Just like that, January is over and we’ve entered the second month of the year. For those looking forward to spring and more sunlight, March is only a month away.
Partner and Member Announcements
Christopher Conley is a newly elected member at Ryan Swanson & Cleveland. Conley is a commercial litigation attorney. Previously, he was an associate with the firm and before that an attorney at James Bates Brannon Groover LLP. He has served as the director of Bike Walk Macon. Conley earned his B.A. at Mercer University and his J.D. at Wake Forest University School of Law.
Gretchen Hoog is a newly elected member at Ryan Swanson & Cleveland. Hoog is also Of Counsel at the firm. She is a seasoned appellate attorney with success in all divisions of the Washington Court of Appeals, the Washington Supreme Court, and Ninth Circuit. Hoog focuses on representing businesses and individuals in a wide range of commercial disputes, including breach of contract, employment disputes, corporate negligence, and medical malpractice defense. Hoog earned her B.A. from Pacific Lutheran University and her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Jeng-Ya (Jen) Chen is a newly elected member at Ryan Swanson & Cleveland. She works on business and family-based immigration matters, with a focus on petitions involving niche fields, including O-1A (scientists, researchers, and athletes), O-1B (artists), and P-1 (artists). Previously, she was a legal researcher at Chianglin Law Firm, PLLC, a research assistant at the UCLA, and an extern for Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud. Chen earned both her B.A. and J.D. from the UCLA.
Alexander Hagel is now partner at Cedar Law PLLC. Hagel was previously an Associate Attorney at the firm, which focuses on education law. Hagel obtained a B.A. from Gonzaga University in 2014 and a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 2019. During law school he worked in the Children and Youth Advocacy Clinic representing homeless and low-income children in the dependency system and interned with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Civil Rights Division, and with Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, enforcing civil rights laws that protect students from discrimination.
Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson is proud to announce the appointment of Taro Kusunose as its new Managing Principal. Kusunose has been a principal with the firm since 2008 and is a member of its Corporate & Business Law, Real Estate, and Trademark Registration practice groups. He takes the reins from Mario Bianchi, under whose leadership the firm enjoyed sustained growth, celebrated its 50th Anniversary; and began the process of a brand refresh. Kusunose welcomes the opportunity to lead the firm effective January 1, 2025.
Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson is proud to announce that, effective January 1, 2025, Desirée L. Good, James R. Blankenship, and Brent W. Beecher have been elevated to Principals in the firm. Good practices in family law matters, including divorce, child custody, parenting, child support, legal separation, and more. Prioritizing her clients’ well-being and interests, she is a skilled and effective advocate in and out of the courtroom.
James R. Blankenship is Chair (and now Principal) of Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson’s Employment Law group and a member of the Business Litigation Practice group, where he represents and advises employers and employees in disputes involving wrongful discharge, discrimination, wage and hour claims and compliance, and workplace policies. He also represents business entities in complex litigation, professional liability, and regulatory disputes.
Brent W. Beecher, now a Principal at Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson, litigates a wide array of issues, focusing on Trusts and Estates, Business Disputes, Insurance Coverage, and Insurance Bad Faith issues. He has delivered outstanding results for clients ranging from multi-million-dollar jury verdicts when representing plaintiffs to defense verdicts when representing defendants.
Jeff Read has been named an equity partner at Fikso Kretschmer Smith Dixon Ormseth PS. Read focuses on real estate transactions, real estate finance, and construction and design contracts. He worked as an associate at Heffernan Law Group PLLC from 2017–2019 and externed for the Honorable Jim Rogers. Read obtained his B.A. and J.D. from the University of Washington.
Sydney Conway was named an equity partner in 2024 at Fikso Kretschmer Smith Dixon Ormseth PS. Conway represents clients in a wide range of commercial real estate matters, including office, industrial, and retail leasing, acquisitions and dispositions, and real estate financing. She earned her B.A. from Whitman College and her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.
John McDowall has been named Managing Partner and President at Fikso Kretschmer Smith Dixon Ormseth PS. McDowall focuses on real estate purchase and sale agreements, commercial leases and ground leases, real estate finance and loan negotiation, joint ventures, entity formation and development agreements, business transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. He obtained his B.A. from Seattle University and earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.
Felicia Craick is now a partner at Keller Rohrback L.L.P. Craick focuses on complex and multi-district litigation. She has also represented consumers in cases where the business practices of drug manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, and other entities have driven up the costs of pharmaceuticals. Prior to joining Keller Rohrback as an attorney, Craick received her J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School, where she served as an Executive Article Editor of the Harvard Law & Policy Review. Craick gained practical legal experience as a clinical student attorney, representing low-income survivors of domestic violence in family court and prosecuting criminal cases in state court, and as a summer associate at Keller Rohrback.
Carney Badley Spellman has elected Mark Lamb as a shareholder. He is also Chair of the Real Estate Practice Group. Lamb has practiced law for 26 years in Washington and California. His practice centers on three primary areas: real estate & land use, business litigation & transactions, and First Amendment, campaign finance & election law. Lamb was Mayor of Bothell for four terms and served on the Bothell City Council from 2004–2015.
Carney Badley Spellman has elected Haiyan Tao as a shareholder. Tao is a seasoned attorney specializing in business and corporate law, with a focus on startups, emerging businesses, and mergers and acquisitions. With over a decade of experience, she has represented a diverse clientele, including startups, private companies, and investment groups, in a wide range of corporate and financing matters. Other focused areas include commercial and intellectual property transactions, wills, trusts and estate planning, and cross border e-commerce.
