Stokes Lawrence Alums Win Big in Seattle Elections
Congratulations to former Stokes Lawrence shareholder Michael McGinn for his exciting victory in the Seattle Mayor’s race and to our former CFO Mike O’Brien for a convincing Seattle City Council win. While the election of two grassroots environmentalists is a big Seattle story this year, we remember where they got their start. Michael McGinn was an attorney at Stokes Lawrence for 13 years before leaving to form the Great Cities Initiative. Mike O’Brien was our CFO (and lead bike commuter) for 10 years before he decided to devote his full time efforts to environmental and transit issues. We are proud of “the Mikes” and proud to offer a work environment which allows our attorneys and staff to effectively address social and political issues of concern. Like the rest of Seattle, we look forward to working with them for the best interests of our community. Read More.
Mike Garner - Outstanding Mentor
Stokes Lawrence is proud to congratulate Mike Garner, named as a 2010 Outstanding Mentor by the King County Bar Association's Young Lawyer Division. Mike was nominated for his ability to create equal partnerships with young attorneys providing them with quality work and feedback, ensuring both their development as quality lawyers and superior service to clients. We are always gratified when the strong mentoring relationships at our firm are recognized: Rick Rasmussen won the award in 2009 and Scott Johnson was also nominated for this year's award.
Brendan Monahan Recognized with Volunteer Attorney Services Award
Stokes Lawrence congratulates Brendan Monahan for his 2009 Valued Participation Award from Yakima County Volunteer Attorney Services. VAS provides free legal services to persons of low income with the support of the Yakima Bar Association. Brendan has worked with VAS clients since 1992 and currently offers half-day counseling sessions every quarter which sometime result in more involved representation. A recent case involving a disabled client facing eviction and becoming homeless; vigorous representation by Brendan and VAS secured her a period of rent-free tenancy which enabled her to save for a down payment on a new apartment.
Stokes Lawrence Welcomes Attorneys Jeff Coop and Sean Russel
Jeff Coop recently joined the Stokes Lawrence real estate department. Jeff works with clients on commercial and residential real estate transfers and advises brokerages in all aspects of their business. Before opening his own firm, Jeff represented the Northwest Multiple Listing Service for eight years, five as the organization's in-house counsel. Education is also a significant part of Jeff's practice; he regularly leads classes for real estate brokers and agents covering legal, licensing and brokerage issues. Litigation attorney Sean Russel is joining our Yakima office. Sean has worked with Seattle firms for 6 years, most recently practicing construction litigation at Ahlers & Cressman PLLC.
Leslie Ruiter Appointed to International Panel of Mediators
Leslie Ruiter was recently appointed to the International Trademark Association Panel of Neutrals. The international panel recognizes "neutral mediators both expert in trademark and unfair competition law and trained in the art of mediating disputes." Leslie is also certified as a Rule 39.1 mediator for the Western District of Washington.
Aneelah Afzali and Rosemary Reed Rising Stars for 2010
Stokes Lawrence congratulates Aneelah Afzali and RoseMary Reed for again being recognized as Rising Stars by Washington Law & Politics. Aneelah is active on various state bar diversity committees and a leader in the recent creation of the bar's Middle Eastern Legal Association of Washington. RoseMary is a frequent speaker at estate planning and probate CLEs and recently became assistant editor of the bar's Real Property, Probate & Trust Section newsletter.
Stokes Lawrence wins PSALA Diversity Award
Stokes Lawrence is the 2009 winner of the Achievements in Diversity Award from the Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators. The award, for firms with fewer than 50 attorneys, was presented October 21st at the annual Managing Partners Dinner.
Ten Stokes Lawrence Attorneys Among The Best Lawyers in America
We are pleased to have eight attorneys from our Seattle office included among "The Best Lawyers in America" (15th Ed.): Carolyn Cairns and Kelby Fletcher in Labor and Employment, Shelley Hall in First Amendment Law, Doug Lawrence in Trust and Estates, Beth McCaw in Non-Profit/Charities Law, Rick Rasmussen in Alternative Dispute Resolution/Employment Law, Leslie Ruiter in Intellectual Property Law, and Susan Thorbrogger in Tax Law. The Best Lawyers also includes from our Yakima office Morris (Morrie) Shore in Corporate Law, and George Velikanje in Trust and Estates. The Best Lawyers listings are the result of exhaustive peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. Stokes Lawrence is proud to be so well-represented.
