The arrival of the holiday season often means increased demands at work and home, and trying to achieve the elusive work-life balance seems one more item on a never-ending list. That’s why I hope some of us will decline what events and tasks we can, set aside a few hours to do nothing, and relax. Spending some portion of this season near the fireplace with a cup of tea in hand sounds lovely.
Partner Pronouncements
Sarah Mack has joined Pacifica Law Group as a partner in the firm’s School Districts practice group. A former school district in-house general counsel and experienced litigator, Mack brings a unique combination of skills and expertise to Pacifica’s work with school districts. Mack comes to Pacifica following five years as in-house general counsel for Everett Public Schools. There, she provided legal advice and assistance to administrators, the superintendent, and the school board regarding legal affairs, risk management, contracts, and board policies and procedures. She also assisted administrators in implementing compliance and preventative measures through the interpretation, projection, and application of legal trends; worked to ensure that the district complied with applicable legal constraints and requirements; provided training in student rights, employee rights and obligations, and evaluations, amongst other issues; supported human resources with investigations; responded to charges from the Office for Civil Rights, EEOC, and Washington Human Rights Commission; and served as the district’s Public Records Officer. Mack is also a former partner at another Seattle-area law firm, where she represented public and private clients, and focused in particular on representing school districts and other municipal entities. Mack has practiced in state and federal courts around the country, and she is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. Mack earned her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. After law school, she served as a career law clerk for United States District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez in the Western District of Washington.
John Kaplan has joined Stoel Rives LLP’s corporate practice group as a partner. Kaplan represents clients in bankruptcy, receivership, and real and personal property foreclosure matters. Kaplan obtained his B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania and earned a J.D. from Duke University School of Law.
Associate Additions
Rachel Simon has joined Pacifica Law Group’s School Districts practice group as an associate. A former teacher and civil litigator, Simon will focus her practice on special education and general counsel matters for school districts. Before joining Pacifica, Simon worked as an associate at another Seattle-area law firm in its litigation practice. There, she gained experience defending clients in state and federal courts against legal malpractice claims involving a range of underlying subjects including contract disputes, estate matters, bankruptcy cases, and consumer protection actions. Simon also has experience advising clients regarding adherence to employment agreements. Simon earned her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law, where she also served as editor-in-chief of the Seattle Journal for Social Justice. During law school, Simon interned in the Domestic Violence Unit of the Seattle City Attorney’s Office, and for the nonprofit Washington Civil & Disability Advocate. She earned her B.A. in politics from Oberlin College.
Andrew N. Stokes has joined Carney Badley Spellman, P.S. as an associate. Stokes is a commercial litigator, focusing on commercial disputes, complex litigation, and issues related to attorney-client privilege. Previously, Stokes worked as an associate at K&L Gates and an Operations Analyst at Recology CleanScapes. Stokes earned his B.A. from Whitman College and his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Dailey Koga is now an associate at Lane Powell PC. Before joining the firm, Koga clerked for the U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, and was the Associate Editor-in-Chief for the Washington Law Review. Koga earned her B.A. from Pacific University and her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.
Other Attorney Additions
Maria Rios Martinez has joined Helsell Fetterman’s Real Estate, Land Use, and Business practice groups. Martinez assists businesses through their entire lifecycle from entity formation, corporate governance, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, to reorganizations, asset and equity transfers, and partnership dissolutions. Previously, Martinez worked as an associate at Jeppesen Gray Sakai, P.S. Martinez obtained her B.A. from the University of Portland and her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Allen Sakai has joined Helsell Fetterman’s Real Estate, Land Use, and Business practice groups. Sakai advises individuals and businesses on business and real estate matters, from formations to purchases and dissolution and buy-outs. Prior to joining the firm, Sakai was partner at Jeppesen Gray Sakai P.S. Sakai obtained his B.A. from the University of Washington and his J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law.
Michael Cohodes Payant has joined Starbucks’s Corporate and Securities Group team. Payant was previously a Corporate Associate Attorney at Lane Powell PC and at K&L Gates. Payant earned his B.S. from Northwestern University and his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.
Of Counsel
Magdalena Bragun has become Counsel to the Firm at Lane Powell PC. Bragun holds a CIPP/US certification and counsels clients on data protection and privacy law and represents financial institutions. Previously, Bragun was counsel at Rimon P.C., a principal attorney at Summac Law PLLC, and an associate at Lane Powell PC. Bragun obtained a B.S. from the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poland and her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law.
Honors, Appointments, and Awards
The results from the annual Food Frenzy competition to raise money to support Food Lifeline have been announced. The legal honorees are: First Place Overall — Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP; Second Place Overall — King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; Third Place Overall — Seed Intellectual Property Law Group. First Place Per Capita — Veris Law Group; Second Place Per Capita — Seyfarth Shaw; Third Place Per Capita — Seed Intellectual Property Law Group.
Obituaries
Kevin Robert Scudder passed away in June 2023. Scudder obtained his B.A. from Hampshire College and his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law. Scudder began his legal career as a Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney, then worked as an Associate at Lagerquist, McConnell and McDonough. In 1995, Scudder started his own practice and later became the owner of the Seattle Collaborative Law Center, PLLC. He was a KCBA member for thirty-two years.
Bruce Earl Larson passed away earlier this year at the age of 72. Larson earned his undergraduate degree at Princeton University and his law degree at Chicago Law School. Larson joined Karr Tuttle Campbell in 1975, serving as President of the firm for over two decades. Larson retired in 2020.
James Edward O’Donnell passed away on August 18, 2023, at the age of 63. O’Donnell graduated from Lehigh University in 1982 and obtained his J.D. from Cornell Law School in 1985. He worked at Phillips Nizer Benjamin Krim & Ballon, then for Danielson Harrigan & Tollefson, and eventually started his own law practice.
Charles Cooper Gordon passed away on September 8, 2023, at the age of 79. Gordon graduated from the University of Washington’s business school in 1966 and then earned his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law. Gordon joined Perkins Coie Stone Olsen & Williams, eventually becoming partner. In 1996, Gordon helped form Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell. Gordon was inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers and served as Chair for the State of Washington. Gordon retired from the full-time practice of law in 2014.
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.
