Kent Lawyers

A Seattle native, Amanda O’Halloran joined the firm in 1995, after graduating from Seattle University School of Law. She focuses her practice primarily on providing employment law advice to a diverse group of businesses, ranging from car dealerships and other retail establishments to healthcare providers, financial services companies, non-profits, and private membership associations. She is frequently called upon to provide advice on difficult employment terminations, conducting internal harassment and discrimination investigations, drafting employment agreements and other contracts, and developing anti-harassment policies and conducting training. Amanda works closely with Human Resource personnel, executive management, and business owners to resolve...

Kim Schnuelle is a Senior Attorney at McKinley Irvin, one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier divorce and family law firms. Kim has a 10.0 “Superb” rating on Avvo.com and has also been selected for the honor of Washington Super Lawyers®. Kim has a reputation for putting her clients’ needs first and protecting what matters most to them.

I'm a proud Pacific Northwest native. After double majoring in both English and History at the University of Washington, I attended the University of Washington School of Law. Over the past few years, I have worked in the following areas of law: estate planning, probate, personal injury, and real estate. My firm currently focuses on estate planning. When not working on client matters, I explore the outdoors by hiking, backpacking, and snowboarding.

Immigration attorney with a focus on family-based immigration law. I'm passionate about helping people of different backgrounds acquire legal status and pursue the American dream. As an immigrant myself, I understand how complex and intimidating the U.S. immigration system can be. I enjoy helping people resolve their immigration issues so they can focus on building their future. I live in Tacoma, Washington with my wife and two daughters. In my free time, I enjoy playing soccer, spending time with my family, and working on house remodeling projects.

Chris Van Vechten moved to Tacoma from Portland in 2004 to attend the University of Puget Sound. He studied history, volunteered in the community, worked as a legislative staff member for a state representative and later a state senator, and even personally ran for school board before enrolling in Seattle University School of Law. Prior to launching the Law Office of Chris Van Vechten, Chris worked as a Rule 9 prosecuting attorney with the Thurston County Prosecutor’s Office and later with the Lakewood City Attorney’s Office. In addition, he interned with the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Civil Division...

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.

James joined GTH after completing a clerkship for the former Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court. He focuses his practice pursuing trials in the areas of personal injury, catastrophic accidents, employment law, and insurance coverage.

He has briefed and argued multiple appeals, including cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Washington Supreme Court. In his practice he has represented families in wrongful death cases, victims in sexual abuse cases, and many returning U.S. service members who face discrimination or retaliation in the workplace.

When he’s not working, he’s blazing trails, scaling peaks, and skiing with his...

Rita is a founding partner and CEO of McKinley Irvin. With an eye toward the future, Rita works with the firm's leadership team to maintain McKinley Irvin’s commitment to excellence in law practice, client service, professionalism, and firm management. In addition to her work at McKinley Irvin, Rita is deeply involved in the Tacoma community and has served as a director on several local and professional boards. She currently serves on the Legal Pathways Community Advisory Board and as a Dressel Scholars Mentor at the University of Washington Tacoma. Additionally, Rita founded MI’s Black Law Student Mentorship Program where she...

Warren’s primary area of practice is labor and employment law. In this capacity, he represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including discrimination, harassment, termination, wage-and-hour litigation, collective bargaining, grievance arbitration, and day-to-day advice.

If client loyalty and satisfaction are any measure of an attorney’s success, then Warren has a lot to proud of. After 30 years, he continues to represent his first legal client, a chain of locally owned grocery stores. In fact, he has worked for many of his clients for several decades. Some of his other long-term clients include Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma Housing Authority,...

Andrea is a trial lawyer with an emphasis in business and employment litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants. She has successfully represented clients litigating shareholder, non-competition, and employment discrimination disputes, and obtained pre-trial injunctions. She has achieved jury verdicts enforcing her clients’ contract rights, represented clients in trust and estates disputes, and obtained protection for vulnerable adults. She also regularly represents clients in the areas of regulatory monitoring and advocacy, including extensive work in alcohol regulation and policy, and with Washington's Liquor and Cannabis Board.

Andrea joined GTH in 2005 after graduating from Seattle University School of Law,...

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...

John Fetters represents individuals and businesses in a broad range of civil litigation matters, including business and complex commercial litigation, insurance coverage, municipal liability, personal injury, product liability, and aviation law. John has tried cases to verdict in state and federal court and has handled many successful arbitration proceedings. Super Lawyers Magazine selected John to its “Rising Stars” list every year since 2013.
John was recognized as one of the 2017 Top 40 Young Lawyers by the American Bar Association.
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) selected John as one of the select recipients of the 2016 Best Lawyers Under...

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.

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.

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"...

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...

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.

Nick is a trial attorney that joined Anderson Carey & Williams in 2015. Appearing for defendants and plaintiffs in federal and state courts throughout California, Arizona, Washington and other jurisdictions, Nick's litigation experienced includes successful resolutions of various Jones Act, food contamination, constructions defect, insurance bad faith, and product liability cases on behalf of many different businesses and individuals. Nick grew up in New Jersey and after highschool he attended New York University for undergraduate studies in music and business. After he graduated in 2007 with honors from NYU he moved over to Virginia for law school and attended...

