Business litigation is expensive and risky. Much of it may not be covered by insurance. The life of a business may be contingent on a successful result. Reputations in the business community or the public eye may be on the line. As many of my commercial clients has told me over the years, “it’s all about the brand.” It is no surprise then that mediation has become a cornerstone of dispute resolution in commercial litigation, providing a less adversarial, more collaborative approach to settling disputes. As attorneys, preparing effectively for mediation can be the decisive factor in achieving a favorable outcome for your clients. This guide aims to equip you with a plan to strategically navigate the mediation process.

The King County Bar Association was shocked and saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of former King County Bar President, Kim Tran. Her legal career was punctuated by extensive pro bono work, and her commitment to diversity exemplified the Bar’s mission then and now.

Kim was the first woman of color to be President of KCBA. Her tenure from 2015 to 2016 focused on strengthening the fundamentals of the organization: strategic planning, updating and amending the by-laws, and tackling the controversies around the new Juvenile Justice Center, leading to the formation of the Bar’s juvenile justice reform task force. Her focus was on making sure the Bar’s foundation was solid and forward-looking, all while carrying and then delivering twin boys with grace and good humor.

“Always Appealing” is a column addressing current issues in appellate practice and recent appellate cases written by the lawyers of Smith Goodfriend, P.S., a Seattle law firm that limits its practice to civil appeals and related trial court motions practice.

After two clerkships and a few years in appellate practice, I have written the summary judgment standard of review more times than I can count. Surely, our esteemed Always Appealing readers could faithfully recite the chapter and verse like pious disciples in the Church of CR 56—”the standard of review is de novo, of course!”

“ …if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness.”
– Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1968

Huge appreciation to the many lawyers, judges, and community members who joined King County Bar at Seattle Convention Center on January 17, 2025 for this year’s MLK Luncheon. Every year we invite a Keynote Speaker who will encourage us to remember, and live by, Dr. King’s message that every individual is entitled to equality and justice under the law.

Did you know? The KCBA New Lawyers Division is currently seeking applications and nominations for the 2025–2026 board service term. Volunteering as a Trustee is a great way to get involved with KCBA NLD and network with other attorneys in their first 10 years of practice! While on the board, volunteer opportunities range from hosting impactful CLE’s, coordinating and attending NLD social events and giving back by offering your experiences to new lawyers just entering the legal profession. Trustees serving on the NLD board serve terms of two to three years on rotating cycles. Trustees for the 2025–2026 service term begin service on July 1, 2025. Self-nominations are welcome!

Articles about lawyers using artificial intelligence tend to fall into two general categories—either mocking the Luddites for not embracing the future of legal practice or engaging in schadenfreude at lawyers ensnared in AI’s hallucinated citations. Both views make solid points.

Meet Your New Lawyers Division Board of Trustees

Over 15 years ago my partner (we are a bit like Dharma and Greg) “requested” that I take an eight-week mindfulness course and willingly joined me.

Mardi Gras events start in January and will be in full swing about the time you receive this issue. And there is always a reason to head down to New Orleans, so we went down for an early parade (the Chewbaccus Krewe) and scouted out some dining options for you to consider on your next trip to the Big Easy. We paid special attention to places that would accommodate gluten free and other special diets. We were pleasantly surprised by the frequency with which restaurants in New Orleans asked about food allergies on their own initiative, more than we have experienced in any other city, including Seattle.

I love history, and so when I was approached by the Executive Director to write this article on Black History, I felt deeply honored and compelled to do so. At a young age I was always drawn to books about other individuals: how they lived, where they lived, and what they accomplished. Sadly though, oftentimes those books I sought out did not reflect the extraordinary achievement of those individuals that looked like me. Instead, the books that were available to me were limited in subject matter about my black ancestors and their incredible achievements throughout history from slavery to the Civil Rights Movement; from lifesaving research to incredible scientific interventions that would improve generations’ daily lives and lead to the current technology explosion.