June 2002 

Changing Venues

James S. Rogers has received the WSTLA President's Award for outstanding contribution to the civil justice system. Mr. Rogers practices personal injury law with the Seattle firm Rogers and Fleck PLLC.

Judge Craig Matheson has received the WSTLA Judge of the Year award for his leadership in the civil justice system. Judge Matheson serves in Benton/Franklin County Superior Court.

Daniel M. Caine has been re-appointed to the Small Business Improvement Council by Governor Gary Locke. The council makes recommendations to the governor and Legislature about policies and regulations affecting small businesses.

Gabriel S. Galanda has been elected president of the Northwest Indian Bar Association, a nonprofit organization composed of Indian lawyers working to improve the legal and political landscape for the Northwest Indian community. Mr. Galanda is an associate with the Seattle firm Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC.

King County Superior Court Judge Deborah Fleck has assumed the presidency of the Washington State Superior Court Judges' Association. She has served on the superior court bench since 1992 and is chief judge at the King County Regional Justice Center.

Seattle lawyer Joel Cunningham has been named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Washington chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has also been granted membership in the Inner Circle of Advocates.

Tom A. Alberg, Gary D. Gayton, Peter Greenfield and Christopher E. Mathews have become life fellows of the American Bar Foundation.

Okanogan County lawyer Richard B. Price has received an award for professionalism from the Okanogan County Bar Association.

Maury A. Kroontje has been elected to the board of directors of Betts, Patterson & Mines PS in Seattle. He is a member of the firm's complex litigation practice group.

Dean Butler has joined Carney Badley Spellman as a shareholder. He leads the firm's estate planning, probate and trust department.

Daniel M. Caine has joined Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland as of counsel focusing on bankruptcy and creditors' rights.

John W. Creighton has joined the Seattle office of Preston Gates & Ellis as of counsel in the firm's emerging business practice group. Mark C. Lamb and Vincent A. Ricci (a member of the New York State Bar) have joined joined the firm as associates. Mr. Lamb represents health care and technology companies in corporate, transactional and compliance matters. Mr. Ricci is a member of the firm's business department and focuses on corporate finance, and mergers and acquisitions.

Bethany Thompson (a member of the Hawaii and District Columbia bars) has joined the Seattle firm Short Cressman & Burgess as an associate concentrating on construction and real estate litigation.

John S. De Lanoy, Gregory J. Duff and John P. Stokke have become partners in the Seattle firm Cairncross & Hempelmann PS. Mr. De Lanoy is a member of the firm's real estate group, and chairs the affordable housing and tax-credits industry group. Mr. Duff chairs the firm's hospitality, travel and tourism practice. Mr. Stokke is a member of the firm's corporate finance group.

Lisa N. Benado has joined Speckman Law Group in Seattle. She provides patent prosecution counseling and strategic planning in intellectual property transactions.

Stephanie M. Hicks has joined the Seattle office of Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC as of counsel focusing on real estate, land use and environmental law. Mario D. Parisio has joined the firm's Tacoma office as of counsel concentrating on business transactions and corporate finance.

Peggy Maguire has been promoted to assistant vice president and senior associate general counsel in the legal division of Regence BlueCross BlueShield.

Annette Sandberg has been selected deputy administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Safety Administration.

Antonio Ginatta has been appointed executive director of the state Commission on Hispanic Affairs. He will lead the commission in advising the governor, Legislature and state agencies on policies and programs that affect the state's Latino population.

Douglas S. Palmer Jr. has joined the Seattle firm Hillis Clark Martin & Peterson as of counsel concentrating on real estate matters.

Mark A. Wilner has joined the Seattle firm Mundt MacGregor as an associate in the litigation department.

Christopher G. Emch, Bradley W. Hoff, Sarah Kirstine Johnson, Nancy V. Stephens and Kevin W. Teague have been elected members in the Seattle office of Foster Pepper & Shefelman PLLC. Mr. Emch conducts complex civil litigation emphasizing business and technology law. Mr. Hoff represents policyholders in insurance coverage disputes and related litigation. Ms. Johnson focuses on intellectual property protection including trademark, trade-dress and copyright-infringement suits, misappropriation of trade secrets, and securities fraud. Ms. Stephens focuses on intellectual property, with an emphasis on trademark matters. Mr. Teague concentrates on land use and environmental law, including endangered species, natural resources and water law.

Deborah Arron died April 14 at age 52 from complications related to a bone-marrow transplant. In 1976, Ms. Arron became the first female associate at the Seattle firm Williams, Kastner & Gibbs. Later, she founded Arron & Zeder. She eventually carved a niche as an author and career counselor to lawyers. Her books, What Can You Do With a Law Degree? and Running From the Law: Why Good Lawyers Are Getting Out of the Legal Profession, struck a chord throughout the legal community, making her a frequent speaker to lawyer groups. Memorials may be made to Childhaven (316 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122).

Gig Harbor District Court Judge Tom Farrow died April 3 at age 47. He returned to the bench last June following two liver transplants and five surgeries related to hepatitis C. He was elected to the bench in 1990 and had been re-elected twice. Judge Farrow was actively involved in the Peninsula School District, and spent months compiling a report to the Gig Harbor community on a bond-issue controversy, indicating that while district administration may have managed money poorly, they did not misspend it. District administrators believed that report was crucial in helping rebuild trust with the community.