Law Firm Overview

Specific Experience:

I once represented a kindergarten teacher at a monastery school who was seeking to enforce the distribution of debt granted in her divorce decree. The divorce decree was agreed to at the time of the divorce but my client's ex-husband refused to pay the credit card bills allotted to him in the decree. The credit card companies were in a position to collect from my client since they were not bound by the divorce decree allocation of debt. We pursued a contempt citation and judgment in the amount of credit card debt that she had paid even though the divorce decree had allotted it to her ex-husband. The ex-husband then filed Bankruptcy attempting to discharge the debt allotted to him in the divorce. We pursued an adversary proceeding in the Bankruptcy Court in which I represented my client at trial. We prevailed and the debt was found to be non-dischargeable, making my client a creditor of her ex-husband for the amount of debt allotted to her ex-husband that she paid.

I once represented a federal postal worker in a divorce. The couple had been married over 20 years and had a complex set of financial assets to distribute. My client’s postal retirement was in jeopardy of being allocated as part of the distribution of assets in the divorce. The distribution of retirement assets requires compliance with a number of federal and state laws depending on the particular retirement involved. I prepared the proper documents for the distribution of my client’s postal worker retirement and a balance sheet of the other marital assets for distribution. Based on this preparation, I was able to negotiate a settlement that left my client's retirement in tact, allowing my client to get divorced without splitting the retirement he had worked for 20 years to acquire.

I once advised, consulted and negotiated for a client in a divorce having marital assets in an amount over $10 million. The case involved the enforceability of a prenuptial agreement against my client. I determined that the agreement was not binding and as a result, was able to secure a more equitable distribution of assets for my client as they divorced. In the end, my client received approximately half of the marital assets instead of the 3% granted to her from the prenuptial agreement.

Representative Clients:

My law practice is family centered in that I find solutions for every type of legal matter effecting families. I will represent clients who come to me needing legal assistance regarding Adoptions, Child Abuse, Child Custody & Visitation, Child Support, Divorce or Annulment, Domestic Violence, Enforcement of Decrees, Guardianship and Mediation. I am also skilled in taking on cases that deal with Military Family Issues, Name Changes, Prenuptial Agreements, Paternity, Restraining Orders, Separations, Spousal Support or Alimony, State Child Protection, and Surrogates.

Mission Statement:

I view the practice of law as a privilege in the service of others. I am a Chicago native who is licensed to practice law in Oregon and Washington and now make my home in the beautiful city of Portland, Oregon. I am a well-seasoned journeyman attorney with significant experience in finding the best possible solution for people facing the challenges of legal problems.

Areas of Practice

• Administrative Law
• Antitrust & Trade Regulation
• Banking & Finance Law
• Business & Commercial Law
• Consumer Protection
• Contracts
• Debtor/Creditor
• Lemon Law
• Business Organizations
• Franchising
• Civil Rights
• Constitutional Law
• Discrimination
• Construction Law
• Criminal Law
• DUI/DWI
• White Collar Crimes
• Employment Law -- Employee
• Employment Law -- Employer
• Environmental Law
• Estate Planning
• Wills
• Family Law
• Adoption
• Child Support
• Custody & Visitation
• Divorce
• Government Agencies & Programs
• Government Contracts
• Elder Law
• Immigration & Naturalization Law
• Insurance Law
• Labor Law
• Litigation & Appeals
• Personal Injury -- Defense
• Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
• Probate & Estate Administration
• Products Liability Law
• Land Use & Zoning
• Securities Law
• State, Local & Municipal Law
• Toxic Torts
• Workers' Compensation Law

Honors and Awards

• Public Law Program, Moot Court Competition
• Philosophy Internship, Center for Applied and Professional Ethics

Classes and Seminars

• Adjunct Professor, Criminal Law/Procedure, Gonzaga University, 2003
• AMTA Mock Trial Coach, Gonzaga University, 2002 - 2003

References

• The Hon. Harold D. Clarke III - Spokane County Superior Court Judge
• Daniel Feiner - Attorney at Law
• The Hon. Annette S. Plese - Spokane County District Court Judge
• David Paul - Paul & Sugerman, PC
• Emem O. Ibanga - Assistant District Attorney
• Jane Harris - Executive Director
• Douglas Boe - Spokane County Public Defender's Office

West Practice Categories

Administrative Law, Antitrust & Trade Regulation, Banking & Finance Law, Business & Commercial Law, Consumer Protection, Contracts, Debtor/Creditor, Lemon Law, Business Organizations, Franchising, Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Discrimination, Construction Law, Criminal Law, DUI/DWI, White Collar Crimes, Employment Law -- Employee, Employment Law -- Employer, Environmental Law, Estate Planning, Wills, Family Law, Adoption, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Government Agencies & Programs, Government Contracts, Elder Law, Immigration & Naturalization Law, Insurance Law, Labor Law, Litigation & Appeals, Personal Injury -- Defense, Personal Injury -- Plaintiff, Probate & Estate Administration, Products Liability Law, Land Use & Zoning, Securities Law, State, Local & Municipal Law, Toxic Torts, Workers' Compensation Law