December 17, 2009 - In a landmark event that will provide a quantum leap forward in health care for Alaska Natives residing above the Arctic Circle, the Arctic Slope Native Association (ASNA) has issued an $82 million contract for construction of a modern ...

December 3, 2009 - On November 24, the Washington State Department of Commerce (DOC) published emergency rules regarding allocations and reallocations of three types of municipal bonds authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ...

October 22, 2009 - On October 21, 2009, the Washington State Department of Ecology revised the Industrial Stormwater General Permit to add more stringent requirements that will affect many industrial facilities in the State of Washington. The permit ...

September 15, 2009 - The first appellate case to address the Washington Supreme Court’s divided opinion in Futurewise v. W. Wash. Growth Mgmt. Hearings Bd. has been issued.1 In Kitsap Alliance of Property Owners v. C. Puget Sound Growth Mgmt. Hearings ...

September 9, 2009 - Employers in Washington who fail to timely pay wages to an employee are liable for statutory penalties equal to twice the unpaid wages plus attorney’s fees. Even when an employer seeks bankruptcy protection, officers and senior managers ...

July 17, 2009 - In City of Woodinville v. Northshore United Church of Christ, ___ Wn.2d ___ (7/16/09), the Washington State Supreme court unanimously reaffirmed the strong right to the free exercise of religion embodied in the Washington Constitution ...

July 2, 2009 - The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a press release July 1, 2009 regarding its “bold, new” Form I-9 audit initiative. ICE launched this initiative by issuing Notice of Inspection to 652 businesses nationwide – more ...

June 16, 2009 - Two pieces of legislation came out of the 2009 session to expand the availability of tax increment financing (TIF) for use in Washington state. First, a new Local Revitalization Financing (LRF) was created by Laws of 2009, Chapter 270 ...

June 1, 2009 - House Bill 2040 repeals the tied house law. The tied house law prohibited a wine manufacturer, importer, distributor, or authorized representative from holding a financial stake in a licensed wine retailer. Additionally, the tied house ...

May 29, 2009 - The Washington Legislature recently revised the requirements regarding the release of final retainage amounts to contractors on public works projects, and has increased the dollar limit for small works roster projects. New Requirements ...

May 27, 2009 - Governor Gregoire issued an Executive Order last week with measures aimed at supporting sustainable development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Executive Order 09-05, Washington’s Leadership on Climate Change. Last week’s Order ...

April 30, 2009 - On Saturday, April 25th, the King County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program presented Foster Pepper’s Native American Legal Services Group with the 2009 Judge David Soukup Pro Bono Recognition Award. The award, named for ...

April 22, 2009 - In its just-released opinion in Solis v.Matheson, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has held that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FSLA) applies to Tribal businesses, whether located on-Reservation or not, and that federal enforcement ...

April 20, 2009 - Starting May 1, 2009, the FTC will enforce its new “Red Flags Rules.” These rules require many local governments, including housing authorities, utility districts, hospitals and universities to implement a customized program to reduce ...

March 11, 2009 - Long dissatisfied with the lackluster growth of union membership in the private sector, for the last two years unions have aggressively lobbied and built up their war chests to push through a series of laws and propose Executive Orders ...

March 11, 2009 - In a case that may have far reaching impacts for public entities and their construction contractors, last week the Washington Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the six year statute of limitations for written contract claims does not apply ...

February 27, 2009 - The recently adopted Federal stimulus package, formally titled the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 (“ARRTA”) was signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. Among the provisions of ARRTA are new rights and obligations ...

February 26, 2009 - The American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009 (“ARRTA”) signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009, enacted certain provisions that are intended to improve the marketability of tax-exempt bonds. Among other provisions, ...

February 5, 2009 - Following appeals of a state-wide municipal stormwater permit that regulates 85 small cities and counties in the State of Washington (the Phase II Permit), the Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) held that small cities and counties ...

January 29, 2009 - On January 26, 2009, the Internal Revenue Service sent a “Governmental Bond Financings Compliance Check Questionnaire” to 200 governmental units throughout the United States that issued tax-exempt bonds in 2005. The tax exemption for ...

December 11, 2008 - Congratulations to Upgraded Issuers and Significant Changes in Continuing Disclosure Congratulations are in order for several Pacific Northwest cities and counties that recently achieved ratings upgrades from Standard & Poor’s, ...

