The annual KCBA Bench Bar Conference was held on Nov. 11 at the Seattle Convention Center. This year’s planning committee consisted of Judge Ketu Shah, Katie Comstock, Lindsay Caulkins, Jacob Roes, and KCBA President Sidney Tribe. The committee aimed to bring attention to recent and ongoing attacks on the rule of law by focusing several of the judges’ panels and other sessions on the topic.

I’ve devoted my career to helping underserved and vulnerable communities. During the first Trump administration, I volunteered with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. I took a pro bono asylum case for an unaccompanied minor from Central America. I assisted that young man over many years, and when he finally received his green card, I felt so relieved for him.

Al Davis shows why turnaround expertise should not be reserved for businesses in crisis, but rather used proactively to strengthen companies of all sizes and industries. Davis contends that the same disciplines used in restructurings are essential in today’s volatile economic environment. By applying these practices, companies can reduce risk, improve liquidity, and avoid being pushed into distress by market or regulatory shocks.

In this article, Presiding Judge Averil Rothrock introduces her aims and herself as the new presiding judge of King County Superior Court. Judge Rothrock describes how she views the responsibilities of court leadership, including administration, self-governance, and coordination with justice system partners. She also sets priorities through 2028, underscores the importance of judicial independence, and invites ongoing feedback from our community.

Mei Shih​ helpfully and humorously reflects on making personal and professional connections in Seattle despite the city’s reputation for social distance. Drawing on her experience relocating multiple times, Shih emphasizes taking initiative, showing up consistently, and embracing authenticity to create lasting community. She offers small steps that can turn isolation into belonging.
 

Kathleen Jensen, our wonderful Executive Director, wrote her column for this month trumpeting KCBA’s good work in 2025. Please don’t miss her piece, where you can read about all of the incredible achievements your membership has supported.

For this 2025 review, I’d like to focus specifically on KCBA’s appellate efforts. Although KCBA lawyers’ arguments did not always prevail, that is not the point. Theirs is the fight to develop the law in a positive direction and lend a voice to important issues. Their work is crucial.
 

In 2025, the King County Bar Association demonstrated the power of a committed legal community working together in service of justice, connection, and the rule of law. Thanks to the dedication, expertise, and generosity of our members and staff, this year was marked by meaningful engagement, impactful advocacy, and strong participation across our programs, events, and education.

Danijela Krecar brings a global perspective to her role as an in-house attorney at Monolithic Power Systems, where she supports the business on a wide range of commercial agreements and transactions. Her practice includes advising on an array of matters such as employment law, corporate governance, data privacy, and artificial intelligence. She also supports international transactions in collaboration with outside counsel across Europe.

As a trial lawyer, I discovered early on that if a jury likes you, they are unlikely to hurt you. The same holds true for your client. That is why it is mission-critical to personalize a corporate client and then show that the people who are designated to personify the corporation are worthy of the jury’s trust. In mediation, these same concepts apply.

Executives in middle-market companies, as well as the law firms that advise them, are hearing a common refrain these days when it comes to AI: “Just try something.” On the surface, that advice feels safe — low stakes, exploratory, and positioned as a way to “learn.” But in practice, these pilots rarely scale. They don’t stick, and they don’t solve the pressures that matter at the board level.