By Karen Sutherland
August seems like an ironic time for a Bar Bulletin focused on fashion, since it is one of the few months where King County denizens shed their GoreTexª for shorts and flip flops, but our editor has wanted to have a fashion-themed issue for four years, and it seemed like a nice idea to humor him as he prepares to depart from his position. I even wrote a fashion article (which is elsewhere in this issue) just to show that I’m a good sport.
Partner Promotions
Groff Murphy recently announced that Marisa Bavand and Michael Grace have become partners in the firm. Bavand, who has been with the firm since 1998, will continue her practice in construction law and government contracts. She received her J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law, magna cum laude, in 1996.
Grace, who also joined the firm in 1998, will continue to focus his practice on construction, surety and insurance law. Grace graduated from Seattle University School of Law, cum laude, in 1996.
Susan Thorbrogger has joined Stokes Lawrence, P.S. as a shareholder. Thorbrogger’s practice focuses on closely held companies, acting as their general counsel on a wide range of business matters. Thorbrogger holds a J.D., M.B.A. and M.S. from the U-Dub, and a B.A. from Carleton College.
Douglas Davies has joined Lane Powell PC as a shareholder in its complex and commercial litigation department. Davies was previously a member of the trial group at Dorsey & Whitney LLP. He has extensive experience in representing national financial institutions and global businesses in litigation and business matters. Davies received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A. in environmental studies/marine biology from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Julie Thrall, also formerly of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, has become a shareholder in Lane Powell’s securities litigation practice group. She also did a stint at the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
William “Skip” Fisher has become a shareholder at Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt. Fisher provides counsel on U.S. and Chinese intellectual property and litigation.
Associate Additions
My absolute favorite law firm, Ogden Murphy Wallace, PLLC has added two new associates, E. Ross Farr and Wade Moller. Farr graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 2001, clerked for the Honorable Elaine Houghton with the Washington State Court of Appeals and for the Honorable Charles Johnson at the Washington State Supreme Court, and most recently was an associate attorney with Larson Hart & Shepherd. Farr’s practice will focus on employment and labor law.
Moller received his J.D. from Willamette University School of Law in 2000 and his LL.M. in taxation from the Univer-sity of Florida--Levin College of Law in 2002. Mol-ler most recently was an associate with a law firm in Idaho, and will be a part of Ogden Murphy Wal-lace’s business department with a focus in tax law.
Miyuki Yoshida has become an associate in Lane Powell’s immigration practice group, where she focuses on advising national and international clientele on employment-based and family-based immigrant and nonimmigrant law and procedures. Yoshida received her LL.M. in Asian and comparative law from the U-Dub, her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law, her M.A. in East Asian studies from Columbia University and her B.A. in psychology from Reed College.
Groff Murphy Trachtenberg & Everard PLLC recently announced that Justin Anderson has joined the firm as an associate. Anderson is a graduate of the U-Dub School of Law and he received his undergraduate degree from Pitzer College. He was formerly a deputy prosecuting attorney with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and his practice will focus on litigation.
Adam Asher recently joined Betts, Patterson & Mines, P.S. as an associate in the firm’s complex litigation group. Asher obtained his B.A. in political science from the U-Dub in 2001, and his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law, summa cum laude, in 2004.
Miry Kim and Kara Craig recently joined Reed McClure as associates. Kim practices in the areas of insurance defense and general litigation and received her J.D. from the U-Dub School of Law in 2001 and her Bachelor of Arts in history from Reed College in 1997. Prior to joining Reed McClure, Kim
was a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Pierce County. Her practice is focused on medical malpractice defense litigation. Craig’s practice also focuses on medical malpractice defense litigation. She received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2001 and her B.A. degree from the University of Illinois in 1998.
Jaime Neal recently became an
associate at Stoel Rives. Neal, who is in the firm’s real estate practice section, focuses on secured loans, as well as representation of companies in connection with other corporate, commercial and real estate matters. Neal is a graduate of Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington, where she received her J.D., magna cum laude, in 2000 and Western Washington University, where she received her B.A. in 1997. Neal was previously an associate at Dorsey & Whitney LLP.
Michael Harman has become an associate with Helsell Fetterman. His practice there will emphasize estate and tax planning. Harman was previously with Smith & Zuccarini.
Nathan Hoerschelmann has become an associate with Gordon Thomas Honeywell. His practice emphasizes insurance defense, primarily construction defects and personal injury matters.
Short Cressman & Burgess recently added Leslie Clark and Russell King as associates. Clark’s practice focuses on environmental, tribal, land use and municipal law, as she is a former planner for the City of Seattle. King’s practice focuses on construction law, securities defense, and complex business and real estate matters.
Of Counsel and Other Affiliations
Chris Farias has become of counsel to Stokes Lawrence, P.S. She has a broad-ranging commercial litigation practice, with significant work on labor and employment law cases. Farias obtained her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1991 and received her bachelor’s degree in philosophy, with distinction, from the University of Michigan in 1988.
