Combining January and new beginnings in one sentence is cliché. However, sometimes a reminder of breaking old routines is what we need. This might look like learning the ins and outs of a new case management system, moving office locations, or switching jobs. Whatever those changes might be, letting go and enjoying the journey might not be such a bad thing.
Associate Additions
Adriena Clifton has joined Helsell Fetterman as an associate, focusing on commercial disputes, trials, and appeals. Clifton was previously a legal intern and summer associate at Helsell Fetterman and at Carney Badley Spellman, P.S. Clifton was also a judicial extern for Chief Justice González. Clifton obtained her B.A. from the University of Washington and her J.D. from the Seattle University School of Law.
Angela Chen has joined Lane Powell, PC as an associate. She represents clients in commercial litigation matters. Chen was previously a summer associate at the firm. Chen had also been a summer associate, litigation paralegal, and pro bono social justice team member at Harris Bricken Sliwoski, LLC. Chen obtained her B.A. from the University of Washington and her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.
Antonia Gales has joined Lane Powell, PC as an associate, focusing on construction matters. Gales was previously a summer associate at the firm and a legal intern for Weyerhaeuser Company. Gales obtained her B.A. from the University of Texas, and her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.
Hari Kumar has joined Lane Powell, PC as an associate, focusing on insurance coverage and commercial liability matters throughout Washington, California, and Oregon and representing clients in employment matters in Washington and Oregon. Before joining the firm, Kumar was an associate attorney at Duane Morris LLP, a Fellow at the Washington Leadership Institute, an associate attorney at Selman Breitman LLP, and an associate attorney at DKM Law Group, LLP. Kumar received his B.A. from the University of St. Andrews, Master’s from the University of Oxford, and J.D. from the University of California, Davis – School of Law.
Alayna Piwonski has joined Lane Powell, PC. Piwonski represents employers in wage and class action lawsuits, in addition to reviewing employment agreements, handbooks, and personnel policies. Before joining the firm, she was an associate attorney at Lukin and Annis, P.S. Piwonski earned her B.A. from Washington State University and obtained her J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law.
Bandhanjit Singh recently joined Foster Garvey as an associate in the firm’s Investment Management and Business & Corporate Finance practice groups. Singh was previously a law clerk with the firm. Singh received his B.A. and M.B.A. from the Pacific Lutheran University and his M.J. and J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.
Tommy Sandstrom is now an associate at Foster Garvey, joining the firm’s Municipal, Health & Housing practice. Sandstrom previously worked as an associate at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, and at Legal Innovators. He has experience as bond counsel, disclosure counsel, and underwriter’s counsel. Sandstrom earned his B.A. from Emory University and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Other Attorney Additions
Smriti Shukla has joined DuBois Levias Law Group, PLLC. Previously, Shukla was an associate attorney at Zafiro Law and an associate attorney at Mary L. Gaudio & Associates. Shukla obtained her B.S.L. and LL.B in Law from the University of Pune, an LL.M. from King’s College London, and an LL.M. from the University of Washington School of Law.
Honors, Appointments, and Awards
University of Washington School of Law Professor Anita Ramasastry has been appointed by former UK Prime Minister Theresa May to The Global Commission on Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking, which was recently launched to address human rights issues.
Obituaries
Jeffrey L. Needle has passed away on November 8, 2023. After graduating from Boston University, Needle attended American University Law School. Needle was on the law review staff and an editor of the law school law journal. Needle was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1975. He began his career as a criminal defense lawyer but shifted his focus to civil rights law in the late 1970s. He was one of the leading Employment law attorneys in the state of Washington and a pioneer in advancing the security of workers in the country. Needle ran his own law practice and focused on employment law and civil rights, including unlawful discrimination, retaliation, unpaid overtime class actions, whistle-blowing, and First Amendment protection. Needle was on the Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice (formerly ATLA). He was the past Chairman of AAJ Civil Rights Section, past Chair of AAJ’s Employment Rights Section, and past Chair of Washington State Trial Lawyers Association (WSTLA) Civil Rights. Needle was a founding member of the Washington Employment Lawyers Association (WELA) and created and led the WELA amicus committee. He was an AAJ Amicus committee member, National Employment Lawyers amicus committee member, and ACLU-W legal committee member.
Ruth Apahidean Harper is an attorney at Cobalt Law PLLC. She is easily reached via email: ruth@cobaltlawfirm.com, by phone: 253.234.4676, or by mail: PO Box 1134, Enumclaw, WA 98022-1134.
