MARCH 2023 BAR BULLETIN
By Ruth Apahidean Harper
Finer weather and slightly higher temperatures might mean more outdoor activities for some of us. The mountain may not always be out, but I look forward to a quick walk through a local park during lunchtime or planning an outing to one of Washington’s state parks on the weekend. It is a great way to break away from the ever-increasing to-do list regardinng client matters, emails, and drafts.
Partner Pronouncements
Jessica Thompson has been promoted to partner at Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP. Her practice focuses on discrimination, primarily in employment and school, and she is currently involved in many of the firm’s high-profile class actions. Previously, Thompson was an associate at Crowell & Moring LLP, an associate at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, and an associate at Howrey LLP. Through Seattle’s Sexual Violence Law Center, Thompson sought civil protection orders for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and harassment. She also worked to protect the privacy rights of survivors in criminal cases. Thompson graduated from the University of Baltimore with a B.A. and earned her J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Kai Smith has been elected as partner at Pacifica Law Group. Smith’s practice focuses on public entity representation, constitutional law, public policy and political law, and complex commercial disputes. Smith provides counsel and strategic advice to help clients navigate important and sensitive issues, particularly in the areas of legislation, ballot title appeals, public records, and statutory and regulatory compliance. Previously, Smith was an associate at Covington & Burling and a law clerk at the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Smith earned his undergraduate degree at Seattle University and his law degree at Stanford Law School.
Debbie Silberman has become a partner at the Law Offices of James S. Rogers. Silberman’s practice focuses in the areas of Civil Rights, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs. Previously, Silberman was a trial lawyer with Brooklyn Defender Services. She spent eleven years as a public defender working on behalf of thousands of indigent clients in Brooklyn, New York, and worked in the elite homicide unit. Silberman is a graduate of Barnard College. She received her J.D. from Cardozo School of Law.
Eugenie Rivers is now a partner at Cairncross & Hempelmann, P.S. Rivers assists forward-looking companies, entrepreneurs, and investors with securities offerings, LLC and corporate matters, real estate finance and banking, executive compensation, and stock incentive plans. Rivers obtained her B.A. from California State University-
Sacramento and her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.
Laura Bertin is now a partner at Cairncross & Hempelmann. Bertin’s practice focuses on corporate and securities law and she helps clients navigate the legal intricacies associated with growing and reaching key milestones over the lifetimes of their businesses. Bertin received her B.A. from the University of Washington and her J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Rochelle Doyea (Nelson) is now a partner at Cairncross & Hempelmann. As a commercial litigation attorney, Doyea’s focus is on construction, real estate, and various aspects of employment law. Doyea is admitted to practice in the state courts of Washington and Alaska, United States Ninth Circuit, and in the United States District Courts for the District of Alaska and Western District of Washington. Doyea received her B.S. from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Aditi Paranjpye is now a partner at Cairncross & Hempelmann. Paranjpye represents companies, individuals, and receivers in commercial bankruptcy, restructuring, and receiverships. She advises creditors, debtors, and receivers with respect to risk management and dispute resolution. Paranjpye received her B.A. from the University of Washington and her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.
Jonathan Tebbs is now a partner at Cairncross & Hempelmann. Tebbs is a member of the Firm’s litigation practice group, focusing on complex commercial litigation. In addition to handling business disputes in state and federal courts, his experience covers appellate, securities, antitrust, trade secrets, and products liability litigation. Tebbs obtained a B.A. from the University of Cincinnati and his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law.
Denise Stiffarm has been named managing partner at Pacifica Law Group. Stiffarm succeeds Gerry Johnson, who was a founding member of Pacifica Law Group in 2011 and the firm’s first managing partner. Stiffarm joined Pacifica in 2015 and has been an active leader both at Pacifica and in the broader legal and business communities. Stiffarm provides counsel to school districts and other special purpose public entities on matters including real estate transactions, project permitting, and policy matters related to regional and local land use planning. Stiffarm is an enrolled member of the Gros Ventre (Aaniiih/White Clay) Tribe and is an active member of Seattle’s Urban Native community. She was awarded the Chief Seattle Club’s inaugural Stiffarm Visionary Leadership award for her leadership. Stiffarm also serves as Chair of the Board of the YWCA of Seattle-King-Snohomish County, as a Trustee for the Seattle Art Museum, as a member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of King County, as a Trustee of College Spark Washington, and as a Trustee of One Roof Foundation.
Teva Sempel has been elected Shareholder at Carney Badley Spellman. Sempel focuses his practice on guiding clients through high-stakes business and construction disputes. He represents clients at arbitration proceedings, in state and federal courts, and on appeal. He litigates claims involving breach of contract, unfair trade practices, trade secrets, non-compete/non-
solicitation agreements, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty. He handles all aspects of construction law litigation and represents commercial property owners in unlawful detainer actions, shareholders/members in judicial dissolution actions, and businesses/individuals in lease disputes and receivership proceedings. In addition, Sempel represents corporate clients in internal investigations, government investigations, and enforcement actions regarding business crimes and civil frauds and defends individuals in cases involving allegations of public corruption, fraud, money laundering, structuring, and other financial crimes. Sempel earned his B.A. from the University of Idaho and his J.D. from Loyola University School of Law New Orleans.
Randy Johnson has been elected Shareholder at Carney Badley Spellman. Johnson litigates a variety of issues involving real estate development, commercial lease disputes, construction disputes, claims of unfair business practices, and personal injury. He has successfully argued on behalf of Carney clients in Washington courts and has appeared on brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. As a law student, Johnson worked for Carney Badley Spellman as a summer associate in 2013, spent the summer of 2014 in Olympia as an extern under the direction of Supreme Court Commissioner Narda Pierce, and in 2015 competed on Seattle University’s 2015 National Appellate Advocacy Team which won an ABA Regional Championship and advanced to the knock-out rounds of the National Competition. Johnson earned his B.A. from Washington State University and his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Andrew Ulmer has been elevated to partner at Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC. Ulmer represents victims in cases involving catastrophic injuries, sexual abuse, employment discrimination, and product defects. He has tried multiple cases to verdict in state and federal court. He also provides pro bono legal services at clinics hosted by the Latino Bar Association of Washington. Ulmer joined PCVA in 2019. He received his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts (summa cum laude) from the University of California, Riverside.
Other Attorney Additions
Josh Brittingham has joined Carney Badley Spellman as a Labor and Employment attorney. Brittingham represents clients in connection with all types of labor and employment matters arising under federal and state law. He helps employers implement effective personnel policies and practices and represents high-level executives in employment matters. His practice includes drafting and enforcing agreements and defending claims regarding wrongful discharge, discrimination, sexual harassment, and wage-and-hour issues. Brittingham also provides representation on labor relations matters, such as collective bargaining, arbitrations, union organizational campaigns, and National Labor Relations Board proceedings. Previously, Brittingham was a partner at Davis Grimm Payne & Marra. Brittingham earned his B.A. from Northwest University and his J.D. from University of California, Los Angeles – School of Law.
Obituaries
Robert A. Stewart has passed away at the age of 94. Stewart joined KCBA in 1953 and was a Lifetime Member. Stewart received his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1952 and his A.B. from University of Washington in 1972. He practiced law for almost 70 years in Seattle, first as a partner at Bogle and Gates, then, as Of Counsel at Short, Cressman and Burgess, and finally at his own PLLC. Stewart practiced in the areas of probate, estate planning, and estate and trust litigation. He served on the Washington State Bar Association Board of Examiners, American Bar Association committees, the King County Bar Association, and was elected Fellow of American College of Trust and Estate Counsel in 1969.
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.
