Burien Lawyers

Sarah is a person (who happens to also be an attorney) fueled by compassion, curiosity, and the desire to see justice prevail. She started her path towards the legal profession at age 7 when she negotiated her first deal: to stay up past her bedtime. She did not win. Several decades later, she applied this and many other life lessons to the practice of law. In her spare time, you can find Sarah at the local dog park trying and failing to get her dog to fetch a tennis ball, playing on the water, listening to music, traveling around this...

Elizabeth A. Hoffman-Graff is an Senior Attorney at McKinley Irvin’s Kirkland office. She practices in all areas of family law, including divorce, domestic violence, unmarried couples, LGBT family law, and more. Elizabeth has been distinguished as a Super Lawyer by Washington Super Lawyers due to her experience, reputation, and consistently exceptional client service.

Mark B. Saku, Esq. is a Seattle-based attorney whose practice focuses on copyright and trademark law and the protection of intellectual property in the the entertainment and new media industries. Mark received his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law with a focus in Intellectual Property. Mark's work commonly involves content and media licensing, business development, copyright and trademark law. Some of his recent work covered: contract negotiation involving media distribution and music publishing; legal counsel in the use of copyrighted images in live performances; and legal assistance in the development and negotiation of small business development and content licensing.

Robert V. Boeshaar is a sole-practitioner focusing on tax controversy work in Seattle, Washington. He helps individuals and small businesses find the best resolution of their disputes with the IRS and stay out of trouble. Prior to opening his own practice, he was an attorney for the Internal Revenue Service Office of Chief Counsel for over fourteen years. He is Past President of the Washington State Bar Association Tax Section.

Kyle Drinnon is a Seattle personal injury attorney. He represents individuals who have been injured through the negligence of others in car accidents, slip and falls, and other incidents.

Kyle has represented injured clients throughout the Puget Sound region in jury trials, arbitrations, and mediations, and has successfully argued before the Washington Court of Appeals and Washington Supreme Court.

Kyle is a Puget Sound native and graduate of the University of Washington. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the Seattle University School of Law located in heart of Seattle.

Britt Birkenbuel is a graduate of Gonzaga University and the University of Oregon School of Law. She originally started her career working on criminal defense and personal injury cases before obtaining a judicial clerkship with Judge Bruce I. Weiss in Snohomish County Superior Court. As a judicial clerk, Britt gained invaluable experience researching, briefing, and working with the Judge on trials and motions that came before the Court. By working within the court, Britt has hands-on experience understanding jury trials and the litigation process.

Britt is passionate about fighting for the “underdog.” She works tirelessly to battle insurance companies and big...

I represent people and businesses. My practice focuses on civil litigation, plaintiffs' personal injury and business law, but I also handles a wide variety of other types of cases. If your case is out of my practice area, I will help you determine the type of lawyer you need to make sure you get to the right person. I earned my law degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 2001 and my bachelors degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Washington School of Business, with a Finance concentration, in 1998. ...

Whether working hands-on with clients, or spearheading a novel legal matter, Elijah is dedicated to crafting meaningful and lasting legal solutions for his clients. He provides a wide range of legal services, including intellectual property, corporate, contract and litigation services. Over the years he has learned that the law cannot be practiced in a vacuum. Effective legal assistance requires an understanding of each client's unique business and personal realities. In addition to representing clients with their personal matters, he has successfully assisted with matters including trademark and copyright registrations, cease and desist letters and infringement, civil litigation, settlement negotiations, licensing...

I began my insurance career as a casualty adjuster for Farmers Insurance in 1989. In addition to Farmers Insurance, I worked as a large loss property adjuster, supervisor, and claims manager for 21st Century Insurance and SAFECO, and have over sixteen years of property and casualty claims experience. In 2005, I received my J.D., summa cum laude, from Southwestern University School of Law, where I served as Lead Articles Editor for the law review. I earned my CPCU designation in 2008, and am currently serving as Vice President of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the CPCU Society....

