub and her J.D. from George Washington School of Law.
Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt recently welcomed Kyle Flindt and Jennifer Jolley to its Seattle office. They are both associates in the firm’s intellectual property and technology practice group. Flindt, who is also an electrical engineer, worked as a patent agent for Novell. Jolley’s practice focuses on trademark and copyright matters and contracts and was formerly an associate with Stratton Ballew.
Mark Beatty and Andrew Bryant have joined Stoel Rives, where they toil in the vineyards of the firm’s employee benefits practice group and corporate practice group tax section, respectively. Please note the vineyards are only metaphorical; as far as I know, Stoel Rives’ law practice is ensconced in an office building, just like most of the rest of us.
Brian McLean has become an associate at Leahy.ps. His practice focuses on condominium and homeowner associations and corporate governance. He received his J.D. cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law in 1994, and his B.A. Summa Cum Laude from the same institution in 1982.
Emily Thelen recently joined Eisenhower & Carlson, PLLC as an associate in its Seattle office. She practices primarily in the area of commercial litigation.
Other Attorney Additions
Beth Barrett Bloom has joined Frank Freed Subit & Thomas, LLP. Bloom received her undergraduate degree from the U-Dub in 1993 with honors and her law degree, cum laude, in 1999 from New York University School of Law. Before entering law school, she served as the associate director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute. Bloom’s practice involves complex and class action litigation, with a focus on employment discrimination, civil rights, labor law and contractual disputes. She is a member of the California and Washington bars.
Joe Bowen has become of counsel to Ater Wynne LLP’s Indian Law Group. His experience includes Indian gaming and gaming expansion, commercial and industrial development, energy projects, and other investment opportunities. He is practicing out of the firm’s Seattle office.
The Port of Seattle has named Craig Watson as its general counsel. He has been with the Port since 1990 and succeeds Linda Strout, who has ascended to the Port’s deputy CEO position.
New Offices and Office Moves
Bob Anderton, who has never before gotten his name in this column twice in one month, moved his practice to the Dexter Horton building, which is named after the guy that started what became Seattle First International Bank. Anderton, whose motto is “representing people not corporations,” represents bicyclists, pedestrians, and even the occasional car driver, often ably assisted by his dog Stan, whom we will miss in our future Bar Bulletin Committee meetings perhaps even more than Bob.
Susan Larrance recently opened a solo practice in North Seattle, limited to immigration law with an emphasis on employment-based visas and family-based immigration.
Honors, Accalades and Benefits
The Northwest Women’s Law Center’s annual gala dinner was held on May 19th, which had not happened yet as of press time, so I don’t know how it came out. If you missed it and still wish to contribute, call (206) 692-9552 and they can point you in the right direction.
Washington Women Lawyers King County Chapter will hold its annual Judicial Appreciation and Honors Luncheon on June 15. For details on attending or being a sponsor, contact bladams@demcolaw.com by June 7.
The U-Dub is already looking for golfers for its third annual U-Dub Law Alumni Golf Tournament on September 16. Being as it is a scramble event, they are happy to take your money even if you are not a golfer. The registration fee is $200, or you can play with your favorite faculty member for just $25 more. Contact (206) 543-8707 for details.
Lawyerpalooza 3, a battle of law firm bands to benefit elementary school band projects, was held on Cinco de Mayo. Bands scheduled to appear were from Lane Powell PC, Perkins Coie, Preston Gates & Ellis, Karr Tuttle Campbell, McNaul Ebel, Groff & Murphy, and the Law Offices of David Huber. In addition to law firm bands, this popular event also featured elementary school musicians and the artwork of local artists in the law business, with a visual artist lineup at press time that was planned to include paintings by Alex Alban, Deborah Stevenson and Kate Johnson; paintings or drawings by Anne Dalrymple; collages and blown glass by me (Karen Sutherland), felted abstract textile wall hangings by Margie Wetherald, and the beautiful work of Maggie Yowell, who coordinated the artists.
Davis Wright Tremaine finished first and won a $125 Wild Ginger lunch and Lane Powell finished second and won a gift card, as did Keller Rohrback, at the Tsunami Relief Bowling Tourna-ment, which raised close to $7,000 for Mercy Corps. They all had so much fun, they are holding another bowling benefit for Big Brothers and Big Sisters in
June. For details, contact Jeremy Shel-ton at Ryan Swanson and Cleveland.
Eisenhower & Carlson, PLLC has named Mike DeLeo as the managing partner of its Seattle office. His practice concentrates on business litigation, with a focus on real estate, construction, banking, creditor rights, employment disputes and professional liability defense.
Leona Colegrove of Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC has joined the board of directors of the Seattle Indian Health Board.
Robert Blackstone, a partner in Davis Wright Tremaine’s Seattle office, has been elected to the executive committee of the Washington State Bar Association’s Labor and Employ-ment Law Section. Blackstone’s practice focuses on labor and employment law issues.
Joanie Kim has become the deputy executive partner of Holland & Knight’s Seattle office. Her practice focuses on corporate law, securities, and mergers and acquisitions. Kim earned a B.A. in communications/public relations from the U-Dub and a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Sheryl Willert has received a leadership award from the International Association of Business Leaders. Willert’s practice focuses on employment law, professional negligence, contracts, personal injury and civil rights.
British American Business Council of the Pacific Northwest has named Cristopher Dahl to its board of directors for business events. Dahl is an associate at Williams Kastner & Gibbs.
Obituaries
My old ultimate Frisbee buddy Kim Pflueger recently died at the age of 51 while riding his motor scooter. Pflueger received his B.A./B.S. from the University of California at Irvine, his MFS from the Yale School of Forestry and Environ-
mental Science, and his J.D. from the
U-Dub School of Law. He was a senior partner with Floyd and Pflueger, P.S. Remembrances can be made in his name to establish a memorial fund at the U-Dub School of Law and can be sent to Floyd and Pflueger, P.S.
Harvard Palmer recently died at the age of 90 from liver cancer. Palmer received his J.D. and undergraduate degrees from the U-Dub and began his legal career in 1940. He left private practice to join the trust division of Seattle First National Bank in 1948 and left the bank to become vice-president of Clise Properties in 1970.
Michael Rosen recently died at the age of 66 following years of Parkinson’s disease and a degenerative nerve disorder. Rosen graduated from Hobart College in 1960 and Fordham Law School in 1964. He was staff attorney and subsequently executive director of the ACLU of Washington and then worked in private practice from 1972 until his death. His practice focused on defending individuals on drug charges. Donations can be sent to the ACLU of Washington Foundation in his memory. n
Karen Sutherland is the chair of the Employment and Labor Law Practice Group at Ogden Murphy Wallace, P.L.L.C., and chair of the King County Bar Bulletin Committee. Her practice focuses on employment and labor law and complex litigation. She can be reached at 1601 Ð 5th Avenue, Suite 2100, Seattle, WA 98101, by phone at (206) 447-7000, by fax at (206) 447-0215, or by e-mail at ksutherland@omwlaw.com.