December 3, 2008 - The financial crisis continues to take its toll on municipal bond insurers. Please keep in mind that the continuing insurance downgrades could require action by state and local governments, bond issuers and conduit borrowers of bond ...

November 25, 2008 - The U.S. Department of Labor has released its final regulations covering the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. The regulations may be found on the DOL’s website. The new rules substantially change the process for requesting and ...

November 14, 2008 - On November 13, 2008, the Seattle office of Foster Pepper PLLC played host to a unique and far-ranging seminar entitled “Advocacy For The Native American Child – Honoring The Spirit And Intent Of The Indian Child Welfare Act”. The ...

November 7, 2008 - The current economic turmoil will continue to affect our local economy even after other parts of the country start to show signs of recovery. Expect bank loan underwriting standards, especially on commercial real estate, to remain ...

September 9, 2008 - A consensus has developed within the health care community that disruptive and inappropriate behavior such as verbal outbursts and physical threats, refusing to perform assigned tasks, and exhibiting uncooperative attitudes can compromise ...

August 21, 2008 - Growth Board Lacks Authority to Impose "Bright Line" Standards for Local Plans. Counties Have Broad Discretion in Designating UGAs and Specifying Rural Densities. Presumption of Validity of Local Plans is Reaffirmed. Board ...

August 12, 2008 - In the last few months, the Washington Courts have issued five Public Records Act (PRA) opinions on several key issues: Whether to disclose accusations of employee misconduct Whether to disclose attorney bills Whether prisons ...

August 1, 2008 - There has been an ongoing dispute whether the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) or the Growth Management Act (GMA) applies to amendments to shoreline critical area regulations. In a victory for local jurisdictions, the Washington State ...

July 31, 2008 - The Washington State Supreme Court’s ruling today in Bellevue John Does 1-11 v. Bellevue School District, Supreme Ct. No. 786093-8 (July 31, 2008) is a major victory for all public employees and serves to simplify and clarify the rules ...

July 9, 2008 - On July 7, 2008, Division I of the Washington State Court of Appeals issued a decision that is important to both government land use regulators and the development community. The decision adds to the growing body of case law interpreting ...

June 27, 2008 - Most employers believe that they have the right to review their employee’s electronic communications, as long as they have adopted an adequate policy advising employees that they have no privacy rights in communications made on the employer’s ...

June 20, 2008 - In recent weeks and months, Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings have downgraded or withdrawn their ratings of several municipal bond insurers. This month, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s downgraded the ...

June 12, 2008 - King County Superior Court Judge Jim Rogers issued a split decision yesterday in the closely watched litigation concerning the 2003 Municipal Water Law. Click here to see Judge Rogers' decision. In 2003, the State Legislature amended ...

May 20, 2008 - Employers doing business in Washington must comply with two new employment laws providing leave rights to employees with family in the military and to employees who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, or have ...

May 8, 2008 - On February 7, 2008, Foster Pepper distributed a News Alert on the topic of Bond Insurer ratings. (Click here to view the previous News Alert.) Since that time, Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings have ...

May 1, 2008 - This week Foster Pepper teamed up with the University of Washington School of Law to conduct a series of legal seminars for attorneys of the Navajo Nation and law students in the University’s Tribal Defense Clinic. The three-day program ...

April 25, 2008 - In 2007, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) sent a “Compliance Check Questionnaire” to over 200 nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations to determine whether those organizations have in place written policies and procedures for ensuring that ...

April 1, 2008 - In an informal letter opinion dated March 21, 2008 (“Informal Letter”), a Washington Assistant Attorney General wrote that a citizen’s advisory board created by a school superintendent qualified as a “committee” of the school board, ...

March 18, 2008 - The U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Washington State Grange v. Washington State Republican Party, et al., – a decision that upholds the constitutionality of the Top-Two Primary Initiative drafted by the Washington State Grange.  ...

February 7, 2008 - The mainstream media has recently been reporting about the eroding strength of municipal bond insurers. Just “Google” the phrase “municipal bond insurer” and you will find numerous articles about the recent bond insurer rating downgrades ...

January 31, 2008 - Employers must immediately begin providing unpaid leave to military family members under legislation signed by President Bush on January 28, 2008. The National Defense Authorization Act of FY 2008 amended the federal Family and Medical ...

