I haven't been in a classroom for 23 years, but September still feels like back-to-school time. I think buckling down for fall is a rhythm we all get into, either because it has become an ingrained habit or because people with children are reliving it through their offspring. In any event, September is a time when everyone seems to forego summer fantasies and focus on work, which makes this month's Bar Bulletin theme of "labor" quite fitting.
New Members Recognized
Leslie Hagin has become a member in McNaul Ebel Nawrot & Helgren PLLC. Hagin's practice will continue to emphasize criminal defense and civil litigation, including employment, intellectual property and commercial matters.
John Chun, formerly a partner at Preston Gates & Ellis, has joined Summit Law Group as a member.
Associate Attorneys Join New Firms
Russel Robertson has become an associate at Graham & Dunn, where he labors on the firm's Financial Services Industry team. Robertson's practice focuses on representing financial institutions on all aspects of commercial litigation. He also has represented clients in resolving business, construction and products liability disputes.
John Vaughey recently joined Reed, Longyear, Malnati, Ahrens & West, PLLC as an associate. Vaughey was formerly with George W. McLean & Associates. Vaughey has extensive experience in personal injury, premises liability and general litigation.
Michael Johnson has become an associate with Karr Tuttle Campbell. Johnson's practice focuses on public and private corporate securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate governance. Johnson was previously an associate with Keller Rohrback LLP.
Of Counsel and Other Attorney Additions
Tyler Ellrodt has joined Rafel Manville PLLC. Ellrodt's practice emphasizes construction, antitrust and employment cases. He was formerly with McNaul Ebel Nawrot & Helgren PLLC.
Sharon Haensly has become of counsel to Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC. Haensly's practice focuses on Indian law and gaming. She also has extensive experience in environmental, land use, and natural and cultural resources protection. Haensly was formerly with Morisset, Schlosser, Jozwiak & McGaw.
David Moody has joined Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro. Moody is part of the firm's personal injury practice. He currently serves as vice president of the Arc of Washington State, and is an active member of the Arc of King County, which advocates for the rights of citizens with developmental disabilities.
Jumping the Pond
Patty Thompson and Elisabeth Woare have relocated to the downtown Seattle office of Davis Wright Tremaine. Both were previously located in the firm's Bellevue office. Thompson is a partner and member of the firm's environmental practice. Woare, an associate, focuses her practice on commercial leasing transactions.
A Rose by Any Other Name
The American Trial Lawyers Association voted to change its name to the American Association for Justice at its recent convention in Seattle.
Honors and Awards
Mark O'Halloran has been selected by the Washington State Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division Board of Trustees to serve as its 2006-2007 president-elect. O'Halloran is an associate at the Gosanko Law Firm.
Brad Thoreson of Foster Pepper PLLC has been appointed director, Corporate Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of King County; co-chair, Membership Committee and member of the Urban Land Institute, Washington District Council; and commissioner of the Basketball League and chair of the Athletic Membership Review Board of the Washington Athletic Club.
At its most recent annual banquet, the Loren Miller Bar Association renamed its President's Award the Ronald R. Ward President's Award to honor Ward's service as president of the WSBA and his accomplishments in the areas of court funding, legal services for poor people, maintenance of the independence of the judiciary and diversity.
Obituaries
Raymond Petersen recently died at the age of 78. He received his JD, BA and BS degrees from the University of Washington and served as a Judge Advocate General officer in the U.S. Air Force. He practiced law in Seattle for many years.
Bernard ("Bernie") Friedman recently died at the age of 63. He was the chair of the Washington State Bar Association Disciplinary Board. n
Karen Sutherland 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.
