PRINCIPALS
Mario A. Bianchi (Principal) born Seattle Washington, February 1, 1976; admitted to bar, 2001, Washington. Education: Seattle University School of Law (B.A., Humanities, 1996; B.A., Business Administration, 1997); University of Notre Dame (J.D., 2001). Member: King County Bar Association. Practice Areas: Litigation; Debtor and Creditor.Email: Mario A. Bianchi
Darcy L. Boddy (Principal) born Walla Walla, Washington, July 30, 1963; admitted to bar, 1998, Washington. Education: Western Washington University (B.S., Finance, 1985); Seattle University School of Law (J.D., 1998). Member: Washington State Bar Association (Member, Editorial Board, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section); Estate Planning Council of Seattle. Practice Areas: Trust Law; Estate Planning; Probate Litigation; Business Planning; Tax Planning.Email: Darcy L. Boddy
Ronald E. Braley (Principal) born Waldport, Oregon, August 21, 1944; admitted to bar, 1975, California and Washington. Education: University of Washington (B.A., 1967); Golden Gate University (J.D., 1974); New York University (LL.M. in Taxation, 1975). Editor, Golden Gate Law Review, 1973-1974. Adjunct Professor, Golden Gate University Graduate School of Taxation, 1980-1993. Author: Introduction to Employee Plans, Cases and Materials, Golden Gate University, 1990. Member: King County, Washington State and American Bar Associations; State Bar of California. [Lt., SC, USNR, 1967-1973]. Practice Areas: Taxation Law; Retirement Plans Law; Corporate Law; Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures; Estate Planning Law; Probate Law.Email: Ronald E. Braley
Linda Kelley Ebberson (Principal) born Bellingham, Washington, August 1, 1951; admitted to bar, 1976, Washington; U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: Western Washington University (B.A., summa cum laude, 1973); University of Washington (J.D., 1976). Executive Editor, Washington Law Review, 1975-1976. Selected, Top Lawyer, Seattle Magazine, Jan/Feb 2003. Author, Civil Rule 68, Chapter on Offers of Judgment, Washington State Bar Civil Procedure Desk Book (1992, 1997, 2002, 2006). Member: Washington State Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Family Law; Litigation). Practice Areas: Family Law; Construction Law; Commercial Litigation.Email: Linda Kelley Ebberson
Anthony J. W. Gewald (Principal) born Washington, D.C., July 22, 1949; admitted to bar, 1978, Washington and U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington. Education: University of Washington (B.A., 1971); Willamette University (J.D., magna cum laude, 1977). Member, Willamette Law Journal, 1976-1977. Staff Attorney, Washington Supreme Court, 1978-1979. Member: Washington State Bar Association; Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. Reported Cases: Ebling vs. Gove's Cove Inc., 34 Wn. App. 495(1983). Practice Areas: Litigation; Commercial; Real Estate; Employment; Torts; Creditor's Rights.Email: Anthony J. W. Gewald
Robert J. Henry (Principal) born Sheldon, Iowa, March 22, 1948; admitted to bar, 1975, Washington. Education: Yale University (B.A., cum laude, 1970); Duke University (J.D., 1975). Member, Editorial Board, Duke Law Journal, 1974-1975. Member: King County, Washington State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Employment Litigation.Email: Robert J. Henry
Delney N. Hilen (Principal) born Santa Monica, California, June 25, 1945; admitted to bar, 1987, Washington and U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington. Education: University of Washington (B.A., 1967); Southern Illinois University (J.D., 1987). Editor, Southern Illinois Law Journal, 1986-1987. Co-Author: "Family Law in Illinois," Southern Illinois University Law Journal, 1987. Member: King and Washington State Bar Associations; Washington Women Lawyers Association. Languages: French. Practice Areas: Litigation; Family Law.Email: Delney N. Hilen