November 16, 2007 - No-Match Regulation Held in Abeyance In our recent newsletter, we outlined the critical elements of the Department of Homeland Security’s (“DHS”) controversial “No-Match” Regulation. This rule was scheduled to go into effect ...

October 17, 2007 - In a split decision, the Washington State Supreme Court struck down the City of Bainbridge Island’s shoreline development moratorium. The divided court sharply disagreed on the extent of municipal power to impose shoreline moratoria. ...

October 12, 2007 - We are forwarding today's alert from the American Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Section regarding a significant decision of the NLRB affecting union organization activities. The NLRB has modified a 40-year old standard ...

October 9, 2007 - Since our last news alert, the Employment Security Department changed its interpretation of the law’s requirements. The ESD clarified that a nonprofit corporation is required to register only if it has employees or pays its corporate ...

October 8, 2007 - The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) staff has confirmed that municipal bond issuers may satisfy their continuing disclosure obligations under SEC Rule 15c2-12 by filing on the DisclosureUSA web site (http://www.disclosureusa.org). ...

September 25, 2007 - Under a new Washington law, employers must register all corporate officers with the Employment Security Department (“ESD”) by September 30, 2007. An employer who fails to timely register with the ESD could be subject to a penalty ...

September 13, 2007 - The Washington State Supreme Court has ruled that a mandatory city housing inspection program based on periodic examinations and certifications by landlord-selected private sector inspectors, does not violate state or federal constitutional ...

August 28, 2007 - The recent case of Zink v. City of Mesa (Div. III Aug. 23, 2007) exemplifies the challenges public records requests can impose on small local governments. It also serves as a stark example that “trying your best” is not enough under ...

August 24, 2007 - On August 22, U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez of the Western District of Washington decided that treaties between certain Indian Tribes and the State of Washington guarantee to the Tribes “the right to take fish, not just the right ...

August 7, 2007 - The Washington Legislature’s recent amendment to Washington’s Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), RCW 19.182, restricts employers from obtaining credit reports for employment purposes unless the reason for the credit check is either “required ...

July 18, 2007 - On July 12, 2007, the City of Seattle announced plans to nominate 37 downtown area buildings for designation as Seattle historic landmarks. This effort grew out of a survey conducted by the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods over the ...

WASHINGTON FOLLOWS CALIFORNIA’S LEAD:STATE LEGISLATURE PASSES PAID FAMILY LEAVE INSURANCE PROGRAM On the last day of the session on April 20, 2007, the Washington Legislature passed a bill that requires a family leave insurance program be established ...

Before someone can sue a local governmental entity (i.e. all cities, towns, counties, public hospitals, school districts and all other municipal or quasi-municipal corporations) for damages, chapter 4.96 RCW provides that the claimant first file a claim ...

On Monday, February 26, 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari on the petition filed by Foster Pepper PLLC on behalf of the Washington State Grange, which appeals the Ninth Circuit’s striking down Washington’s Top-Two Primary as unconstitutional. ...

This week Division II of the Court of Appeals published a significant decision for both local governments and applicants for land use and building permits. In Home Builders Association of Kitsap County v. City of Bainbridge Island (issued February 21, ...

The Court Of Appeals Rules $300,000 Penalty Too Lenient For Violation Of The Public Records Act The Court of Appeals (Division I) has held the nearly $300,000 in penalties ($15 a day) the trial court ordered a local government to pay for its mishandling ...

Two bills received hearings in Olympia this week that may be of particular concern to owners and developers of property, both private and public. CONCURRENCY: Senate Bill 5210 would expand the concurrency provisions of the Growth Management Act so ...

In 2006, Congress enacted the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005. Among other things, the Act requires payors of tax-exempt interest to file information returns with the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and to furnish corresponding ...

January 23, 2007 - The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case, United States v. Atlantic Research Corp., that may decide whether private parties who incur cleanup costs can sue other parties for contribution under the federal Superfund ...

On January 17, 2007, the Washington State Department of Ecology issued municipal stormwater permits that, for the first time, will regulate many small municipalities in the State of Washington. The two permits issued are: NPDES and State Waste Discharge ...

In a December 7, 2006 decision in Pierce County, et al. v. State, the State Supreme Court solidly reaffirmed basic and longstanding constitutional principles affecting local governments, and upheld Sound Transit’s continued collection of its local voter-approved ...

