July 2001

Changing Venues

Nat Washington, former state senator and first Grant County PUD attorney, has received the Henwood Award from the National Hydropower Association. The award celebrates a lifetime of achievement for responsible hydropower development. As counsel for Grant County PUD, Mr. Washington was instrumental in gaining the approval and financing for the Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams. As a state senator, he was chairman of the Ecology Committee, and played a leading role in creating the Washington Environmental Policy Act.

The King County Bar Association has elected the following officers and members to its Board of Trustees: Ralph Maimon, president; Caroline D. Davis, first vice-president; Thomas E. Kelly Jr., second vice-president; Camden M. Hall, secretary/trustee; Gary A. Maehara, treasurer; Eileen M. Concannon, central district trustee; Gregory M. Miller, central district trustee; and Douglas W. Harris, east district trustee.

The District and Municipal Court Judges’ Association has elected the following officers: Judge Christopher Culp, Okanogan County District Court, president; Judge Dirk Marler, Yakima County District Court, president-elect; Judge Sara Derr, Spokane County District Court, vice-president; and Judge Eileen Kato, King County District Court, treasurer.

The Washington State Board for Judicial Administration (BJA) has elected Kitsap County District Court Judge James M. Riehl member-chair. He is the first district court judge in state history to co-chair the BJA in cooperation with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The Washington State Trial Lawyers Association presented the following awards: King County Superior Court Judge Robert Alsdorf, Superior Court Judge of the Year; Snohomish County District Court Judge Stephen Dwyer, District Court Judge of the Year; Lewis County Superior Court Judge David Draper, 20-Year Service; and Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Don McCulloch, 20-Year Service.

Montesano lawyer Vini Samuel is one of 13 Asian-American elected officials in the nation selected for a leadership academy in Washington, D.C. Ms. Samuel was nominated by State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos for her extensive community involvement.

Cheryl Boal has received the annual Liberty Bell Award from the Whatcom County Bar Association. She was honored for her work in coordinating pro bono legal services in Whatcom County as executive director of Law Advocates.

Barbara C. Clark, executive director of the Legal Foundation of Washington, has received the Law Medal from Gonazaga University School of Law. The award honors an attorney who makes exemplary contributions to the legal profession in keeping with the ideals of Gonzaga University. Ms. Clark received the medal in recognition of her dedication to providing legal representation to low-income people.

David Tellekson (member of the Minnesota and Illinois state bars) has been named managing partner in the Seattle office of Merchant & Gould. He has been in the firm’s Minneapolis office since 1987, and is a trial lawyer focusing on complex patent disputes.

Thomas H. Fryer and Jeffrey A. Thigpen have joined the Bellingham firm now known as Nelson, Brinson, Thigpen & Fryer PS. Mr. Fryer practices criminal, personal injury and municipal law. Mr. Thigpen focuses on personal injury litigation, insurance claims and criminal defense.

Kevin Lederman has been named managing director of the Seattle firm MacDonald, Hoague and Bayless. He continues to practice business immigration law.

Brian D. Hulse has joined the Seattle office of Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe LLP as a lateral shareholder. He works with the firm’s financial services national practice group on financial services, real estate and insolvency matters.

Karen R. Bertram has been named principal in the Seattle office of Garvey, Schubert & Barer. Her practice emphasizes trusts and estates, including estate planning and estate litigation. Michael Brick has joined the firm as an associate, focusing on corporate and international law. Sevilla C.P. Claydon has also joined the firm as an associate, concentrating on labor and employment matters. Kerry E. Radcliffe has rejoined the firm as a principal. Her practice emphasizes corporate law and commercial transactions.

Peter Offenbecher has become a shareholder in the Seattle firm Skellenger Bender. His practice includes criminal defense in state and federal court, appellate advocacy, civil litigation and professional disciplinary matters. Elizabeth J. Berns has joined the firm as an associate. Formerly in private practice, she focuses on family law, intellectual property protection, estate planning and probate, business succession planning, and business law.

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