Industry focus
With a passion for the law and my clients' goal as my compass, I help them to stop worrying about disputes so that they can get back to business.
How I represent clients at Schwabe
With a penchant for troubleshooting, I help clients resolve complex disputes, often involving the maritime and technology industries. I handle cases involving privacy and data security breach matters, maritime and admiralty law, and complex contract issues that include insurance and commercial matters. I also provide legal advice to lawyers regarding legal ethics and loss prevention.
I have tried civil jury cases to verdict in Washington courts and have written and argued several successful motions in state and federal courts. I’ve also won cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Washington Court of Appeals, and the Washington Supreme Court.
Education
- Willamette University, Bachelor of Music degree (1996)
- Seattle University, School of Law, Juris Doctor degree, summa cum laude (2003)
Admissions
- Oregon State Courts
- Washington State Courts
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court - District of Oregon
- U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court - Western District of Washington
Memberships
- Washington State Bar Association Committee on Professional Ethics, Member (2013-2018)
Awards
- Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Admiralty and Maritime Law (2025-2026)
- Selected to the Washington Super Lawyers List, Business Litigation (2016-2018); Transportation & Maritime (2019)
Additional Events
Managing Challenging Clients, Ethically
Ethics Hour, November 2025
Using Generative AI in the Practice of Law
Ethics Hour, August 2025
Representing Organizations
Ethics Hour, June 2025
Understanding Confidentiality
Ethics Hour, April 2025
Can You Spot (and Resolve) the Conflict?
Ethics Hour, August 2023
Can I Use Generative AI to Practice Law?
Ethics Hour, July 2023
How to Ethically Staff Your Law Practice
Ethics Hour, February 2023
How Do Lawyers Get Into Trouble?
Ethics Hour, December 2022
Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Ethics Seminar
December 15, 2022
Ethical Issues in Litigation (Defense)
December 15, 2022
Do You Want to Know a Secret? (Confidentiality)
Ethics Hour, October 2022
Ethical Communications
Ethics Hour, September 2022
Do I Have a Conflict?
Ethics Hour, August 2022
Promoting Your Practice in a Post-Pandemic World
Ethics Hour, August 2021
Practicing Law Remotely in the Age of COVID-19
Ethics Hour, February 2021
I’m an In-House Lawyer (or About To Be), How Does That Rule Apply to Me?
Ethics Hour, July 2020
They’re Not My Client, But Do I Have a Duty?
Ethics Hour, June 2020
Practicing Remotely in the Age of COVID-19
Ethics Hour, March 2020
Recent Cases and Opinions
Ethics Hour, February 2020
Cum Res Errabis
Ethics Hour, February 2019
Case Law and Opinion Updates
Ethics Hour, January 2019
Conflicts of Interest
Ethics Hour, September 2018
Top Ten List
Ethics Hour, June 2018
Complex and Cutting Edge Ethics Issues and How to Deal With Them
Ethics Hour, March 2018
Conflict Updates
Ethics Hour, October 2017
Odds, Ends, and Lesser Known Gems
Ethics Hour, August 2017
Ethics of Loss Prevention
Ethics Hour, June 2017
Joint Representation, Concurrent Representation, and Other Consent and Waiver Situations
Ethics Hour, March 2017
Client Communications: Threats, Missives, and Reporting
Ethics Hour, October 2016
Can You Spot (and Resolve) the Conflict?
Ethics Hour, July 2016
Important Recent Cases and Opinions
Ethics Hour, May 2016
Lawyers’ Obligations to Safeguard the Client? Data in the New Age of Cybersecurity
Ethics Hour, March 2016
Outside Interests
Composing music when inspiration strikes.
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