November 27, 2006 - The Washington Court of Appeals has recently provided important guidance to Washington school districts regarding the proper test to apply when discharging a school district employee for deficient performance. In a Division III ...

November 13, 2006 - The Washington Supreme Court recently held that a Boundary Review Board lacked authority to increase the territory of a proposed annexation. Interlake Sporting Association, Inc. v. Washington State Boundary Review Board for King County, ...

November 7, 2006 - A recent federal court decision will require parties conducting environmental cleanups to keep a watchful eye on the statute of limitations governing claims to recover cleanup costs. The MTCA statute of limitations does not begin ...

November 1, 2006 - The Court of Appeals, in a consolidation of interrelated landmark forest industry cases, has held the statutory exemption from SEPA review for most forest practices is not subject to Department of Ecology SEPA Rules that would subject ...

The State Supreme Court recently issued an opinion upholding a damage claim against the City of Renton for road construction delays caused by Puget Sound Energy and TCI, related to their failure to timely relocate their utility facilities. Scoccolo ...

On September 1, 2006, a coalition of environmental groups-- the Sierra Club, Washington Environmental Council, and Center for Environmental Law and Policy--filed a lawsuit in King County Superior Court seeking to invalidate legislation that benefits ...

On July 6, 2006, the Washington Supreme Court adopted a new definition of “disability” under the Washington Law Against Discrimination (“WLAD”). The court adopted the definition of “disability” in the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 ...

Public agencies generally are required by the Public Disclosure Act (chapter 42.17 RCW) ("PDA") to maintain records and disclose those records to the public (or incur substantial penalties). In 1999, Division II of the Washington Court of Appeals ruled ...

Supreme court issues divided opinion on Federal Wetlands regulation

It remains to be seen whether I-747 ruling could give local governments a "lift".

Please click on a brief below to view: Press Release: State Supreme Court to Decide Whether Talk Show Hosts and Broadcasters Have Special Right to Avoid Campaign Disclosure Requirements Q & A Respondents/Cross-Appellants' Answer to Briefs of Amici ...

On March 15, 2006, Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law significant changes to Washington’s Family and Medical Leave Act (“WFMLA”). The amendments to the statute take effect on June 7, 2006. The amendments essentially codify the federal ...

On March 28, 2006, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced new joint guidance that addresses designing and implementing wetland mitigation ...

The state Court of Appeals recently upheld Washington local governments' attorney-client privilege against another attack by media interests. In what may be the most comprehensive analysis of the "work-product" exemption to the Public Records Act, ...

What can employers do when faced with a lawsuit in which the employee will receive attorneys' fees and costs if they are successful? In particular, what can employers do when they believe the amount of damages sought by the plaintiff is exorbitant and ...

In last year's substantial amendments to the Public Disclosure Act (soon to be recodified and renamed the "Public Records Act") - Laws of 2005, chapter 483 - the Legislature directed the Attorney General to prepare model advisory rules for three topics: ...

A bill currently pending before the Washington State legislature - HB 2515 - would amend the Public Disclosure Act (chapter 42.17 RCW, the "PDA") to waive the attorney-client privilege for state and local public agencies, effectively invalidating the ...

On January 27, 2006, the Washington State legislature passed House Bill 2661 making it illegal in the State of Washington to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, public accommodation, real estate, credit and insurance transactions, ...

The Washington State Department of Ecology made several significant changes to its revised and reissued Construction Stormwater NPDES General Permit ("Permit"). The Permit regulates discharges of stormwater from construction sites into Washington's surface ...

On December 27, 2005, Division I of the Washington Court of Appeals decided the first reported case construing the statute of limitations under MTCA, Washington state's cleanup law. The court ruled that the three-year statute of limitations does not ...

Foster Pepper client, Ygnition Networks, for which the firm provides venture capital and other financing legal counsel, has been listed in the Top Washington Venture Deals List for 2005 (Seattle Times, Dec. 12, 2005). Foster Pepper attorneys have extensive ...

To read the final order for San Juan County v. No New Gas Tax, please follow this link.

Seattle, WA -- October 26, 2005 -- Thurston County Superior Court Judge Christopher Wickham today dismissed civil rights claims by the No New Gas Tax Committee against local prosecutors from San Juan County, Seattle, Auburn and Kent who successfully ...

