Spring is finally here. Hopefully, that means taking some time away from desks, briefs, and dockets to enjoy the springtime. On my end, I plan on visiting my alma mater to view the twenty-nine cherry blossoms at the University of Washington Quad. They’re worth checking out.
Associate Additions
Humberto Quintanar has joined Reed Longyear Malnati Corwin & Burnett, PLLC as an associate and will be working with the Family Law group. Quintanar was previously an attorney at Skellenger Bender, PS. He is also an executive board member at the Loren Miller Bar Association. Quintanar earned his B.A. from St. John’s University and his J.D. from the Seattle University School of Law.
Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice is pleased to announce the addition of Hope Barnes as an associate attorney in the Seatle office. Barnes handles a range of matters, including government and professional liability defense. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a prosecutor for the Seattle City Attorney’s Office, where she managed hundreds of misdemeanor cases. Barnes earned her law degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree from Whitworth University. She is licensed to practice in Washington.
Other Attorney Announcements
Marc Cote has opened a new mediation firm, Cote Law and Mediation PLLC. In this role, Cote will continue to serve on the mediator panel of Washington Arbitration and Mediation Services (WAMS). He serves as a neutral mediator for cases in many areas of law, including employment law, class action litigation, negligence, sexual abuse, insurance coverage, property damage, legal malpractice, serious personal injury, and business disputes. Prior to opening his own mediation firm, Cote was a partner with Frank Freed Subit & Thomas LLP, where he litigated employment law class actions.
Tyler Quillin is now Senior Corporate Counsel at Microsoft. Quillin was previously Principal Corporate Counsel at Microsoft. Quillin has acted as President of the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington. Quillin earned a B.A. from the University of Arizona and a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.
Melissa Robertson has been promoted to Senior VP & General Counsel at the Seattle Mariners. She was previously Vice President & Deputy General Counsel at the Seattle Mariners and had worked as an attorney at Perkins Coie LLP. Robertson obtained her B.A. from Scripps College and her J.D. from the University of Washington.
Obituaries
Roy L. Prosterman passed away on February 27, 2025. After graduating with a B.A. in 1954, he completed his J.D. at Harvard Law School in 1958. In 1965, he left the New York law firm Sullivan & Cromwell to teach at the University of Washington. Prosterman focused on land rights reform. In 1992, he helped found the Rural Development Institute, which was later renamed Landesa. Landesa has helped governments in more than 65 countries provide legal land rights to more than 700 million people. He also founded and directed a graduate program in the Law of Sustainable International Development. Prosterman received numerous awards and distinctions, including the Gleitsman Foundation International Activist Award, which honors achievement in alleviating world poverty, a Schwab Foundation Outstanding Social Entrepreneur Award, the Henry R. Kravis Prize in Leadership, and the University of Chicago Alumnus of the Year. He was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Kelly Patrick Corr died on February 3, 2025. Corr attended Williams College and then Columbia Law School. He was a trial lawyer, representing companies such as Alaska Airlines and bands like Heart and Nirvana. Corr was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He taught at the Seattle University School of Law and the University of Washington School of Law and volunteered as a board member of the Matt Talbot Center.
Jeffrey Carl Jones passed away on Friday, February 28, 2025. Jones graduated magna cum laude from Seattle University and received his law degree from the University of Washington School of Law. He represented injured persons in cases including aviation/plane crash litigation, construction site injuries, wrongful death, cruise ship liability, and other cases involving serious injury or death. Jones was also a past Co-Chair of the Aviation Section of the King County Bar Association.
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.