I am J.D. Smith, a seasoned personal injury attorney from Mercer Island, Washington. Before attending law school and during my studies, I gained valuable experience working as a claims adjuster and underwriter. Throughout my career, I have successfully tried 60 civil cases to verdict and have completed over one hundred arbitrations. I have a strong passion for working with children and actively support local arts initiatives. Previously, I served as a member of the ABA House of Delegates and held the position of President for the WSBA Young Lawyers Division. I am currently a member of the American Board of Trial...

Early in his career, Don became a part of legal history when he served as counsel at the trial and appellate levels in the famous “snail darter” case (Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill, 437 U.S. 153 [1978]), litigated under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The litigation resulted in a successful review by the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition to practicing law in Chicago and the Pacific Northwest, Don has also taught law and served in senior administrative positions at the University of Puget Sound, University of Michigan, and University of Tennessee law schools.

Since joining GTH in 1982, Don’s practice...

I am a graduate of the University of Washington where I received my bachelor’s degree in 1989. In 1993 I graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law. After a brief stint working for the Pima County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, I realized my talents and passions were better served to defend people and not prosecuting them. The “obtain a conviction regardless of the individual facts” mentality has never appealed to me and seems counterproductive to obtaining a just result. I moved back to Washington and began my criminal defense practice.

Though I have defended people who have been charged with...

Bruce Winchell focuses his practice on business litigation, insurance coverage litigation, and business advice. Bruce has extensive trial, arbitration and mediation experience with a focus on preventing and efficiently resolving disputes.

Carol L. Finklehoffe is a partner at Lipcon, Margulies and Winkleman, P.A. who has been practicing for 30 years in both the state and federal courts throughout Florida, California and Massachusetts. Ms. Finklehoffe is an “AV” rated trial attorney who is a certified specialist in Maritime and Admiralty law. The main concentration of her practice relates to complex personal injury, resort law, wrongful death, sexual assault and medical malpractice. Ms. Finklehoffe is also a skilled maritime lawyer who has developed an expertise in cases involving cruise ship passengers and maritime crew members on various types of commercial and private vessels. Ms....

I grew up in a family business, and graduated from West Point, serving 6 years as an Army Airborne Ranger infantry officer. The combination makes me a consummate team player who instinctively leads and trains team members as needed. My legal expertise is honed from practice in both corporations and law firms, both large and small. My diverse background enables me to cross the lines of the business, administrative, technical, and legal sections of a company, and has taught me to develop and lead teams to set and attain goals harmonized to the business strategies, plans and...

Theresa is an expert in legal matters pertaining to Tax, Business, Estate Planning, Immigration and Probate. With a Masters in Taxation from UW, her knowledge and expertise in these matters surpass the majority of her peers. She uses her abilities to give back and add value to Seattle-Tacoma, which has nurtured her into the attorney she is today.

Brady Douglas is a lifelong resident of the State of Washington. He graduated from Seattle Pacific University (B.A., 2009) with a degree in Business Administration and received his law degree in 2014 from the University of Washington School of Law (J.D., 2014). He is licensed to practice law in the State of Washington. Brady has been with the Menzer Law Firm since 2020. His legal practice focuses on the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, vaccine, and insurance law. Prior to working for the Menzer Law Firm, Brady was an in-house attorney for Amazon. Brady also...

Jim Vucinovich is President and Managing Partner of Rossi Vucinovich PC located in Seattle, WA and Denver, CO. James is a nationally-recognized FELA attorney with over 20 years of committed representation of injured railroad workers and their families. From the beginning of his legal career Jim has focused his practice on the individual, recognizing that it is often the “little guy” who needs the most help in winning settlements and verdicts in personal injury cases. Every client is important and every case is unique and, therefore Jim approaches each and every one of his clients with compassion, honesty and commitment...

Christopher Morales grew up a military brat, whose family was stationed all over the western United States, including Phoenix, AZ, Albuquerque, NM, Denver, CO, and Corpus Christi, TX. While he enjoyed each place for its own unique charm, upon landing in King County, it was love at first sight. Christopher kept his higher education local for as long as possible, attending the University of Washington where he earned a degree in political science. He did leave Western Washington for a short period of time to attend law school at Creighton University in Nebraska but pined for the cloudy skies and...