George S. Holzapfel (Principal) born Monterey, California, February 15, 1951; admitted to bar, 1977, Washington and U.S. Tax Court. Education: University of Washington (B.A., Economics and Accounting, cum laude, 1973; M.B.A., Finance and Accounting, 1977; J.D., 1977). All of George's degrees were granted by the University of Washington. Honors include Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa awards. Recipient, Outstanding Faculty Award, Golden Gate Graduate School of Taxation, Seattle, Washington, 1982. Selected for Who's Who of American Lawyers. Lecturer, Washington State Bar Association; University of Washington School of Law CLE's; Washington State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Chosen as a "Super Lawyer" (top 5% in state) in Washington Law & Politics Magazine by his peers every year since inception of award. Member: Washington State Bar Association. Transactions: George has assisted with the structuring and closing of over 300 transactions in his career, ranging in size from a few hundred thousand dollars to over $200 million. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Taxation Law; Estate Planning Law; Probate, Trusts and Estates Law.Email: George S. Holzapfel
Taro Kusunose (Principal) admitted to bar, 2000, Washington. Education: University of California at San Diego (B.A., cum laude, 1996), Phi Beta Kappa; University of California at Davis (J.D., 1999). Judicial Extern to the Hon. Christopher Klein of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California, 1998. Member: Washington State Bar Association. Languages: Japanese. Practice Areas: Business Law(30%); Corporate Law(25%); Real Estate(25%); Trademarks(20%).Email: Taro Kusunose
Earl P. Lasher, III (Principal) born New York, N.Y., January 20, 1941; admitted to bar, 1966, Washington. Education: University of Oregon (B.S., 1963); University of Washington (J.D., 1966). Phi Delta Phi. Assistant Attorney General, 1966-1968. Adjunct Professor, University of Puget Sound School of Law, 1983-1984. Trustee, King County Bar Association, 1985-1988. Trustee, Seattle Chamber of Commerce, 1989. Founder and Director of Commerce Bank, 1987-1995. Trustee: Children's Orthopedic Hospital 1991-1996; YMCA of Greater Seattle, 1992-1998. Chairman of the Board, Odyssey-Maritime Museum. Mediator and Arbitrator for U.S. Mediation and Arbitration and American Arbitration Association, 1992. Member: King County, Washington State and American Bar Associations; Washington State Trial Lawyers Association; The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Fellow: American College of Trial Lawyers. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Partnership and Corporate Litigation; Domestic Relations Law; Contractor Law; Business Litigation, Negotiation, Mediation and Arbitration.Email: Earl P. Lasher, III
Dean A. Messmer (Principal) born Aberdeen, Washington, November 14, 1949; admitted to bar, 1974, Washington. Education: Stanford University (B.A., with distinction, 1971); Duke University (J.D., with distinction, 1974). Lecturer, UCC Article 2, Bar Review Associates of Washington, 1982-1993. Editor, Commercial Practice Section, Washington Lawyers Practice Manual, 1990-1994. Speaker, Internet and Technology Related CLE Programs. Arbitrator, King County Superior Court, 1993. Member: Washington State (Chair, Law Practice Management Section, 1997-1998) and American (Member, Litigation and Law Practice Management Sections) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Commercial and Real Estate Litigation; Business Transactions; Technology Transactions; Alternative Dispute Resolution.Email: Dean A. Messmer
Danial D. Pharris (Principal) born Shelton, Washington, June 2, 1956; admitted to bar, 1983, Washington, U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Washington and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: Western Washington University (B.A., 1978); University of Puget Sound (J.D., 1983). Author: "Bringing Your Credit Department Into the 90's," Washington State Bar Association, 1993; "Single Asset Real Estate Bankruptcy Cases," King County Bar Association, 1993; "Advising the Financially Troubled Business," Washington State Bar Association, 1995; "Representing the Secured Creditor in Bankruptcy," Sterling Education Services, 2002; " Successful Judgment Collections in Washington", National Business Institute, 2002; "Aligning Your Practice with the BAPCPA of 2005", NBI, 2005; "BAPCPA One Year Later", NBI, 2006; "When the Tenant Files Bankruptcy", Sterling Education Services, 2009. Member: King County (Member, Bankruptcy Section), Washington State (Member, Creditor-Debtor