Shelley has a commercial litigation practice emphasizing class actions, intellectual property and other complex cases in trial and appellate courts.

REPRESENTATIVE WORK

Complex Litigation

Defended telecommunications companies in consumer class action lawsuits in state and federal courts, through appeals and settlements.

Represented a software company in ongoing copyright enforcement actions in federal courts.

Represented a software company in a trademark infringement lawsuit against Microsoft, and argued a federal preliminary injunction motion in case. Achieved a positive settlement for the client.

Represented financial advisors and firms in various non competition/non solicitation and trade secrets disputes, in federal and state courts and in arbitration.

Represented appellant in Uznay v. Bevis, 135 Wn. App. 359 (2007), regarding interpretation of a commercial property purchase and sale agreement.

Media Cases

Represented newspapers and individuals in successfully unsealing court records in several cases.

Represented a newspaper in successfully quashing a motion that would have prevented reporting of criminal trial.

Represented a newspaper in successfully obtaining access to thousands of withheld government records regarding an investigation of the Tacoma Police Department.

Represented a newspaper in successfully quashing a subpoena for a reporter's notes.

Submitted an amicus brief to the Washington Supreme Court in Spokane Research & Defense Fund v. City of Spokane, 155 Wn.2d 89 (2005), on behalf of Washington Coalition for Open Government and Allied Newspapers in successful effort to obtain disclosure of public records.

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Member, Northwest Communications Law Group

Newsgathering Committee, Media Law Resource Center

Member, Washington State Bar Association's Committee for Diversity (2008 and 2009)

Founding Member and Past President, Backstage Pass, an audience development group for the Pacific Northwest Ballet

Past Board of Trustees, Pacific Northwest Ballet

Past Funding Associate, Artsfund

Past Docent, Bellevue Art Museum

RECENT PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

“Consumer Class Action Litigation, Leveraging New Developments in Class Certification, Causation and Reliance,” speaker, Strafford Pubs. Teleconference (April 2010)

"Effective Brief Writing," Speaker (2009)

"Media Privacy and Related Law: Washington," Media Law Resource Center (2009 & 2008)

"Protecting Corporate Confidences in the Workplace," Stokes Law Briefs Educational Series for Business Leaders (September 2008)

"How the Internet is Changing the Practice of Journalism," Media Law Resource Center and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (September 2008)

"Five Freedoms of the First Amendment," Freedom to Speak! by Puget Sound Access (August 2008)

"What you Need to Know About Public Records and Open Meetings," Program Moderator (2007, 2008); Presenter (2006, 2007, 2008)

"Intellectual Property Litigation Strategies and Management," American Association of Corporate Counsel (Washington Chapter) (January 2008)

"Damages & Remedies for Infringement," Copyright Management & Litigation Conference (April 2007)

"Advanced TTAB Practice and Procedure," INTA Local Roundtable Presentation, Moderator (July 2007)

RECOGNITION

Best Lawyers in America in First Amendment Law (2009-2010)

BACKGROUND & INTERESTS

Shelley was associated with the firm Davis Wright Tremaine prior to joining Stokes Lawrence. Shelley also served as a law clerk to the Honorable William L. Dwyer at the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. During law school, Shelley received a Goldmark Fellowship to spend a summer at the Northwest Justice Project, providing federally funded legal services to low-income clients.

In her life prior to law, Shelley spent four years working as a daily news producer at KING-TV in Seattle.