Eric Johnson has practiced law throughout Washington, California and Minnesota for twenty-six years specializing in civil trial work. He has tried over fifty cases to jury verdict(s) in civil and criminal cases and is a top rated litigation attorney by peer review and by leading legal service directories. We defend or prosecute civil actions in the following areas of practice: Personal Injury/Wrongful Death: Claims concerning personal injury or death caused by alleged negligence; cases involving issues of product defect(s) (e.g., in motor vehicles, industrial tools, food, drugs); premises liability (e.g., claims alleging dangerous conditions...

Kristi O'Brien's practice is primarily in the area of business transactions and real estate transactions. Kristi represents business clients and medical practices in real estate, commercial, corporate planning, partnership, asset and stock purchase and sale, employment, and health law.

I have a different perspective than many Seattle DUI defense attorneys. After graduating in 1995 from Emory University in Atlanta, and obtaining my law degree (with honors) from Seattle University School of Law in 1999, I began my legal career as a DUI prosecutor. Working for the cities of Tukwila and Kirkland, I successfully prosecuted hundreds of DUI cases. But by 2002 I decided it would be best to focus my skills on advocating for those who have been accused of DUIs and other alcohol-related driving offenses. I joined the law firm of Stephen Hayne and by 2007 I became a named partner...

My practice focuses on probate, guardianships, estate planning, TEDRA (Trusts and Estate Dispute Resolution Act of Washington) litigation and alternate dispute resolution.

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...

Sara's focus includes Family Law and Civil Litigation. Sara Kim is a passionate advocate who, in every case, is driven to seek justice for her clients. In private practice since 1995, Sara is a highly experienced family law attorney; she also has a thriving practice in the areas of personal injury and civil litigation.

Keeping a client-centered focus has been fundamental to her success. As Sara explains, “The people who come to me are under a lot of emotional pressure. The point is to make myself accessible: I believe that being there to listen is the only way to truly know...

Lance did not begin his legal career expecting to be a bankruptcy attorney. But along the way, working for a general practitioner, he found that the trade most rewarding. Consumer bankruptcy was a fast-moving process that could offer people real relief very quickly. The many legal concepts in bankruptcy come naturally to Lance, and he finds fulfillment not only in devising the best strategies for clients, but also fully advising and explaining the procedures and decisions along the way. He structures his practice to provide maximum direct communication with his clients. Lance has called the Great Northwest...

Debra Synovec, founder of Whole Mediation, Inc., provides skillful mediation services in Seattle, Washington. Whole Mediation offers clients a progressive, productive, and peaceful process to resolve family challenges and create a more balanced, empowering approach to conflict resolution. Debra ‘s mediation and divorce consulting practice primarily concentrates in: divorce, premarital and post-marital agreements, parenting plans, cohabitation and LGBT dissolutions, estate planning, estate administration and small business disputes.?? Debra combines her unique skills acquired as an attorney, CPA and social worker to pragmatically and compassionately help clients address the legal, financial and emotional...

I work as part of a team of entrepreneurial-minded business lawyers who provide practical advice, transparent flat rates, and quick turnaround times. We use custom technology to decrease costs, increase efficiency, and provide the highest quality legal services at competitive rates. We offer transparent flat rates, so you will know upfront what services you will receive and at what price. We remove unnecessary legalese and craft our documents so they are easier to understand. We are accessible; we keep you informed on your matter and respond promptly to your questions and concerns. We help businesses with all aspects...

I’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest my whole life. I love it here. I grew up in Lake Stevens, WA, and earned my undergraduate and graduate degrees in Seattle. After taking a law school course on “Corporations, Law and Society,” I knew I wanted to help Seattle businesses with their legal services. I came to fully appreciate the impact of business on society and how the law can shape this impact. I appreciate the relationship between business and our communities, and I am passionate about making it easier for businesses to positively impact our community.

I have been practicing law since 1990 when I graduated from a top-ranked Canadian law school, Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia. After 3 years as a trial lawyer in Canada I moved to California where I gained admission to the California State Bar. I practiced law in West Hollywood California for 13 years until my relocation to Redmond, Washington in 2007. Since 2008 I have practiced family law in the Seattle area, and I have extensive trial experience in King County. While I love being able to fight for my clients in the courtroom I also recognize that fair settlements...

Travis Moeller is an associate attorney at Blair & Kim and a recent graduate of Seattle University School of Law. Travis practices criminal defense, family law, and personal injury law. Travis previously worked as a Rule 9 intern at Blair & Kim during his second and third year of law school.

Travis graduated from Seattle University Cum Laude and achieved CALI awards in Legal Writing and Professional Responsibility during his time in law school, which are given to the student who earns the top grade in a class. During law school, Travis was a student fellow at the Fred T. Korematsu...

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