and Real Property, Trust and Probate Section) and American (Member, Corporation, Banking and Business Law Section) Bar Associations; American Bankruptcy Institute. Reported Cases: In re American Eagle Mfg., Inc., 231 B.R. 320 (9th Cir. BAP 1998); In re Moultrie, 51 B.R. 368 (Bankr. W.D. Wash. 1985); Kemp Fisheries, Inc. v. MacDonald Meat Co. (In re Kemp Fisheries, Inc.), 16 F. 3d 313 (9th Cir. 1993). Transactions: In re E.J. Burtell's Co.; In re Econo Mini Warehouses of America, Inc.; In re Pribilof Island Processors, Inc.; Counsel for Marshall Field & Co.: In re Frederick & Nelson; Counsel for Anchor National Life Insurance Company: In re Continental Seattle Realty Partners; In re Nova Enterprises, Inc.; In re Pacific Coast Escrow, Inc. Practice Areas: Creditors' Rights; Bankruptcy and Reorganizations; Complex Commercial Litigation.Email: Danial D. Pharris
Robin W. Phillips (Principal) born Oceanside, New York, September 27, 1957; admitted to bar, 1982, Pennsylvania; 1985, New Jersey, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania; 1988, Washington and U.S. District Court, Western and Eastern Districts of Washington. Education: State University of New York at Oneonta (B.S., magna cum laude, highest honors, in Economics, 1979); Villanova University (J.D., 1982). Member: King County, Washington State, Pennsylvania, New Jersey State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Employment Relations Law; Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury.Email: Robin W. Phillips
Tara K. Richardson (Principal) born Toronto, Ontario, Canada, May 30, 1970; admitted to bar, 1998, Washington. Education: University of Washington (B.A., Political Science, 1995); Seattle University (J.D., cum laude, 1998). Author, File for Divorce in Washington, Published by Sourcebooks, Inc. Member: King County, Pierce County and Washington State Bar Associations; Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. Reported Cases: In re Marriage of Stewart, 137 P.3d 25 (Wash.App. Div. 1, 2006). Practice Areas: Family Law(100%).Email: Tara K. Richardson
Lisa A. Sharpe (Principal) admitted to bar, 1991, Washington; 1992, California, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: University of Washington (B.A., finance, 1987); University of San Diego (J.D., 1991). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Family Law.Email: Lisa A. Sharpe
Shannon Sperry (Principal) born Salt Lake City, Utah, March 31, 1951; admitted to bar, 1975, Washington. Education: Weber State College (B.A., magna cum laude, 1972); University of Utah (J.D., 1975). Editor, Utah Law Review, 1973-1975. Experienced Mediator and Arbitrator. Member: King County and Washington State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Real Estate Law; Labor Law; General Business Law; Mediation; Arbitration.Email: Shannon Sperry
Karl A. Weiss (Principal) born Rockford, Illinois; admitted to bar, 1999, Washington. Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison (B.A., Behavioral Science and Law); Willamette University (J.D.); New York University (LL.M., Taxation); Northern Arizona Institute of Technology (Accounting Technician Program). Recognized by Seattle magazine as a Top Lawyer (tax law), Seattle Business Monthly magazine as a Best Business Lawyer (tax law), and Washington Law & Politics magazine as a Rising Star, Karl focuses on general business and corporation law with a heavy emphasis on federal and state taxes. Working with business clients of all sizes and at different stages of their development, he cultivates a team approach with the client's financial and other professional advisors to strategize for growth and identify solutions that address the client's legal, tax, and operational issues. Member: Washington State Bar Association (Member, Taxation Section). Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Taxation.Email: Karl A. Weiss
Quentin Wildsmith (Principal) born St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, December 15, 1968; admitted to bar, 1993, Missouri; 1995, Washington; 1997, U.S. District Court, Western and Eastern Districts of Washington. Education: College of William & Mary (B.A., 1990); St. Louis University (J.D., 1993). Named Rising Star, Washington Law & Politics. Member: Washington State Bar Association (Member, Trust & Estate Litigation Sub-Committee; Past President, Law Practice Management & Technology Section); The Missouri Bar. Practice Areas: Probate Litigation; Construction Litigation; Real Estate Litigation; Business Litigation; Mediation; Arbitration.Email: Quentin Wildsmith