The Washington Supreme Court published a significant eminent domain decision today. In the Matter of the Petition of the Seattle Popular Monorail Authority (Docket No. 76462-0). The Court upheld the authority of the Seattle Monorail Project ("SMP") to ...

In an eagerly awaited decision, Judge Leighton (U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington) granted the City of Vancouver's motion for summary judgment motion holding that the City complied with the Clean Water Act ("CWA") by submitting a timely ...

The United States Supreme Court will decide next year regulation on discharges from dams under the federal Clean Water Act ("CWA"). The Court will review a decision from the Maine Supreme Court (S.D. Warren Company v. Maine Department of Envt'l Protection, ...

The United States Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases that are crucial to developers, property owners, and the environmental community. Both cases involve the issue of whether the Clean Water Act ("CWA") confers jurisdiction over wetlands or waters ...

Effective July 18, 2005, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) reduced its trademark application filing fee from $325.00 to $275.00 (per class) for applications that meet certain requirements. If during the application process, the USPTO determines ...

A new Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion has expanded the scope of sex-based hostile work environment claims. Christopher v. National Education Association, Alaska , published last Friday, underscores the necessity for employers to seriously address ...

The Washington Supreme Court recently decided that local government impact fee requirements must be challenged within 21 days under the Land Use Petition Act. James v. County of Kitsap, Docket No. 7347-9. In the James case, Kitsap County property owners ...

The Washington Legislature has amended the Model Toxics Control Act, RCW 70.105D (”MTCA”) to give the Department of Ecology authority to lien real property to recover “remedial action costs” Ecology incurs on that real property, Session Law, Chapter ...

Last week, U.S. District Judge James Redden rejected the Bush administration’s plan to manage the Federal Columbia River Power System in the Columbia and Lower Snake Rivers (“the Plan”). National Wildlife Federation et al., v. National Marine Fisheries ...

In Cooper Industries, Inc. v. Aviall Services, Inc., Case No. 02-1192, 543 U.S. ____, (December 13, 2004), the U.S. Supreme Court decided that voluntary cleanup costs pursued under the private contribution provision of the Federal Superfund law ("CERCLA) ...

Alcohol: How Should You Minimize Your Risk? To minimize your exposure -- both during and after the holiday party -- consider the following recommendations: Warn employees, in writing, about the risks of drinking and driving and discourage employees ...

The recently enacted American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 contains provisions affecting deferred compensation arrangements. All employers who sponsor such arrangements should review the arrangements before the end of 2004 to determine whether modifications ...

The rules for purchasing contaminated property under federal law while avoiding liability for cleanup have moved another step towards completion. Prospective purchasers should carefully assess the role that the All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) standard ...

Last week, the Washington Supreme Court issued an important new decision regarding Washington water quality law for projects that require water quality certifications from the Washington Department of Ecology. Water quality certifications (also called ...

On January 27, 2004, five separate class action lawsuits were filed against four Puget Sound hospital systems and a healthcare provider for alleged violations of the Uniform Health Care Information Act, RCW § 70.02.005, et seq., and associated administrative ...

In March 2002, the Washington Supreme Court took away Washington cities’ ability to use the Petition Method (chapters 35A.14 and 35.13 RCW) to annex territory, when it ruled that method unconstitutional in Grant County Fire Protection District No. 5 ...

December 1, 2009 – Foster Pepper is pleased to announce that nine attorneys from its Seattle office have been named Rising Stars for 2010 by Washington Law & Politics magazine. Rising Stars are lawyers under the age of 40 who have been noted for ...

November 23, 2009 - For the second consecutive year, four Foster Pepper PLLC attorneys have been named as Spokane’s Top Attorneys by Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living magazine in its 2009 Best of the City issue. Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living teamed up with ...

November 12, 2009 – The Executive Committee of the Pacific Northwest International Section (PNWIS) of the Air and Waste Management Association (A&WMA) has awarded Foster Pepper environmental lawyer Maggie Yowell with a Certificate of Appreciation. ...

October 22, 2009 - Sesame Communications, the premier provider of online services for the dental industry, has been recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of its Fastest Growing Private Companies for 2009. The selection was based on ...

October 15, 2009 – The Washington/Alaska Chapter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) has awarded Foster Pepper attorney Lori Nomura with its Founders Merit Award. HFMA is the professional membership organization for individuals ...

