“Renaissance Woman” describes a woman who has acquired profound knowledge or learning in more than one field, a woman who knows a lot and is interested in many things and a woman who can mix the knowledge of what is considered disparate spheres into a new whole.
In this 44th year of practicing law in King County I reflect on the skilled and effective attorneys who have been my partners. From these many relationships I now have the privilege of working with a true Renaissance Woman, someone who has advanced our group’s practice and effectively elevated her professional stature. I am pleased to share my thoughts about Jennifer K. Faubion, who prefers ”Jenny.”
Bar Bulletin profiles are inspiring for me as I review the outstanding achievements, dedication, and contributions of our fellow Bar members. Every profile stands on its own, a unique testament to an outstanding attorney. I was not expecting to be asked to submit this profile, but I am honored to share what I know about another outstanding attorney, my partner and trusted friend. Allow me to introduce you to Jenny, the woman who can skillfully mix the knowledge of what is considered disparate spheres into a new whole.
Jenny’s story starts with family and home. She is blessed with her two daughters, ages nine and seven, her husband, attorney Amit Ranade, and her mother, Barbara. If you can get him out of the woods from his trail building volunteer work, you would learn even more from her father, Tacoma attorney Tom Faubion. They will tell you stories about a woman who was born and raised in the woods, on a farm in Kapowsin, Washington — a sawmill town founded in 1901 which now has about 250 residents. In the sunrise shadow of Tahoma, Jenny enjoyed every moment outdoors, hiking, fixing trails with her father and, when in season, hunting to stock up the family freezer. Their theme would be consistent: Jenny is an inspiring mom, loving wife, dedicated daughter, and an awesome, accurate shot.
She is blessed with a curiosity for people, places, and things. She is also blessed with a warm personality which connects with back-country elk hunters as easily as with the most erudite scholar on our university campuses. Her natural curiosity, coupled with her dedicated care for her clients makes her an incredibly effective advocate and problem solver. A former colleague adds, “Jenny has a certain dynamism not many possess. Her natural confidence in herself, her team, and the mission lifts others and creates an irrepressible sense of optimism.”
Speaking of campuses, no profile of Jenny would be complete without mention of her beloved alma mater, the University of Washington. There are few who could count as bigger Huskies. From that campus she holds two degrees and a marriage license; yes, she and her husband were married at UW’s Sylvan Grove. As with everything else she does, she was a leader on campus — both in student government and as student regent in 2007.
Jenny and I work in commercial insolvency, receiverships and bankruptcy — a place not for the faint of heart or the walled-off academic. Working in this area requires adept skills in understanding people and their drivers, many of whom are affected by the enormous stress of severe financial challenges. Emotions run high and at overcapacity. Strategies for rapid action must be developed with two or more alternatives. Decisions and action must be deployed in the moment. Jenny thrives in this environment, solving not only her client’s problems, but also solving them amidst the many stakeholder concerns — may their number be 10 or 1,000.
Jenny joined Cairncross & Hempelmann in 2012 and experienced the pull of focusing on a receivership practice starting a few years later. Our practice group needed a commercial litigator, someone skilled in Superior Court and a person with the acumen to navigate the urgencies, myriad issues and stressed personalities in these matters. The next chapter for our group was born — with the lady from Kapowsin.
Fast forward to 2023: our group now represents many regional and national receivers, with Jenny at the forefront. Our projects are subject matter diverse: aerospace, multi-family apartments, biotech, multi-store franchises, complex manufacturers, toxic industrial and more. Jenny’s rapid path to mastery has led to her being Practice Group Leader and member of the firm’s Executive Committee.
Our client Shelly Crocker,a former attorney and now full-time receiver, shared, “Jenny has been my lawyer for some of the most difficult cases of my career. At every turn, Jenny is the best kind of lawyer there is. She is the perfect blend of super smart, deep listener, wise counselor, and zealous advocate. I have been most impressed when Jenny has pulled off a negotiation I thought was hopeless. Long after I was ready to rush to court, Jenny could still find a new angle that would result in consensus, saving money and aggravation while reducing risk.”
Another receiver client, Matt McKinley of Boise, reflected, “She is exceptionally knowledgeable, hard-working, practical and organized. What I appreciate most about Jenny, among her many qualities, is her ability to confront adverse parties during a difficult negotiation with a smile and friendly demeanor, while remaining firm in her position. How can you disagree with someone that is so kind and connectable?”
Jenny excels at community involvement and leadership. She is a member of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), an international professionally diverse organization in the corporate restructuring and renewal space. She is a member of TMA’s Board of Trustees and, together with Shelly Crocker, won the 2022 Turnaround of the Year for a Non-Profit. A former global Chair of TMA, Vancouver, B.C. attorney William Skelly, comments, “My fondest memory of Jenny are all of them. Jenny is the warmest and most open person I have met. Her smile lights up the room and is only outdone by her radiant personality.”
Jenny serves on the WSBA Creditor-Debtor Section’s Executive Committee as Secretary/Treasurer. She is an active member of the Thomas T. Glover Bankruptcy Mediation Program Executive Committee, a Board member of WOMBATS (Women Bankruptcy Attorneys) and serves on the Board of the Washington Trails Association. With a passion for creating access to public lands and trails she was Board President and dug in for two very challenging Covid years.
So, what is one moment — one story that I have about Jenny? I have hundreds of examples of this woman who brings disparate spheres into the whole. One of my most inspiring does not come out of her many impressive presentations in court, rather, involves a client I have worked with for 40 years through four law firms — a commercial lender. Jenny and I needed to summarize the complexity and impact of five interlocking litigation cases to senior bank management and other lender participants, all in person, at the lender’s headquarters. Jenny had been shepherding these cases, so it was best for her to handle the presentation. Sixteen anxious middle-aged male bankers and one — just one — woman. Jenny made one of the finest presentations I have witnessed — it was complex, yet easy to understand. She made the arcane intelligible. In a word, she slayed the room — a mic drop moment. Since then, she has adroitly managed the educational and skills training of many of the bank’s employees at in-house seminars and a company-wide retreat.
Is there an end to my reflections on Jenny? The Bulletin editor says it must, but I have not shared about her famous dinners at home — suffice to say if you happen to be invited do not turn it down!
John Rizzardi has been a principal at Seattle law firm, Cairncross & Hempelmann, since 1998. He has a practice focus of commercial creditors’ rights and restructuring. Thank you to Christopher Young and Amit Ranade.
