PRESENTATIONS AND EXPERIENCE    


                          


Professional Presentations
made to attorneys, CPAs, enrolled agents and others:

Seattle, September, 2004 - "Choice of Business Entity in Washington: How to do it Right" (presentation and handbook with David Cullen, Olympia attorney), © National Business Institute (NBI).

Seattle, December 2014 - “Tools for Plaintiffs and Defendants in Shareholder Disputes,” © National Business Institute

Seattle, May 2014 - ” Dispute Resolution in LLCs” (presentation and handbook with others), © National Business Institute

Bellevue, April, 2014 – “Choosing a Business Entity” A Strategic Approach to Business Sponsored by United Health Care

Seattle, 2013 - “Advantageous Uses of LLCs” © National Business Institute

2012 - “Key Issues Impacting Entity Selection” © National Business Institute

Seattle, December, 2012 - "LLC Workshop: Choose, Draft and Maintain" (presentation and handbook, with others) © NBI.

Mount Vernon, December, 2012 - "Choice of Business Entity" sponsored by the Skagit County Bar Association.

Seattle, April, 2010 - "Partnerships from Start to Finish"(presentation and handbook, with others) © NBI.

National Teleconference, May, 2009 - "The Acquisition Agreement for Small to Medium Sized Businesses" presented by NBI and West, A Thomson-Reuters Business, © NBI.

Seattle, December, 2008 - "Helping Your Client Buy or Sell a Small to Medium Sized Business" (presentation and handbook, with others) ©NBI.

Seattle, October, 2008 - "Helping Your Client Select the Best Entity Option" (presentation and handbook, with others), © NBI.  


Broad Experience as Legal Counselor

When my office was first opened in 1977, my practice included not only business matters, but also cases in injury, real property, domestic relations, criminal law, wills and probate and other areas of law. Gradually, I have narrowed my practice to those areas I find most fulfilling.  I believe that a broad background in the law helps to provide clients with the judgements issue spotting and legal understanding that is necessary to give solid advice.
 

Insurance: As lead counsel and COO, I helped form a physician-owned medical malpractice insurance company and provided day-to-day leadership to high performing teams comprised of actuaries, underwriters, domicile managers, attorneys, auditors, reinsurance intermediaries, investors, and claims administrators. Company was approved by regulators and operates in 22 states. 
 

Technology:  As a co-founder and VP of a start-up telecommunications technology company I was responsible for successfully developing distribution channels for new products throughout the US and South America.  Responsible for contractual, corporate, licensing, intellectual property, product liability, warrantee, export and sales issues.
 

Judicial Perspective
The law has been said to be a prediction of what courts will do.  In addition to substantial trial and courtroom experience as a lawyer, I was a frequent Judge Pro-tem in Northeast and Bellevue District Courts during a period of 12 years, presiding over and deciding hundreds of civil, criminal and traffic matters.
 

Snoqualmie Valley School Board
I was for 11 years a member of the Snoqualmie Valley School Board and two terms as president. The Board decides matters of policy for the School District, having an annual budget of between $30,000,000 and $40,000,000 with over 400 employees and serving 4,500 students. Our Board was recognized as the best in the State of Washington, for its size of district (2001) by the Washington State School Directors Association. The Board was recognized nationally as one of 25 of the best Boards by the official publication of the National School Boards Association (2002). In 2002, our Superintendent was chosen by his peers as Washington State Superintendent of the Year
, by WASA, the organization of his peers.  Our District has also been recognized by proclamations of the King County Council and the Washington State legislature.

King County Directors Association
I was elected by my peers to serve on the board of this organization, and as its president.  KCDA operates as a cooperative purchasing agent for 294 school districts in the State of Washington, as members, as well as numerous other municipalities and governmental organizations in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska.  We provide advantageous pricing and availability for these local governments on purchases of items ranging from paper clips to modular buildings, and from computers to school busses.  KCDA has annual sales in excess of $70 million, and at various times during the year we will have over 100 employees.  KCDA is on the Web at www.KCDA.org, and provides on-line purchasing for  members.
 

Education
Juris Doctor Gonzaga University Law School. 
B.A. (Philosophy) Western Washington University.
 

Personal
Former Soccer Coach (State "D" License), Baseball Coach, Chess Tournament Host, and Assistant Cub Scout Troop Leader.  Current Hobbies include Fly Fishing, Bicycling and Sailing.