News
08/20/2026•
3 minute read

Stokes Lawrence Earns 41 Attorney Recognitions and Top-Listed Distinctions in 2027 Best Lawyers® and Ones to Watch® Guides

Stokes Lawrence Earns 41 Attorney Recognitions and Top-Listed Distinctions in 2027 Best Lawyers® and Ones to Watch® Guides

Forty-one Stokes Lawrence attorneys have been recognized in the 2027 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®. Widely regarded as one of the legal profession’s most prestigious and selective honors, this peer-reviewed recognition highlights attorneys who demonstrate professional excellence and are among the nation’s top practitioners in their respective fields.

Stokes Lawrence also earned several 2027 Best Lawyers Top-Listed distinctions, which recognize the firm as having the highest number of Best Lawyers honorees in select practice areas and markets. The firm is Top-Listed in Washington State for Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law (six attorneys) and Litigation – Trusts and Estates (eight attorneys). Stokes Lawrence was also recognized as the most represented firm in the Yakima market (six attorneys), and was Top-Listed in Yakima for Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law (four attorneys) and in Seattle for Litigation – Trusts and Estates (eight attorneys). These distinctions underscore the depth of the firm’s experience and reputation across key practice areas throughout Washington State.

Stokes Lawrence attorneys named to The Best Lawyers in America® list are:

Seattle, WA

Yakima, WA

  • Charissa Johnston (2024)
    • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Brendan Monahan (2017)
    • Agriculture Law
    • Mediation
    • Native American Law
  • Sean Russel (2024)
    • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
  • Sarah Wixson (2021)
    • Agriculture Law
    • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
    • Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Dustin Yeager (2024)
    • Agriculture Law
    • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law

The attorneys included in the 2027 edition of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America are peer-reviewed attorneys who have been practicing for less than ten years. They are:

Seattle, Wa

  • Leslie Berkseth (2024)
    • Banking and Finance Law
    • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
    • Real Estate Law
  • Mitch Cory (2027)
    • Trusts and Estates
  • Joshua Harms (2024)
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Intellectual Property Law
    • Litigation – Intellectual Property
  • Maricarmen Perez-Vargas (2024)
    • Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Samantha Pitsch (2025)
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
    • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
    • Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs
  • Duffy Romnor (2026)
    • Litigation – Trusts and Estates
  • Valerie Walker (2026)
    • Commercial Litigation
    • Intellectual Property Law
    • Labor and Employment Law – Employee
    • Labor and Employment Law – Management
    • Litigation – Intellectual Property

Yakima, Wa

(Year) The first year that the lawyer was listed in the published list.

Best Lawyers® Methodology

Best Lawyers’ methodology is based on peer review, which captures the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.