October 2, 2009 – Foster Pepper Of Counsel Judy Runstad and her husband Jon were recently recognized by the University of Washington and the University of Washington Foundation with the Gates Volunteer Service Award. This award is presented annually ...

September 14, 2009 - Foster Pepper client Caiman Consulting has been nationally recognized by Consulting Magazine as the #14 Best Small Consulting Firm to Work For. The industry's leading trade publication polled 236 firms and 10,000 individual participants ...

August 3, 2009 – Foster Pepper construction litigator Greg Clark has been recognized for his contributions to the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) with the organization’s 2009 President’s Award. The award recognizes Greg’s efforts to improve ...

July 30, 2009 - Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that 27 attorneys were named as Best Lawyers in America®, by Woodward White, Inc for its 2010 publication. Additionally, six of the firm’s practices were top ranked. Best Lawyers in America® is ...

July 23, 2009 – Judy Runstad, one of the region’s most highly regarded real estate and land use attorneys, is featured in a new book focusing on women corporate directors by Elizabeth Ghaffari, entitled “Outstanding in Their Field.” Judy has practiced ...

July 22, 2009 – Building upon its success in 2008 in the same category, Foster Pepper PLLC has been listed by Thomson Reuters as first in the nation for the first half of 2009 in “U.S. Municipal New Issues – Bond Counsel Competitive”, with $1.537 billion. ...

July 16, 2009 – Jane Pearson, a member in Foster Pepper’s Creditor’s Rights and Bankruptcy and Financial Institutions practice groups, has been elected treasurer of the Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington. The position of treasurer ...

July 10, 2009 – Foster Pepper PLLC has been recognized for its pro bono efforts by Jewish Family Service of Seattle. Jewish Family Service recently announced its selection of Foster Pepper to receive its 2009 Outstanding Service Award for the provision ...

July 8, 2009 – For the third consecutive year, Foster Pepper has been named as one of the finalists for Washington's Best Workplaces by the Puget Sound Business Journal. The program identifies and recognizes best practices in the hiring and retention ...

June 22, 2009 – Mike Schechter, an associate in Foster Pepper’s municipal and land use practice groups, has been elected to the King County Bar Foundation’s Board of Trustees. The King County Bar Foundation is dedicated to ensuring access to the legal ...

June 19, 2009 – Jeannie Simpson, a senior associate in Foster Pepper’s Real Estate practice group, has been elected to the Board of Directors for Child Care Resources (CCR). Since 1990, Child Care Resources has been promoting school readiness, a stable ...

June 18, 2009 - Jenifer Merkel, an associate in Foster Pepper’s Estate Planning practice group, has been elected to the Board of Directors for Conservation Northwest. Conservation Northwest protects and connects old-growth forests and other wild areas ...

June 12, 2009 - Foster Pepper PLLC's success in four practice areas once again received high rankings in the 2009 edition of Chambers USA. The firm's Real Estate and Land Use practices received top-tier ranking within the Northwest, with Gary Ackerman, ...

June 4, 2009 - Foster Pepper PLLC announced today that 28 attorneys were named to Washington Law & Politics’ Super Lawyers® list, a designation bestowed upon only five percent of the state’s attorneys. Foster Pepper attorneys receiving the designation ...

June 1, 2009 - Foster Pepper PLLC, a full-service law firm since 1904 and headquartered in Seattle, WA, with a branch office in Spokane, WA, and Foster Pepper LLP, an independent but affiliated business law firm located in Portland, OR, today announced ...

May 4, 2009 - Chris Lynch, Intellectual Property attorney in Foster Pepper's Spokane Office, has been invited to post blog entries for the Gonzaga Intellectual Property Law Association (GIPLA) blog at http://www.gonzagaip.org/blog/. GIPLA is a law student ...

April 27, 2009 - Joanna Plichta Boisen, Pro Bono Counsel for Foster Pepper PLLC, has launched a Seattle Views blog for Seattlepi.com on pro bono issues. Her first posting, "Facing the Civil Legal Aid Catastrophe," launched Sunday, April 26, 2009, and ...

April 22, 2009 – In recognition of Earth Day, Foster Pepper is pleased to announce that it has joined the Seattle Climate Partnership, a voluntary agreement among Seattle-area employers to assess their carbon footprint and work together to consider ways ...

April 15, 2009 - The King County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program has announced that Foster Pepper PLLC is the 2009 recipient of the Judge David Soukup Pro Bono Recognition Award. Foster Pepper is being recognized for its attorneys' work ...