Eugene W. Wong (Principal) born Los Angeles, California, October 20, 1967; admitted to bar, 2000, Washington. Education: University of Washington (B.A., 1990); Gonzaga University (J.D., 1998); University of Washington (LL.M., Taxation, 1999). Member: King County, Washington State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Tax Law(40%); Real Estate(30%); Business Law(30%).Email: Eugene W. Wong
ASSOCIATES
Craig R. Aird (Associate) born 1967; admitted to bar, 1995, Washington; 2000, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington and U.S. Tax Court. Education: University of Oregon (B.A., 1991); Seattle University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1995); University of Washington School of Law (LL.M., Taxation, 1997). Consultant, U.S. Tax Law, Frankfurt. Member: King County and Washington State Bar Associations. Languages: German. Practice Areas: Business Law; Taxation; Trusts and Estates; Estate Planning; Fiduciary Litigation; Wills; Probate; Tax Exempt Organizations; Corporate Governance; Corporate Law.Email: Craig R. Aird
Philip Bednar (Associate) born Washington, D.C.; admitted to bar, 2004, Virginia; 2005, District of Columbia; 2009, Washington. Education: University of Virginia (B.S., 1997); University of Minnesota Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2004). Member: Washington State and American Bar Associations. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Bankruptcy; Litigation.Email: Philip Bednar
Jamie Polito Johnston (Associate) born Troy, Michigan, October 14, 1976; admitted to bar, 2003, Washington. Education: University of Michigan (B.A., with honors, 1998); Seattle University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2003). Author: "Depriving Washington State's Incarcerated Youth of an Education The Debilitating Effects of Tustall v Bereson, 26 Seattle university Law Review 1017 (2003). Associate Editor, Seattle University Law Review. Member: King County and Washington State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Family Law; Litigation.Email: Jamie Polito Johnston
Maya Trujillo Ringe (Associate) born New Jersey; admitted to bar, 2003, Washington. Education: University of Washington (B.A., 1997); University 0f Salamanca (Spanish Studies Degree, 1998); Seton Hall School of Law (J.D., 2003). Member: King County Bar Association; Snohomish County Bar Association; Washington State Bar Association; American Bar Association. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Family Law; Litigation.Email: Maya Trujillo Ringe
Sean V. Small (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, Washington. Education: St. Joseph's University (B.A., Elementary Education/Special Education, cum laude, 1998); Seattle University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2005). Member: King County and Washington State Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Complex Litigation; Civil Litigation.Email: Sean V. Small
Jeffrey L. Smoot (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, Washington, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington. Education: Washington State Bar Association Law Clerk Program, Seattle, 2007. Member: Washington State Bar Association (Member, Consumer Protection, Creditor-Debtor, Family Law Sections); King County Bar Association (Member, Bankruptcy, Family Law Sections). Practice Areas: Litigation; Debtor and Creditor; Consumer Protection; Family Law.Email: Jeffrey L. Smoot
OF COUNSEL
Kevin P. Hanchett (Of Counsel) born San Antonio, Texas, March 13, 1958; admitted to bar, 1986, Washington and U.S. District Court, Western and Eastern Districts of Washington. Education: University of Washington; University of Puget Sound (J.D., cum laude, 1986). Order of Barristers. Member: King County (Member, Bankruptcy Section) and Washington State (Member, Creditor-Debtor and Real Property Sections) Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Creditors' Rights; Bankruptcy and Reorganizations.Email: Kevin P. Hanchett