Stokes Lawrence Super Lawyers
Stokes Lawrence takes pride in congratulating Carolyn Cairns, Beth McCaw, Susan Thorbrogger, Kelby Fletcher, Phil Ginsberg, Scott A.W. Johnson, Doug Lawrence, Rick Rasmussen, Morrie Shore, and George Velikanje for being named "Super Lawyers" in the Summer 2009 issue of Washington Law & Politics magazine. Lawyers from across the state were asked to vote for the best lawyers they had personally observed, either in the courtroom or as opposing or co-counsel. A screening process and Blue Ribbon Panel Review produced a list of Super Lawyers representing the top 5 percent of lawyers licensed to practice in Washington.
Stokes Lawrence Partners with Heritage University to Inspire Future Legal Professionals
Stokes Lawrence Velikanje Moore & Shore is excited to join with Heritage University in inspiring its students to pursue careers in law. A recent program for Heritage students, "Considering a Career in Law," featured speakers Moni Law, Washington State Bar Association Leaders Program Manager, and Sonia Rodriguez, Yakima City Council member and attorney. Kelly Twiss Noonan, a native of Yakima and managing partner of SLVMS, moderated the program. She was also joined by SLVMS attorneys Justo Gonzalez and Andrew Heinz and litigation paralegal Wendy Howard. Plans for the 2009-2010 school year include additional programs and having students observe "real life" experiences of those in legal careers.
Stokes Lawrence's "Eclectic" Doug Lawrence
A recent King County Bar Association profile of our own Doug Lawrence describes his outstanding practice, teaching, and many contributions to the development of Washington trusts and estates law. We also learn about the office toys and myriad projects that Doug uses to tame his boundless energy. Read More.
RECENT SEMINARS
7th Annual Trust & Estate Litigation Seminar
presented by WSBA Real Property Probate & Trust Section
Karolyn Hicks - Program Co-Chair, "Mediating Damages"
Scott A.W. Johnson - "Broad & Sweeping Amendments to the Slayer Statute"
Friday, March 12, 2010
Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Clients: Practice Pitfalls & Economic Challenges,
presented by WSBA
Beth McCaw - Program Co-Chair
Chris Farias - "Claims of Caregivers: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Client Before & After Death"
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Ethical Dilemmas for the Practicing Lawyer, presented by WSBA
Phil Ginsberg - Panelist
Monday, November 16, 2009
Continuing Diversity: Recruitment & Retention in Challenging Times,
presented by the Puget Sound Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators
Shelley Hall - "How the Economy Affects Diversity Initiatives"
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
East King County Bar Association Real Property Section Meeting
Michael Garner - "How to Avoid Eviction Litigation Before the Lease Is Signed"
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Post-Competition Employment in Unstable Times, presented by The Seminar Group
Chris Farias - "Restrictions on Employer Rights"; "New Developments & Foreseeable Trends"
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Attorney's Guide to Commercial Evictions, presented by NBI
Michael Garner - "Commercial Leasing Overview and Legislative Update"
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Annual Conference of the Association for Women in Communications
Shannon Jost - "Protecting Your Corporate Identity & Materials"
Friday, October 16, 2009
Where Did My Profits Go? - Prevention, Discovery and Recovery from Employee Embezzlement
Thomas Lerner with Pete Miller, C.P.A.
September 10 & 17, 2009
How the USPTO Treats Fraud in Trademark Applications, presented by the International Trademark Association
Leslie Ruiter - Moderator
Thursday, June 18, 2009
2009 Washington State Access to Justice Conference - Justice: Hope and Help in Hard Times
Aneelah Afzali - Panelist - "Making the Greatest Impact in Times of Crisis to Meet the Legal Needs of the Most Vulnerable"
Sunday May 31, 2009
The Washington State Bar Association Bar Leaders Conference - Leading in Changing Times
Douglas C. Lawrence - "What the Future Holds: The Practice of Law in the 21st Century"
Saturday, May 30, 2009
We work hard, we get along. The quality of our work comes back to our culture.
BRENDAN V. MONAHAN, Stokes Lawrence Attorney
UPCOMING SEMINARS
Stokes Law Briefs - Employment Law Boot Camp
Carolyn Cairns, Brendan Monahan
Aviva Kamm, Sarah WIxson
Thursday March 18, 2010 - Gilbert Cellars, Yakima
Insurance Issues in Trust & Estate Litigation,
presented by East King County Estate Planning Council
Scott A.W. Johnson
Thursday March 18, 2010 - Hyatt Regency Bellevue
Consumer Class Action Litigation: Leveraging New Developments in Class Certification, Causation & Reliance
Shelley Hall
Tuesday April 20, 2010 - Strafford Pubs.Teleconference
17th Annual Employment Law Institute,
presented by WSBA
Carolyn Cairns, Kelby Fletcher - The Year in Review:
Key Developments in State & Federal Employment Law
Friday April 30, 2010 - Wash. State Convention Center