April 9, 2009 - Foster Pepper Of Counsel Ron Whitener was recently awarded the M. Shanara Gilbert "Emerging Clinician" Award by the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on Clinical Legal Education. Ron is Assistant Professor of Law and ...

April 8, 2009 - The King County Council appointed Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce Chair Tayloe Washburn as a member of a blue-ribbon committee that will review candidates eligible for appointment to interim County Executive. The committee, co-chaired ...

March 27, 2009 - Foster Pepper PLLC has recognized litigator Neil Dial for his pro bono activities in 2008 with the firm’s annual Pro Bono Litigator of the Year Award. The award is in recognition of Neil’s representation of a low-income father and ...

March 24, 2009 - Foster Pepper has issued its Pro Bono Annual Report, highlighting some of the firm's most significant pro bono work in 2008. Working closely in partnership with non-profit organizations, the bar, and the access to justice community, ...

March 23, 2009 – WaMu veteran Bill Lynch has joined Foster Pepper PLLC as Of Counsel. Lynch will be working in the firm’s Financial Institutions Group, which represents large and small commercial banks, savings associations, savings banks, and local ...

March 16, 2009 - J. Tayloe Washburn, former Chair of Foster Pepper's Executive Committee and an attorney in its Land Use practice group, has been invited by seattlepi.com to participate in its Seattle Views blog. In addition to his work at Foster Pepper, ...

March 10, 2009 – Foster Pepper is pleased to announce that it has awarded its 1L Diversity Fellowship to Thomas Fabrega. Fabrega, a 1L from the University of Washington School of Law, graduated with a B.A. degree, magna cum laude, in Business Economics ...

February 27, 2009 – Joanna Plichta Boisen, Pro Bono Counsel at Foster Pepper PLLC, has been named to the Law Fund & Campaign for Equal Justice Board of Directors. Law Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and its Board of Directors administers ...

February 27, 2009 - Foster Pepper has launched its second legal blog, Local Open Government (www.localopengovernment.com), devoted to legal issues and information on open government laws from Washington State and the rest of the country relevant to local ...

February 9, 2009 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that two attorneys in its Seattle office have been promoted to Member. John Bley joined Foster Pepper as an Of Counsel in 2006 and is Chair of the Financial Institutions Group. His practice ...

January 30, 2009 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome one of the region’s top public finance attorneys – Nancy Neraas. After 24 years in the Seattle office of K&L Gates, Nancy joins Foster Pepper as a member in its Municipal and Public Finance ...

January 22, 2009 – Foster Pepper PLLC has been listed by Thomson Reuters as 1st in the nation for “U.S. Municipal New Issues – Bond Counsel Competitive”, with $2.6 billion in 2008. Rankings and volume totals include all long-term municipal new issues ...

January 15, 2009 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome two new Corporate attorneys to its Business practice, former Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP attorneys Vincent A. Ricci and William H. Orndorff. Vincent (Vin) Ricci joins Foster Pepper ...

December 9, 2008 - Foster Pepper is pleased to announce that seven attorneys from the Seattle office have been named Rising Stars for 2009 by Washington Law & Politics magazine in its December/January 2009 issue. Rising Stars are lawyers under the ...

December 5, 2008 – Four Foster Pepper PLLC attorneys have been named as Spokane’s Top Attorneys by Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Living magazine in its 2008 Best of the City issue. Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Living teamed up with Avvo, Inc., an attorney ranking ...

November 26, 2008 - Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that Jeff Frank, Member in the firm’s Construction and Litigation practice groups, has been appointed Chair of the Defense Research Institute’s (DRI) Judicial Task Force. The task force focuses ...

November 24, 2008 - Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that 19 attorneys from its Seattle office were named as Best Lawyers in America®, by Woodward White, Inc for its 2009 publication. Best Lawyers in America® is a unique legal referral guide subscribed ...

November 6, 2008 – Foster Pepper has launched its first legal blog, Native American Legal Update, devoted to legal issues and information relevant to Native American communities. The firm has a long history of service to Native American and Alaska ...

October 28, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC recently welcomed Michael J. Gamsky to its Seattle office. Mike joins Foster Pepper as a Member in its Business, Securities and Financial Institutions practice groups. Most recently Special Counsel and Shareholder ...

