La Center Business Lawyers

Before earning her law degree, magna cum laude, from Gonzaga University School and joining GTH in 1991, Margaret Archer was a financial analyst for Westinghouse Hanford Company. She puts her business acumen and insight into the world of finance to good use in her position as Chair of our Board of Directors and in her practice areas of land use, real estate litigation and commercial litigation.

Practicing law in Washington and Oregon for 20 years in the areas of domestic and international tax law, simple and complex estate planning, business formations, business transactions, family succession and legacy planning.

About Bob Schroeter
Bob Schroeter has provided management, legal and government relations services to clients in Oregon and Washington State for over 25 years. Bob has experience as an Assistant Attorney General, Municipal Counsel, Corporate Director of Government Affairs, Division Director at a State Agency, CEO and Government Relations professional and County Bar Association President, as well as Presiding officer and director for non-profit organizations.

Bob has handled cases before State Superior, Appellate and Supreme Courts & State and Federal District Courts for two decades, and has worked with legislators at the Federal level, and State Legislative, County...

Shawna Mirghanbari recently celebrated her 25 Year Law Anniversary. Shawna has been an Adjunct Professor of Business Ethics at Seattle University. Shawna has also taught Paralegal Studies, Family Law, Criminal Procedure, Criminal Justice, and Ethics Diversity & Conflict for the Law and Justice Department at Central Washington University. EDUCATION Juris Doctor, Seattle University School of Law, 1995 Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Seattle University, 1991 BAR Admittance: 10/17/1995 CREDENTIALS: Summa Cum Laude, 1991 Truman Scholar for Washington State, 1989 Honors Program 1987-1989 Academic and Soccer Scholarships Valedictorian, 1987

I am a native of Olympia, and my family has been in the region for more than 100 years. I received my B.A. in Philosophy before graduating from Lewis and Clark Law School. I have been licensed to practice law since 1996 and have spent my career serving my community. I place an emphasis on attorney-client communication. This includes promptly responding to messages, regularly meeting with clients at my office, and providing an online portal through which clients may access their important records. I promise this level of communication to each and every client I serve.

20 years litigation experience. I have helped thousands of clients get through very difficult situations

Conor McCarthy is an experienced Real Estate and Estate Planning attorney, and has spent nearly 15 years helping his clients navigate and resolve complex transactions and disputes. Serving clients large and small, private and public, Conor prides himself on taking the time to listen and fully understand a client’s challenges and goals.

Conor began his career as a civil litigator zealously advocating in contract, construction, real estate, land use and commercial disputes. He then transitioned to become a skilled municipal and transactional attorney negotiating and closing complex commercial and real estate deals, and resolving difficult land use challenges. After managing...

For nearly a decade, Brad served as general counsel for Tacoma-based Associated Petroleum Products, Inc. In this capacity, he became an experienced advisor to directors, owners and senior managers in the petroleum distribution industry, dealing with the structuring, drafting and negotiating of corporate and commercial transactions, business and strategic initiatives, risk management, and litigation. After Associated Petroleum was acquired by Fortune 500 World Fuel Services, Inc., Brad continued to support both Associated Petroleum and World Fuel Services’ North America Land Division as senior counsel until joining GTH.

Brad focuses on business, commercial and transactional law at GTH, supporting the day-to-day...

Travis’ practice focuses primarily on business and real estate transactions, with an emphasis on entity formation, governance, and mergers and acquisitions. Travis believes that a good process is the best way to arrive at good results. Thus, before he can provide effective legal advice, he must first carefully listen to the client’s particular situation and understand exactly what the client both needs and wants. Only then can a comprehensive strategy be crafted to help resolve the client’s current legal needs but also allow the client to continue working towards the client’s aspirations. Travis’ practice gives him great satisfaction because he...

Experience Matters!

Chuck practices in both State and Federal Courts, as well as many Tribal Courts. Chuck is a semi-retired Tribal Court Judge, having acted for 16 years as a judge on specific cases for 32 different Indian Tribes located in the states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Chuck has also been appointed as a Special Master Judge for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe in Connecticut. On occasion Chuck is still appointed by Tribes to act as a trial or appellate judge.

In addition to Indian law, Chuck has an...

About Thomas

I have been a practicing attorney in the state of Washington since 1998. Since that time I pride myself in being a problem solver for my clients. Clients come to me with a variety of problems and legal issues. It is my job to help solve those problems and to resolve their issues. Sometimes the answer to the problem is aggressive litigation while other times simple, competent assistance with legal transactions is all that is needed. Regardless of what type of problem or legal issue you have, I am here to help you solve...

Thomas Balerud, after 17 years with the same firm, has opened his own law practice, located in downtown Tacoma. Tom is a graduate of both Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound. Tom has enjoyed success in many well publicized high-profile State and Federal cases. He is currently serving as a Trustee to the TPCBA. Tom and his experienced staff are currently available to assist clients in his two practice areas: Criminal Law and Personal Injury.