Carney Badley Spellman has re-elected Susan Schalla as its Director of Associates. In addition, Schalla has extensive experience in mergers & acquisitions on both the buy-side and sell-side, having successfully closed transactions with enterprise value up to $460 million. She has represented private equity firms in acquiring and selling portfolio companies, and has represented businesses in manufacturing, telecommunications, software, food & beverage, seafood, retail, consulting & professional services industries.
Carney Badley Spellman has elected Patrick Lamb as President and Managing Partner. He is also Chair of the M&A Practice Group. Lamb focuses his practice on corporate transactions and business matters. His practice involves significant work in corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions of businesses, commercial loan transactions, preparation and negotiation of complex corporate and business agreements, including limited liability company agreements, shareholder agreements, joint venture agreements, as well as supply and service agreements and licensing and distribution agreements.
Carney Badley Spellman has elected Jason Anderson to its Board of Directors as Director-at-Large. He is also Chair of the Appellate Practice Group. Anderson handles disputes in appellate courts and helps trial counsel win key issues and position cases for appeal. Through meticulous, hard work, Anderson has earned a reputation as one of Washington’s top brief writers. Clients trust him with high-stakes appeals. He routinely assists clients in challenging large money judgments. His clients include over a dozen Fortune 500 companies.
Klio Moore has joined PLG as partner in Washington. With nearly three decades of experience, Moore has established a distinguished practice negotiating and drafting over a thousand leases and subleases across a wide range of commercial properties, including tall office towers, shopping centers, regional malls, stand-alone buildings, warehouse parks, casinos, airports, condominiums, and more. Representing international, national and regional retail, restaurant, and office clients, Moore has worked with industry-leading brands and companies in all aspects of their real estate needs. Prior to joining PLG, Moore was a partner with Opus Law Group. She received her J.D., cum laude, from Boston University School of Law and her B.A. from University of Washington.
Ogden Murphy Wallace PLLC announces the election of Julia Norwood as a Member of the firm, effective January 1, 2025. Norwood is an attorney in OMW’s Litigation and Employment groups, where she represents businesses, municipalities, and individuals through all stages of the litigation process. She also advises employers on a wide range of workplace issues and is a licensed Private Investigator.
Helsell Fetterman LLP announces that Kristy Ball, Jenica Cassidy, Nidal Dirini, and Scott Johnson were promoted to partners on January 1, 2025. Ball assists clients in matters involving personal injury, employment, business disputes, and property actions. She also represents physicians and other health care providers in licensing and disciplinary disputes. Ball graduated from Mississippi College School of Law in 2007. Prior to law school, she attended the University of Washington and graduated in 2003.
Jenica Cassidy (now a partner) is part of Helsell Fetterman’s Trust and Estates Litigation and Estate Planning practice groups. She helps individuals and their families plan for the future and resolve legal issues relating to aging. During law school, Cassidy worked as a summer associate at Wechsler Becker, LLP. Cassidy earned her B.A. from the University of Oregon and obtained her J.D. from Wake Forest University of Law.
Nidal Dirini (now a partner) is part of Helsell Fetterman’s Commercial Litigation practice group. Dirini’s practice focuses on the areas of personal injury defense, insurance defense, medical malpractice as well as general litigation. Dirini earned his B.A. from Central Washington University and his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Scott Johnson (now a partner) is part of Helsell Fetterman’s Environmental, Land Use, and Real Estate Groups. His practice is focused on helping clients make fully informed decisions regarding the purchase, development, and remediation of contaminated property. Johnson graduated from the University of Washington School of Law. Prior to law school, he attended Washington State University.
Associate Additions
Karl Kleppe has joined Carney Badley Spellman as a litigation associate in its Real Estate Practice Group. Since entering private practice in 2023, Kleppe has litigated cases involving boundary disputes, adverse possession, real estate seller disclosures, contract disputes, construction defects, timber trespass, fraudulent billing practices, and violations of the Consumer Protection Act. Before entering private practice, Kleppe obtained valuable litigation experience as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for King County.
Honors, Appointments, and Awards
Jennifer R. Petersen has been appointed to the King County Superior Court. She replaces retiring Judge Kristin Richardson, who retired on February 1, 2025. Petersen has focused her 20-year career as a trial attorney in the criminal and civil Divisions of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. While serving in the criminal division, Petersen tried approximately 80 jury trials, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and homicide cases. In the civil division, her practice focused on employment litigation. Petersen is active as a volunteer, mentoring young lawyers, serving as a volunteer facilitator on her office’s equity action group, and volunteering with several organizations, including the YMCA as a mock trial judge. Petersen earned her bachelor’s degree from Central Washington University and her law degree from the University of Washington School of Law.
Todd D. Tinker has been appointed to the King County Superior Court. Tinker has worked in private practice for more than 28 years, with a focus on medical negligence cases for the last 20 years. He has developed strong leadership and operational management skills, both as an owner, partner, and managing member of law firms. Tinker has also been very active in his community, including many years on the boards of the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island, Kitsap Cancer Services, Montessori Country School Board of Trustees, and the Board of Directors and Finance Committee of One Call for All. Tinker earned his bachelor’s degree from Washington State University and his law degree from Seattle University.
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.