Benjamin Stephens recently joined Stoel Rives’ corporate practice group. Stephens has significant SEC and transactional experience, including issuer and underwriter representation in initial and secondary offerings and other securities matters. Stephens received his J.D. from Cornell Law School in 1986 and his A.B. degree from Amherst College in 1981. He was previously senior corporate counsel for AT&T Wireless Services, Inc.
Susan Peterson has joined Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, where her practice focuses on real estate.
Outside of Private Practice
James Tune will soon become president and CEO of ArtsFund. He will begin his work there in November. Tune, a principal in Stoel Rives’ corporate practice group, is the managing partner of the Seattle office. He was formerly a partner with Dorsey & Whitney and was the chairman of Bogle & Gates. Tune has been a member of ArtsFund’s board, having served as its chair, vice-chair and secretary. He received his J.D. from Stanford University Law School in 1974 , his M.A. from Stanford in 1970, and his B.A. from the University of Virginia in 1964.
Clay Gatens has left Jameson Babbitt Stites & Lombard PLLC to pursue other interests in business and real estate development. His practice at JBS&L focused on commercial real estate transactions representing lenders, real estate developers, landlords and tenants. Gatens received his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law, magna cum laude, in 2003 and his B.A. from the U-Dub in 1999.
Jim Bamberger has become director of the brand new Office of Civil Legal Aid. He was named to the position by the Washington State Supreme Court. The office provides administration and oversight for civil legal aid services in the state.
Honors and Awards
King County Washington Women Lawyers recently held its 2005 Judicial Appreciation and Honors Luncheon at the Olympic Fairmont Hotel. The luncheon featured an excellent salmon and a wide selection of delectable desserts. Honors and awards were given as well. Judge Michael Spear-man of the King County Superior Court was named Judge of the Year. Judge Glenna Hall of King County Superior Court was given the Vanguard award, Dean Kellye Testy of the Seattle University School of Law was given
the President’s award, and Sudha Shetty, Director, Access to Justice Institute, was given the Special Contribution to the Judiciary award.
Gary Gayton has been selected to receive the 2005 Distinguished Alumni award from the U-Dub Political Science Department. Gayton received a political science degree from that august institution in 1955 and also holds a J.D. degree from Gonzaga Law School. Gayton is senior vice-president and regional manager of Siebert Brandford Shank & Company. Gayton has a long list of civic involvements and also served on the transition teams for President Clinton and Governor Gary Locke.
The South King County Bar Association has elected the following new officers and trustees: Mark Johnsen--President; Shana Thomp-son--Vice-President; Marie White--Secretary; and Phil Dunlap--Treasurer. The following trustees were elected to two-year terms: Harry Reichenberg; Judge Catherine Shaffer; Judge Laura Middaugh; and Kristina Thalacker. Judge Michael Trickey was elected to a one-year trustee term.
Sheryl Willert of Williams Kastner & Gibbs has been named a member of the board of directors of the National Foundation for Judicial Excellence, a newly created educational group.
Lance Losey has been appointed chair of the estate planning and probate group of Ryan Swanson & Cleveland, PLLC. Losey joined the firm in 2000 and focuses his practice on estate planning and probate.
Leona Colegrove has been named to the Washington State Supreme Court’s Commission on Children in Foster Care. Colegrove is an associate in Williams Kastner & Gibbs’ Seattle office. Colegrove’s legal practice focuses on Indian and gaming law.
Stewart Landefeld has been named the chair of the Seattle Foundation. Landefeld hails from Perkins Coie, where he represents the Seattle Mariners, SuperSonics and Seattle Storm. Seattle Foundation also named an attorney as one of its trustees, Brad-ford Smith, who is with Microsoft.
King County Superior Court Clerk Barbara Miner has been named Court Manager of the Year by the Court Management Council.
Bryce Holland has been named managing partner of Dorsey & Whitney’s Seattle office. Holland’s practice focuses on corporate and securities law.
Foster Pepper & Schefelman PLLC has received the 2005 BEST Award from the Resource Venture, Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Seattle Public Utilities. The award, which stands for Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow, honors local businesses with significant “green” accomplishments. FP&S is a winner in this year’s waste prevention and recycling category. The award recognizes the firm’s efforts for, among other things, avoiding the use of yellow paper and turning off the office lights on a daily basis.
As usual, the Johnson & Associates basketball team has won the Seattle Lawyers Basketball League title. They also won in 2000, 2002, 2004, and other years that I did not have time to retrieve from the Bar Talk archives. Their team, which only practices basketball together, and not law, defeated the King County Prosecutors. Johnson & Associates’ team members are James Clark (Willamette, 1987), Eric Hanson (Seattle University, 1996), Robert Iannucci (Boston University, 1988), Anthony Johnson (Boston University, 1988), Joshua Lipsky (Georgetown University, 1995), Eric Nelson (Pepperdine, 1992), Charles Paglia-lunga (University of Puget Sound, 1992), Robert J. “Jack” Slavik (Seattle University, 1996), Shannon Smith (University of Puget Sound, 1988), and William Spurr (Boston University, 1990).
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.