Ray Weber has over 20 years experience in civil litigation. His practice concentrates on product liability, construction defect, personal injury, highway design, and insurance coverage. He has successfully defended product manufacturers in cases involving automotive, marine, medical and agricultural products; and local governmental entities in liability cases ranging from catastrophic injuries to public records act claims.

Active personal injury and criminal defense practice. Read for the bar exam through the Washington State Bar Association’s Rule 6 Law Clerk Program under attorney Dean Standish Perkins in Seattle, Washington. Former special assistant to Representative Thomas S. Foley, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. Taught English in Viet Nam. Member of Tribal Court Bars. Member of Phi Delta Theta.

Shana E. Thompson has achieved success by listening carefully, understanding her clients’ long-term objectives, and helping resolve dissolutions as amicably and expeditiously as possible.For the past 17 years, Shana E. Thompson has been proudly serving individuals in family law cases throughout the cities of Seattle, Everett, and Kent.

Her client base has been built on hard work and determination that has allowed her to become what she is today. She takes great pride in providing top-level service and promises your complete satisfaction when you choose her to handle your legal needs. Shana and her team...

I have been practicing law since 1996, primarily representing homeowners and commercial building owners with construction defect claims, property insurance claims, and other real estate-related claims. I also serve as local and national counsel for a variety of companies that supply construction materials or services.

In 2015, after a three-year legal battle, I settled the largest mass action lawsuit in Washington history on behalf of the owners of nearly 1,000 homes.

Our firm also practices general litigation, and for our construction supplier clients we handle preliminary notices, liens, and collections.

Jacqueline Garcell is a senior partner and active trial attorney in maritime law for Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. She routinely handles passengers’ personal injury, sexual assault and wrongful death claims, as well as non-maritime personal injury claims. Ms. Garcell is the fastest attorney to ever make partner at the firm, having been promoted to the partner position after being with us for a decade. Ms. Garcell has helped settle hundreds of cases on behalf of both cruise ship passengers and crew members. She achieved one of the Top 50 Personal Injury Verdicts in Florida in 2017 — this rare and...

Stacy Heard is an attorney who practices exclusively family law in Seattle, Washington. Stacy has served clients for nearly 20 years in the Seattle area. Prior to and during law school, Stacy worked as a family law and civil litigation paralegal for 7 years. Her broad experience in family law includes cases involving complex financial issues, parenting plan/child custody issues, relocation, restraining orders, and child support issues. Prior to starting her own practice in 2005, she worked at a large Seattle civil litigation firm where she also gained valuable negotiation and litigation experience. Stacy chose to practice family law because she...

For almost thirty years, Michael Iaria has defended clients accused by the government of serious crimes. An accomplished and successful advocate, he has received the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers President's Award for "distinguished service in the highest traditions of the criminal defense bar." His peers have voted him a "Super Lawyer" each year since Washington Law & Politics Magazine began the award in 1999 and have selected him as one of the 100 best trial lawyers in Washington. Seattle Business Monthly has listed him as one of the best lawyers in Seattle. He has a "superb"...

John is a international lawyer with multiple post graduate degrees from both U.S. and European schools. He is a certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Controls Specialist. He has extensive multifaceted experience in business law and litigation.

Kirk Davis spent fifteen years as a prosecutor. He tried one of the first "two strikes" cases in Washington State putting away a sex offender for life in prison. He brings the same level of passion and commitment in private practice helping those who have been injured in accidents or assaults. He has obtained several verdicts and settlements well into six figures.

Tatyana Gidirimski has handled every aspect of family law, including complex divisions of property, maintenance, parenting plans (including modifications and child relocations), child support, division of business assets, committed intimate relationships, prosecution and defense of restraining orders, domestic violence protection orders, and preparation and negotiation of prenuptial and other relationship agreements. Tatyana is highly cognizant of the toll - both financial and psychological - a contested family law matter can take on the client and strives to achieve an out-of-court resolution of the conflict whenever possible. She is skilled in dealing with high-conflict personalities and counsels clients on handling...

