November 1999

Changing Venues

Honors and Awards

Judge Tom Warren of the Chelan County District Court in Wenatchee was elected Chair-elect of the National Conference of Special Court Judges at the national convention of the Ameri-can Bar Association. Judge

Warren is a past President of the Washington State District and Municipal Court Judges Association.

The Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) has named Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC attorney David C. Kelly as the 1999 Volunteer of the Year. Kelly has provided more than a decade of legal service at the East King County Legal Clinic in collection matters, landlord/tenant disputes and elder law matters.

NALS of Washington, the association for legal professionals, has announced its 1999-2000 Board of Directors: President Julie Moore (Wenatchee), President-elect Lisa D. Miner (Seattle), Corporate Secretary Dawn LaRiviere (Tacoma), Corporate Treasurer Cindy Erwin (Yakima), Certification Director Verna Griffin

(Seattle), Education Director Wendy Huerter (Mount Vernon), Marketing Director Lorraine Larsen (Bellevue), Membership Director Katie Malone (Seattle) and Publication Director Kelly Luker (Port Orchard).

Tom Fitzpatrick has joined the Snoho-mish County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office as the Assistant Chief of the Civil Division. With 20 years of civil litigation experience, he presently serves on the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association, representing the states of Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Montana.

Miller Bateman LLP in Seattle has added Michael Mirande as a new partner. Mirande’s work consists principally of litigation, with an emphasis on Indian law and general appellate practice before the state and federal courts.

Stacey L. Romberg has announced the opening of her new office in Seattle. Romberg represents clients in the areas of estate planning, probate and the incorporation of small businesses.

Attorney General Christine Gregoire has appointed Tina Kondo as the new Chief of the Antitrust Division, which is responsible for enforcing state and federal antitrust laws and investigating complaints about potential anti-competitive activity. New Assistant Attorneys General include Barbara Bailey, Michael Ballnik, Beth Bielefield, Cathleen Carpenter, William Coats, Debra Defreyn, Marc Defreyn, Alan Garrett, Rebecca Hirschel-Prahl, Heidi Holland, Catherine Hoover, Shannon Inglis, Heidi Irvin, Heather Klein, Rob Kosin, Michael Kristof, Evelyn Fielding Lopez, James McLaughlin, Lisa Dabalos McMahon, Lana Martuscelli, Odin Maxwell, Kristin Miles, Jonathan Milstein, Brian Moran, Andy Myers, Sharonne O’Shea, David Pearson, Greg Rosen, Lisa Roth, Clark Shores, Alan Smith, A. Indu Thomas, Gigi Tsai and Carl Warring.

Peter H. Haller has been elected managing shareholder in the Seattle office of Ater Wynne LLP. His practice focuses on environmental and natural resources law.

Wells, St. John, Roberts, Gregory & Matkin, P.S. in Spokane has announced the addition of two new partners, Keith D. Grzelak and David G. Latwesen. Grzelak counsels clients in a broad range of high-technology intellectual property areas, including electrical, computer, telecommunications, e-commerce and medical technologies. Latwesan, who has a Ph.D. in biochemistry, focuses his practice on chemical, biotechnological, medical and semiconductor-processing technologies.

Seattle law firm Perkins Coie LLP has added five new lawyers to its state tax department. New partner Mike Young will concentrate his practice in tax planning for business and investment transactions, multi-state issues, state tax refunds and tax litigation. New partner Gregg Barton’s tax clients include manufacturers, financial institutions, real-estate developers, food processors, broadcasters, entertainers, wholesalers, retailers and service providers. John Piper, newly hired Of Counsel, brings decades of tax litigation and planning experience to the firm. Scott Edwards and Edward Mahon have joined the firm as associates. Also joining the firm as a partner is Ramsay Al-Salam, whose practice will continue to focus on all aspects of intellectual property litigation, including patent, trademark, trade secret and unfair competition matters.

Denny F. Wong has joined Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC in Seattle as Of Counsel. Wong brings to the firm over 17 years of professional experience in taxation, corporate mergers and acquisitions, estate planning and international transactions. Joining the firm as an associate is Yemi Fleming Jackson, who concentrates her practice on professional and general liability defense with emphasis on medical malpractice, products liability, real estate, UIM claims and personal injury.

Donovan E. Walker and Diane M. Walker have opened law offices in Spokane, fittingly named Walker & Walker Law Offices.

Bernard F. Veljacic has been named director of Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission Legal Aid Clinic. The program provides pro bono legal services to mission clients who cannot afford legal help.

Minaksi Bhatt is the new Of Counsel at Lane Powell Spears Lubersky LLP in Seattle. She concentrates her practice in intellectual property, antitrust and trade regulation.

New associates at Paine, Hamblen, Coffin, Brooke & Miller LLP in Spokane include Scott C. Cifrese and Jessie L. Harris.

Lee, Smart, Cook, Martin & Patterson, P.S., Inc. in Seattle has announced the return of Steven G. Wraith, who will continue his general civil litigation practice with an emphasis on insurance, construction and product liability defense. New associates include civil litigators Shawn M. Farrell, Dirk J. Muse and Justin D. Sudweeks.

Julia M. Pelc has joined Taft, Mackin, Henault & Hancock, P.S. in Spokane.

Dylan S. Jones is the newest associate at the Seattle firm of Holmes Weddle & Barcott PC. Jones’ practice focuses in the areas of admiralty and maritime law, workers’ compensation defense, commercial law, employment law and insurance defense.

Bullivant Houser Bailey has added James Fick and David Reed to its Seattle office. Fick’s practice will continue to focus on insurance defense, civil litigation and sports injury matters. Reed joins the General Litigation Practice Group.

Daniel Bor, a Czech immigrant who worked extensively with the Czech community in Seattle, passed away August 17, 1999 at the age of 43.

Ernest "Ernie" Crane, an Auburn attorney who served four terms as a state representative from the 31st Legislative District, passed away August 9, 1999 at the age of 77.

Professor Emeritus Ralph W. Johnson of the University of Washington School of Law passed away August 3, 1999. He was a forceful and passionate advocate of Indian rights and a pioneer in establishing Indian law as a field of study.

Edgar R. Rombauer of Seattle passed away September 3, 1999 at the age of 92. Rombauer, who was known for his many pro bono cases, was the lawyer who set up Recreational Equipment Cooperative (REI) in the 1930s.

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