June 2001

Changing Venues

Washington Attorney General Christine O. Gregoire has received the Distinguished Alumna Award from the University of Washington College of Arts and Sciences. The award, which recognizes extraordinary accomplishments of a UW Arts and Sciences alumnus, was presented in recognition of her achievements as state attorney general.

Francois X. Forgette has been named Tri-Citian of the Year by the Rotary Clubs of the Tri-Cities. He was honored for his efforts to rally community support for four dams on the lower Snake River, his efforts to help teachers pay for classroom technology, and countless other community service projects in the last 27 years. Mr. Forgette is a partner in the Kennewick firm Rettig, Osborne, Forgette, O'Donnell, Iller & Adamson.

Seattle University law professor Henry W. McGee Jr. has been named a 2001-2002 Fulbright Scholar. He will spend several months teaching and researching in Spain. Mr. McGee's fellowship supports research into the impact of the European Union environmental law on the Spanish legal system, and efforts to harmonize Spanish law with those of other nations. He was previously awarded a Fulbright to Spain in 1982.

Spokane lawyer Heidi B. Silvey has been selected to participate in the American Bar Association Central and East European Law Initiative Program as a rule of law liaison in Yerevan, Armenia. She will serve for one year.

Mary Jo Heston, a partner in the Seattle office of Lane Powell Spears Lubersky LLP, has been inducted as a fellow into the American College of Bankruptcy. Ms. Heston is one of 36 nominees who was honored for professional excellence and exceptional contributions to the field of bankruptcy and insolvency.

Vancouver lawyer Jeannie Bryant has been honored as a Woman of Achievement. Ms. Bryant is a deputy prosecutor in Clark County, working in the domestic violence unit. The award was given to eight Vancouver women who inspire others to make the world better.

Willard Hatch, retired partner of Foster Pepper & Shefelman PLLC, has received the Sidney C. Volinn Memorial Award of Merit from the WSBA Creditor-Debtor Section. The award recognizes outstanding services to the bankruptcy bar and the community.

Bellevue lawyer John C. Peick has been named Citizen of the Year by the Washington State Chiropractic Association. The award recognizes Mr. Peick for his service and contribution of time and talent to the chiropractic profession. He has served as legal counsel to the association since it was founded in 1991.

Spokane lawyer Richard F. Sperling has been appointed to the Limited Practice Board by the Washington Supreme Court.

King County Superior Court Judge Robert H. Alsdorf has received the Judge of the Year award from the Washington chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has been a judge for over 10 years and was re-elected in 2000 without opposition. Judge Alsdorf donated his entire campaign fund last year to the King County Bar Foundation and LAW Fund. John Patrick Cook received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his 40-year career in insurance defense. Mr. Cook is of counsel to the Seattle firm Lee, Smart, Cook, Martin & Patterson PS.

Clark County Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert L. Harris has assumed the presidency of the state Superior Court Judges' Association. Other new officers are: King County Superior Court Judge Deborah Fleck, president-elect; Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Stephen Warning, secretary; and Skagit County Superior Court Judge John Meyer, treasurer.

Daniel J. Morrissey has been named dean of the Gonzaga University School of Law. He is a former dean and professor at St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami. While serving there, he oversaw the initial accreditation processes of both the American Bar Association and the American Association of Law Schools.

Maggie Smith has joined the Vancouver firm Greenen & Greenen PLLC as an associate. She concentrates on criminal and family law.

Seven associates have joined the Seattle firm Lee, Smart, Cook, Martin & Patterson PS. David F. Betz focuses on civil defense litigation, including construction and real estate. Aaron P. Gilligan emphasizes education and school law. Michele M. Haaseth practiced in Grays Harbor County prior to joining the firm. Sarah R. Johnson concentrates on school district and insurance law. Francis X. Olding focuses on civil defense litigation, including construction litigation. Todd K. Skoglund, who worked in the construction industry for 17 years, concentrates on construction law. Noel S. Yumo clerked at the Transportation and Public Construction Division of the Washington Attorney General's Office prior to joining the firm.

Christopher L. Hirst and Christopher G. Weinstein have been named partners in the Seattle office of Preston Gates & Ellis LLP. Mr. Hirst focuses on municipal and education law. He represents public districts and school districts in construction, employment and student-related disputes. Mr. Weinstein works with established enterprises and emerging companies in technology licensing, software development, online media development and content acquisition, as well as copyright and trademark transactions. David Domansky (member of the New York and Washington, D.C., bars) has been named of counsel to the firm. He concentrates on the development and financing of domestic and international independent power and energy projects.

Five lawyers with the Seattle firm Foster Pepper & Shefelman PLLC have been elected to member status. David J. Dadoun concentrates on antitrust, trade regulation, consumer protection, and franchise litigation. Steven P. Eakman counsels high-tech and other emerging growth companies, and venture capital investors. He is co-chair of the firm's mergers and acquisitions practice group. Jeffrey S. Miller focuses on complex civil litigation. He handles class actions, major real estate disputes, securities suits, and consumer credit and breach of contract cases. Lucas D. Schenck counsels emerging growth companies and venture capital firms in equity and debt offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and forming strategic alliances and joint ventures. William V. Taylor focuses on corporate banking and regulation of financial institutions, consumer finance, mortgage lending and secondary market transactions, e-commerce and consumer privacy issues.

Jennifer L. Scully and Reese E. Solberg (member of the Ohio State Bar) have joined the Seattle office of Foster Pepper & Shefelman PLLC as associates. Ms. Scully focuses on intellectual property, with an emphasis on trademark issues. Mr. Solberg concentrates on intellectual property and trademark law, with an emphasis on intellectual property licensing.

Jany K. Jacob has joined the Seattle firm Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker LLP as an associate. Her practice emphasizes environmental and land use law, as well as labor and employment law.

Susan D. Hoffman has joined the Seattle office of Ater Wynne LLP. She provides bond and underwriters' counsel to state agencies, local and tribal governments, and utilities.

Joel S. Summer has been named vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Vopak USA Inc., formerly know as Van Waters & Rogers Inc. He has been with Vopak for 11 years, most recently serving as assistant general counsel and director of legal service.

Mark S. Nadler has been elected partner in the Seattle firm Short Cressman & Burgess PLLC. A former civil engineer, Mr. Nadler represents clients in environmental, engineering and construction law issues.

Darrin Class has joined the Vancouver firm Duggan, Schlotfeldt & Welch. His practice emphasizes real estate and construction law, and commercial litigation.

J.D. Smith has joined the Seattle office of Bullivant Houser Baily PC as an associate. Mr. Smith focuses on litigation with an emphasis in products liability, personal injury and school law.  

G. Michael Zeno Jr., Leslie A. Drake, and Richard W. Hively have formed the firm Zeno, Drake and Hively PS in Kirkland. The firm focuses on real estate matters, business transactions and litigation, estate planning and probate, claims against stock brokers, and employment matters.

Timothy M. Harris has joined Lane Powell Spears Lubersky LLP as an associate in the Seattle office. His practice focuses on land use matters.

Walter Albert DePuy Jr. died March 25 at age 42 from complications related to pneumonia. Mr. DePuy graduated from the University of Puget Sound School of Law in 1983, and was a member of the Washington and Oregon state bar associations. For seven years, he was a Pierce County deputy prosecuting attorney. During that time, he helped establish a nationally recognized sexual offender program. He also served as a juvenile sexual offender consultant to the U.S. Navy. As a prosecuting attorney in Clark County, he worked on cases involving child abuse. In 1991, he became a prosecuting attorney in Cowlitz County, handling major felony cases.

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