I love helping people. I love thinking strategically. Practicing law gives me the opportunity to put my passions to work for my clients. I devoted the first 10 years of my practice almost exclusively to litigation. I handled all sorts of cases but focused on estate disputes, personal injury and real estate litigation. In that time I obtained some great results, including large jury verdicts, arbitration awards, and settlements. This experience continues to serve my clients well in court.

This breadth of experience also serves my clients well in drafting sound legal documents and keeping my clients and their loved ones out of court. In litigation, I saw the pitfalls and missteps that get people into expensive legal disputes. So I take care to understand my clients and their goals. And I put my experience to work when I help them to plan their estate, manage a trust, or probate a family member’s estate.

I care about my community. I see apathy and cynicism arise when people feel like their needs and opinions do not matter. So I spend my free time helping to build and strengthen community organizations that empower people to make a difference. With strong ties to Bellingham and Whatcom County, I am better able to help my clients understand what resources are available for them and help them get what they need.