NLD Picks Slate for 2026-27 Board Positions
The required time period for accepting nominations has concluded, and the King County Bar Association New Lawyers Division will now vote on the following slate of candidates to fill vacancies on the NLD Board. NLD members who wish to challenge the slate may run against the candidates named below by submitting a petition signed by at least five NLD members in good standing (or 25 signatures if challenging the chair position) and filing that petition with the office of the King County Bar Association on or before 3 p.m. Friday, June 12. We invite all NLD members to join us at our year-end BBQ on June 4th at Gas Works Park for an opportunity to meet the candidates in person. For more information about the petition process, please contact KCBA New Lawyers Division Liaison Alexa Arron at NLD@kcba.org. An electronic election will occur only if a petition to challenge one or more candidates is received by the deadline. If an election is required, members will be sent a voting link by June 19 via their email address on file with KCBA.
2026–2027 New Lawyers Division
Board of Trustees Candidates
Jacob Roes / Candidate for Chair Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Jacob is a Labor & Employment Associate at Seyfarth Shaw LLP, where he advises employers navigating the constantly evolving landscape of employment and workplace safety laws at the local, state, and federal levels. A Washington native, Jacob attended Lower Columbia College and Concordia University, where he was a left-handed pitcher and student-athlete representative at both institutions. After earning his undergraduate degree in Business Administration, he attended the University of Washington School of Law and graduated in 2022.
Jacob joined the NLD in 2024, serving as a Trustee and most recently as Chair of the Communications & Outreach Committee. Outside the office, he enjoys competing in triathlons, experimenting in the kitchen, and playing guitar.
Janelle Elysee / Candidate for Vice Chair Stoel Rives
Janelle Elysee is an intellectual property attorney whose practice focuses on patent litigation and complex IP disputes involving cutting-edge technologies. She represents clients in federal court litigation and administrative proceedings before the PTAB and TTAB, working on high-stakes matters from early case strategy through trial preparation. Her experience spans a range of industries and technologies, including medical devices, software, communications systems, and consumer products. In addition to patent litigation, Janelle advises clients on trademark, copyright, trade secret, false advertising, and broader IP counseling matters, helping technology companies navigate compliance, risk management, and product development in evolving legal and regulatory environments.
Before joining Stoel Rives, Janelle practiced as a litigation associate at two international law firms and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Embry J. Kidd of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida following law school. As a young attorney practicing in King County, Janelle is passionate about fostering a more connected and inclusive legal community for newer attorneys. She is committed to strengthening mentorship opportunities, practical skills programming, community engagement, and collaboration between younger attorneys and bar organizations to help new lawyers build meaningful professional connections and thrive in practice.
Julissa Rachor / Candidate for Secretary/Treasurer Emery Reddy, PC
I am seeking a second term on the King County Bar Association New Lawyers Division (NLD) Board and to continue serving as Secretary to help strengthen the foundation we’ve built around mentorship, peer connection, and professional support for new lawyers. My first year on the board gave me valuable insight into both the KCBA’s work and the unique challenges facing early-career legal professionals. I have been inspired by the NLD’s commitment to creating resources, mentorship opportunities, and community for lawyers navigating the pressures and isolation that can accompany the legal profession. I want to help continue the momentum of our current initiatives by expanding their reach, increasing engagement across King County, and ensuring our programming evolves to meet members’ changing needs. As Secretary, I am committed to maintaining organized, effective communication and documentation so the board can focus on developing impactful programming and support systems for our peers. As a first-generation, biracial, and bisexual woman who has navigated the challenges of entering the legal profession, I understand the importance of mentorship, representation, and meaningful opportunities early in one’s career. Serving on the NLD Board has allowed me to contribute to initiatives that support the growth, diversity, and professional development of new lawyers throughout King County.
Stella Haynes Keihn / Candidate for Trustee Knobbe, Martens, Olsen & Bear
Stella is an associate at Knobbe, Martens, Olsen & Bear, where her practice focuses on trademark prosecution and intellectual property enforcement. She earned her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 2025, and as she begins her legal career, Stella is committed to developing a practice grounded in empathy, thoughtful advocacy, and collaboration.
As a first-generation attorney and first-generation college graduate, Stella understands the importance of community and is passionate about helping early-career lawyers build meaningful personal and professional connections. She looks forward to collaborating with her fellow trustees to develop a curriculum featuring networking events, CLE programs, and mentorship opportunities for members of the KCBA New Lawyers Division. A lifelong resident of King County, Stella is also eager to engage in community outreach initiatives in her role as a trustee.
Kathryn (Katie) Koch / Candidate for Trustee The Law Office of Kathryn Koch, PLLC
Kathryn (Katie) Koch has been licensed to practice in Washington since 2021. She spent most of her 20s working as a journalist, writer, and editor in Boston before relocating to Seattle in 2013. She decided to go back to school in her 30s and received a JD from UW Law in 2020. After working under a local sole-practitioner mentor for the first few years of practice, she opened her own firm in 2025 focusing on estate planning and administration, guardianship, and probate for working and middle class families.
She hopes to connect with other new attorneys who are developing their practice in a small/solo firm setting and to find ways to support this group within the broader mission of NLD and KCBA. She lives with her husband of 15 years and their four-year-old son in Columbia City.
Madison Budinich / Candidate for Trustee Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC
Madison Budinich is a Washington-raised attorney with a background in science and medicine. She shifted to the law to focus on advocacy, and she now represents survivors of sexual abuse and others who have endured traumatic events. Madison is passionate about supporting first-generation attorneys and pursued a role in the New Lawyer Division to help new and incoming lawyers find connection, mentorship, and community. When she is not working, Madison enjoys hiking, reading, and gardening.
Kristen Moran / Candidate for Trustee Dickinson Wright
Kristen Moran is a litigation attorney in Dickinson Wright’s Seattle office. She focuses her practice on construction, commercial, and insurance-related litigation. During law school, Kristen gained valuable experience working on complex litigation matters with various law firms and in the chambers of Chief Justice González of the Washington State Supreme Court. She is actively involved with the AGC of Washington’s Legislative and Legal Affairs Committees. Kristen leverages her diverse experiences and professional connections to approach complex legal challenges creatively and collaboratively, consistently providing flexible, client-focused solutions.
Luke Porter / Candidate for Lay Member Alvarez & Marsal Valuation Services, LLC
As an Associate with Alvarez & Marsal Valuation Services, LLC, Luke performs business valuations and financial analyses supporting expert testimony and litigation matters across civil and family law, including lost profits claims, shareholder and post-acquisition disputes, and marital dissolutions, among others. Additionally, he assists in valuing early-stage companies for financial and tax reporting purposes and performs valuations for estate planning and taxation. Luke holds a Master of Business Administration from Seattle University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Religious Studies from Grinnell College. In addition, he is a CFA Level II candidate.
Luke was drawn to the NLD by the opportunity to facilitate connections between legal and legal adjacent professionals. A Seattle native and a former college athlete, Luke enjoys spending his time outdoors or with a good book.
Outgoing Board Members
Brittney Rivers Matthew Audish Laurel Brown Heather Maloney Emily Kearney
Dickinson Wright PLLC Watters Wolf Bub Hansmann LLC Corr Cronin Dellino Family Law Group Lay Member, FTI Consulting