Mr. Chung is the senior partner at Chung, Malhas, Mantel & Robinson, PLLC. Mr. Chung’s primary practice is comprised of Civil and Criminal Litigation, Immigration and Business Transactions. Mr. Chung has represented clients in complex litigations before the Washington Court of Appeals and the Washington State Supreme Court. Mr. Chung has argued numerous cases before Washington State District and Superior Courts. Mr. Chung has counseled and represented clients throughout King County, Pierce County, Island County, Kitsap County, and Snohomish County. In Civil Litigation, Mr. Chung has represented various individuals and entities in Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death, Vulnerable Adult Protection Act (VAPA), Employment...

Patricia Pearson joined GTH in 2001 and is a member of our Labor and Employment group and Defense Litigation group where she represents and advises clients in a variety of matters including employment law and products liability. She particularly enjoys advising clients on all types of employment issues that arise and working with them to develop sound employment policies by drafting employment documents, including employee handbooks and non-compete agreements.

I've been working in residential real estate since 2005. Since then, I've worked tirelessly to provide consumers with a better professional experience at a cost less than what a traditional agent charges. The 6% commission? It's past its expiration date...

Ryan joined GTH in 2012, where his primary areas of practice now include litigation, administrative regulations, and land use law. Ryan’s litigation experience spans a broad range of legal issues, but is frequently focused on products liability, land use, real estate, and business disputes. He is also breaking ground in the emerging area of cannabis business and regulation law, advising his clients as they develop some of the first legal marijuana businesses in the country.

Ryan moved to the Northwest to attend Seattle University School of Law in 2006 after growing up in the Midwest and obtaining a bachelor’s...

Ms. Benson focuses her practice on civil trial litigation in claims involving bodily injury and medical conditions, construction injuries, premises liability, product liability, real estate and neighbor disputes, automobile related lawsuits, retail and hospitality, and business litigation. She possesses extensive litigation experience, personally defending or prosecuting well over five hundred cases throughout the state of Washington. Yvonne has successfully tried cases in front of juries and courts throughout the State of Washington. Yvonne also has extensive experience in depositions, mediations, and arbitration. Her appellate work includes successful appeals to the Washington State Court of Appeals and Washington Supreme...

Behind Jennifer Payseno’s calm and deliberate demeanor are the intellect and ability of one of Seattle’s finest family law attorneys. Affiliated with McKinley Irvin since 1999, Jennifer is highly regarded throughout the legal community for her integrity, courtroom skills, and unwavering commitment to every family she serves.

Brian Edwards started his career in clinical psychology, where he often served as a court-appointed counselor for mentally ill patients. With his listening and conflict resolution skills, honed through his years as a therapist, and because he’s driven by a desire to help people who are going through difficult transitions, he chose to become a family law attorney. "This is the area of law that really matters the most. It touches on the most fundamental pieces of peoples’ lives: their family, their children, and their financial security." He has significant trial experience and is particularly knowledgeable in non-parental custody matters. He...

Born and raised in the Northwest of Washington State, James always had a passion for helping others and fighting for justice. However, it wasn’t until a life-altering event occurred that James found his true calling. As a teenager, James was involved in a severe car accident that left him with physical and emotional scars. Despite the overwhelming challenges he faced, James was determined to not let the accident define his life. Instead, he channeled his energy into finding ways to help others in similar situations. After completing his education and gaining valuable life experience, James decided to become a personal injury lawyer...

Justin Mishkin received his undergraduate degree from University of Washington, with certificates in Political Science and Economics. After undergraduate school, Justin attended law school at University of La Verne College of Law, a small private law school in Southern California. While in law school Justin spent two years at a family law clinic donating his time to helping those who could not afford to pay for legal representation. While at the legal clinic, Justin helped to prepare hundreds of family law petitions. After law school, Justin served as general counsel for a company that...