“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.

Since the Carter administration, the U.S. government has seen the control of Afghanistan as central to its global power objectives. Through both clandestine and overt operations, the U.S. armed the Mujahadeen and fighters like Osama bin Laden to battle both Afghan communists and the U.S.S.R.; then, once the U.S.S.R. pulled out of Afghanistan in defeat, supported Afghan forces who had fought against some of the same religious powers the U.S. had previously supported; then invaded the country after 9/11 and drove the Taliban from power, remained in the country for 20 years in support of those powers and in support of the Afghan military; and finally, in August of 2021, hastily withdrew all troops and personnel as the Taliban again took political and military control of the country.

Alisa Brodkowitz grew up on a sheep farm in Vermont close to the border with Quebec, which is how she learned French. She loved “fixing things” that broke on the farm because that usually meant taking stuff apart and figuring out how it worked. Nestled in the remote mountains of the Northeast Kingdom, Alisa attended a tiny elementary school (started by the town doctor) where the kids were taught to be world citizens, learned Latin, designed their own kites and down-hill skied daily in the winter. Alisa left her equally tiny high school in the final semester to attend Lycée in France and study art.

Joseph Grube introduces your new KCBA President.  Ms. Orehoski credits KCBA with much more than just her professional development: “Many of my closest friendships have come as a result of my involvement with the KCBA.”

Strengthening and Humanizing Our Justice System

Looking for even more inspiration?  Check out June’s profile to learn more about Melissa and her commitment to Washington’s vulnerable immigrant communities.  Looking for even more inspiration?  Check out June’s profile to learn more about Melissa and her commitment to Washington’s vulnerable immigrant communities. 

Halfway through his thirties, Adam Boyd has racked up a surprisingly extensive list of professional accomplishments. He has sailed out of the trenches of public defense work in Massachusetts into a crim-imm focused solo practice in Tacoma and straight on to the top of the career ladder as managing partner at Gibbs Houston Pauw, one of the more renowned immigration law firms in Seattle.

Neal Black’s roots in Pacific Northwest’s forests run deep. Fittingly, his favorite adage is “Society grows great when people plant trees under whose shade they know they’ll never sit.” Neal has spent a lifetime in law and policy, learning to see the forests, see the trees, and plant new ones.

The family law motions calendar is a grind. Every day, the commissioner faces a huge stack of reading — thousands of pages of declarations, proposed orders, financial statements, and occasionally even some legal briefing. Prior to the pandemic, there could be a dozen cases on the morning calendar, and then a series of afternoon hearings, every day. The pandemic introduced Zoom hearings that capped the number of cases, but the grind persists.

Preeminent lawyer, strategic thinker, passionate advocate, well-respected leader and citizen ambassador, empowering mentor, well-rounded and practical businessman, strong networker, articulate speaker, fun-loving teacher, compassionate friend, community steward, courageous cancer survivor and more. Joel Paget wears a multitude of hats with confidence, flair, and joy! Now an elder in the legal community, Joel has been planting and nurturing seeds within the Washington community and bar for over five decades, creating a rich and diverse legacy. I am blessed to be one his “seedlings.”

There are many great things you probably know about Russ Aoki and other things you probably don’t. Of course, Russ being Russ, the last thing you’d ever hear is him blowing his own horn.