During a recent backpacking trip in the North Cascades, my hiking boot sole fell off halfway through the 30-mile trek. Attempted repairs included duct tape, cord, and Leukotape (the Leukotape held up the best in case you’re wondering). This served as a reminder that regular gear checkup and maintenance is great practice. This not only applies to hobbies but to work as well. Deferred maintenance in work and professional processes can be just as painful. Discarding processes that no longer function and using updated tools and systems might mean putting out fewer fires.
Partner and Members
Freya Wormus is now a partner at DuBois Levias Law Group, PLLC. Wormus initially joined the firm as a law clerk while still at the Seattle University School of Law, where she graduated magna cum laude. Wormus was then hired as an attorney at the firm. Wormus earned her B.A. from Connecticut College and her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Robert Christie and Megan Coluccio, formerly of Christie Law Group, are now members at Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC.
Robert Christie has successfully tried over 100 cases in state and federal courts over his 40+ year career, arguing numerous appeals. Christie founded Christie Law Group. He has served as president of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel and is licensed in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Christie earned a B.S. from the University of Washington and his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Megan Coluccio has served as lead counsel in a federal jury trial, handled multiple state court cases, and argued appeals in the Washington Court of Appeals and the Ninth Circuit. Before being a partner at Christie Law Group, Coluccio was an Associate Attorney at Sedgwick LLP and Preg O’Donnell & Gillett PLLC. Coluccio is licensed in Washington and Oregon. She is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, Chair of the Business Litigation Committee and Standing Committee on Outreach to Young Lawyers, and serves as the Membership Chair for the West Region and Vice Chair of the We Prefer to Refer Committee for the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys. Coluccio earned her B.S. from Santa Clara University and her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Of Counsel
Shelby Stoner has joined Galanda Broadman PLLC as Of Counsel, focusing on complex litigation involving Tribal nations and enterprises and Indigenous citizens. Stoner also provides employment counsel to Tribal employers. She joins the firm after clerking for the Hon. Eric D. Miller of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Hon. Thomas S. Zilly of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. In addition, Stoner previously worked as a litigation associate at K&L Gates LLP, where she represented the Duwamish Tribe in its pursuit for federal recognition. Stoner graduated from the University of Washington School of Law in 2017, where she graduated with high honors and served as an Articles Editor of the Washington Law Review. She holds an M.A. in International Affairs from Columbia University and a B.A. in International Studies from the University of Washington. Before law school, Stoner worked in the nonprofit sector, focusing on global economic development, women’s rights, youth development, and education. She also served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Middle East.
Going Solo
Stephan Yhann has started De Novo Law, which aspires to be a general practice firm focused on providing high-quality, affordable legal services to working people, small businesses, and mid-sized companies. Yhann was previously a Senior Associate Attorney at HWS Law Group, where he focused on personal injury and construction defect lawsuits in all stages of litigation. He was also an Associate Attorney at Larson Griffee & Pickett PLLC, where he focused on litigation, negotiation, and settlements in real estate, personal injury, civil rights, contract, and tort cases. Yhann researched and composed trial briefs and presented oral arguments and has experience litigating business, contract, construction, consumer protection, civil rights, personal injury, and real property disputes in state and federal courts across the Pacific Northwest. Yhann obtained his B.A. from the University of Washington in 2014 and his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 2018.
Honors, Appointments, and Awards
Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson is pleased to announce that four of the firm’s attorneys were included in the 2024 Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) Guide: Linda Ebberson, Lisa Sharpe, Jamie Polito Johnston, and George Holzapfel.
Linda Ebberson’s practice focuses exclusively on complex divorces. One of Washington’s preeminent divorce attorneys, she is an original founder of Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson. Ebberson is a skillful litigator with more than 40 years of experience and an impressive history of handling some of the region’s most challenging commercial, construction, and dissolution cases.
Lisa Sharpe counsels high net worth individuals from both the private and public sectors, and across a wide variety of industries including technology, sports, entertainment, finance, healthcare, and professional services. Sharpe is particularly sought after for her skills in financial and custody litigation, prenuptial agreements, custody evaluations, mediation, and trial practice. She is licensed in both Washington and California.
Jamie Polito Johnston’s practice focuses on complex marital dissolutions, representing high net worth individuals involving the valuation and division of closely-held companies, stock options and awards, family trusts and partnerships, separate property tracing, as well as custody matters and prenuptial agreements. In her 20 years of practice, Johnston has developed a reputation as a compassionate and skilled advocate for her clients, utilizing traditional dispute resolution methods in litigation or the Collaborative Law process.
George Holzapfel serves as general legal counsel to hundreds of private and family companies and also serves as estate planning counsel to the owners of virtually all of these businesses. In addition, Holzapfel acts as estate planning counsel to senior and other executives of publicly held corporations and their families.
Obituaries
Matthew Aaron Carvalho, age 52, passed away on May 1, 2024. Carvalho graduated from Brown University in 1994 and subsequently attended Columbia Law School where he obtained his law degree in 1997. Carvalho spent the first two years of his legal career in Washington D.C. working as a law associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. He then moved back to Seattle in 1999 where he clerked for the Honorable Robert S. Lasnik in the U.S. District Court. Following his clerkship, Carvalho had a successful career as a white collar attorney at Heller Ehrman, Yarmuth LLP, Calfo Eakes and Morgan Lewis, during which time he was repeatedly recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in the Washington Law & Politics Magazine. In 2023, Carvalho decided to start his own firm as a solo practitioner where he was able to focus on the type of work and clients to whom he knew he could bring the most value.
Ruth Apahidean is a Trusts and Estates attorney at the Law Office of Neil R. Sarles. She is easily reached via email at ruth@sarles.com or by phone at 253.234.4676.
