Wildfire smoke has not been gruesome so far this summer; hopefully, I am not jinxing the situation by stating so. I hope we will take advantage of the Pacific Northwest summer weather during lunch by being away from our desks for a bit and not worrying over the air quality index (and client matters).
Partners and Members
Nick Brown is returning to Pacifica Law Group as a partner in the firm’s Litigation practice group. Brown was a partner at Pacifica from 2017-2021 before accepting President Biden’s appointment as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington. Brown served as general counsel to Governor Inslee from 2013-2017, advising on legal issues and managing over 50 judicial appointments. Before that, he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Seattle for approximately six years, prosecuting more than 100 cases. Brown graduated from Harvard Law School and Morehouse College.
Janet Gray is a member at Ogden Murphy Wallace PLLC. As a member of the Washington State Bar Association for over 40 years, Gray exclusively represents clients, which uniquely transcend generations, in the areas of estate planning and probate administration, taxation, and planned charitable giving. Her dedication beyond her professional practice is evident through her role as a founding member of the Ripple Giving Fund, which supports at-risk women and children in India with the goal of ending human trafficking, child marriage, and forced labor.
Sara Kiviat Berkenwald is a member at Ogden Murphy Wallace PLLC. Berkenwald’s practice specializes in the areas of estate planning, trust administration, probate, taxation, and charitable giving. She designs and implements successful wealth transfer strategies by carefully blending legal and tax expertise with each of her client’s personal philosophy and family goals. In addition to her professional work, Berkenwald actively serves her community by volunteering for city commissions, community foundations, and professional legal organizations.
Jeff Coopersmith has joined Corr Cronin LLP as a partner. Coopersmith has been a partner at the Seattle office of three major national law firms: Orrick, Davis Wright Tremaine, and DLA Piper. He was also Assistant United States Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice from 1997-2005. Coopersmith earned his A.B. from Duke University and his J.D. from Emory University School of Law.
Associate Additions
Rosa Ostrom has joined Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson P.S. as an Associate Attorney. Ostrom has experience in complex commercial litigation, along with experience with maritime, product liability, manufacturing, and construction issues. Previously, Ostrom was an Associate at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt. During law school, she was an extern for Justice Mary Yu. Ostrom earned her B.A. from Earlham College and her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.
Other Attorney Additions
Qian “Chris” Xie has joined Helsell Fetterman’s Business and Tax practice groups. Xie assists businesses throughout their lifecycle, from formation, corporation governance, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, to reorganizations, asset and equity transfers, and sale. Xie obtained his undergraduate degree from Purdue University, his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law, and his LL.M in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law.
Jenica Cassidy has joined 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.
Honors, Appointments, and Awards
James S. Rogers has been awarded the 2023 Law College Association Award from the University of Arizona College of Law. Rogers is principal in The Law Offices of James S Rogers, and practices product liability and personal injury litigation. Rogers received his B.A. from the University of Washington, and his J.D. from the University of Arizona College of Law.
Gary Fallon was awarded the Volunteer of the Year for Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties. Fallon is the Principal/Chair of Financial Services Team at Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson P.S. He focuses on Business, Lender Services, Real Estate, and Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy Law. Fallon earned his B.A. from Yale University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Obituaries
Mary Wicks Brucker died peacefully in her sleep on June 5, 2023. Brucker was born in Seattle in 1933 to Joe and Mabel Wicks. She received a B.A. from Stanford University in 1955, then returned to Seattle to attend law school at the University of Washington. Brucker worked at the King County Prosecutor’s Office after joining the bar, and later in private practice and as a law clerk. In 1976, she was appointed and later elected as the district court judge on Mercer Island, and again appointed and then elected to King County Superior Court in 1984, where she worked until her retirement in 1997. She served the community as a member of The Soroptimists, on the Seattle Ethics and Election Board, for the Mountaineers Foundation, in the Stephen Ministries at MI Presbyterian Church, as a middle school tutor, and in other small ways.
John R. Price, Dean Emeritus of the University of Washington School of Law, professor, and legal scholar in the field of estate planning, died on May 21, 2023. Price graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida in 1958, and then attended the New York University School of Law. From 1961 to 1969 he practiced estate planning law at McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen in San Francisco. In 1969, Price joined the faculty of the University of Washington School of Law, serving as dean from 1982 to 1989.
James Beale Gorham recently passed away. After receiving his J.D. from UC Berkeley in 1966, Gorham moved to Seattle. Gorham was the Des Moines City Attorney, a magistrate for Seattle District Court, and Director of Evergreen Legal Services. Gorham also worked as a King County prosecutor and an attorney in private practice.
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.