October 24, 2008 – Gavin Gaukroger, Associate in Foster Pepper’s Litigation practice group, has been elected to the Board of Directors for Just Cauz. Formed in early 2005, Just Cauz is dedicated to bringing people together to make a difference, just ...

October 22, 2008 –Foster Pepper PLLC has been listed by Thomson Reuters as 2nd in the nation for “U.S. Municipal New Issues – Bond Counsel Competitive”, with $2.15 billion in the first three quarters of 2008. Rankings and volume totals include all long-term ...

October 17, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Sinjin Dinh, Nicole Guerrero, Amy Kauppila, Laura Marquez-Garrett, Matthew Maynard, and Adrian Urquhart Winder to its Seattle office. Sinjin Dinh joins Foster Pepper as an Associate in the ...

October 1, 2008 – Jim McNeill, Member in Foster Pepper’s Municipal Government and Public Finance practice groups, was presented with the Partnership of the Year Award by the Granite Falls School District. The award was to recognize Jim’s work with ...

September 29, 2008 - Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that J. Tayloe Washburn, Member in the firm’s Land Use and Environmental practice groups, has been inducted as chair of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Washburn has a lengthy record ...

September 25, 2008 – The Washington State Bar Association’s (WSBA) Indian Law Section has named Foster Pepper attorneys Ron Whitener and Joanna Plichta Boisen as Chair-Elect and Trustee, respectively. The WSBA is part of the judicial branch, exercising ...

Seattle, WA – July 31, 2008 – Susan Drummond, Co-Chair of Foster Pepper’s Sustainable Development/Green Building industry group, has been appointed by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels to the City’s newly formed “Green Building Task Force.” Susan is the only ...

Seattle – July 16, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC recently welcomed Jason (Jay) R. Donovan to its Seattle office. Jay joins Foster Pepper as an Associate in its Insurance Coverage and Litigation practice groups. Most recently an attorney with Jenner & ...

Seattle – July 9, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC's success in four practice areas once again received high rankings in the 2008 edition of Chambers USA. The firm's Real Estate and Land Use practices received top-tier ranking within the Northwest, with Gary ...

Seattle – June 30, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC recently welcomed John Sobba to its Seattle office. John joins Foster Pepper as an Of Counsel in its Business, Intellectual Property, Antitrust and Consumer Protection, and Health Care practice groups. Most ...

Seattle, WA – June 19, 2008 – Sven Peterson, Associate in Foster Pepper’s Health Care practice group, has been selected to the 2008-2009 Leadership Tomorrow program. Leadership Tomorrow prepares, challenges and engages emerging and existing leaders ...

SEATTLE, WA – June 14, 2008 – Foster Pepper was named as one of the finalists for Washington's Best Workplaces by the Puget Sound Business Journal. The program was launched last year to identify and recognize best practices in the hiring and retention ...

Seattle, WA – June 6, 2008 – Two members of Foster Pepper’s Native American Group are the newest admittees to the Tulalip Tribal Bar. Greg Guedel, Group Chair and Jeff Nave successfully passed the Tulalip Bar Exam in May and will become licensed to practice ...

Seattle, WA – May 30, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC announced today that 26 attorneys from its Seattle office were named to Washington Law & Politics’ Super Lawyers® list, a designation bestowed upon only five percent of the state’s attorneys. The ...

Seattle, WA – May 28, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that Jeff Frank, Member in the firm’s Construction and Litigation practice groups, has been instrumental in forming the new Washington Committee for Ethical Judicial Campaigns. As ...

Seattle, WA – May 15, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that Marc Greenough, Member in the firm’s Municipal Government and Public Finance groups, was awarded Foster Pepper’s inaugural Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award. The award ...

Seattle – April 18, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that Deborah Crabbe, Member in the firm’s Creditor’s Rights and Bankruptcy group, has been appointed co-chair of the American Bankruptcy Institute’s (ABI) Business Reorganization Committee. ...

Seattle – April 14, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC has been listed by Thomson Financial as 1st in the nation for “U.S. Municipal New Issues – Bond Counsel Competitive”, with $938 million in the first quarter of 2008. Rankings and volume totals include all ...

Seattle – March 11, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Jenifer Merkel to its Seattle office. Jenifer joins Foster Pepper as an Associate in the Estate Planning practice group.  Formerly an attorney at Reed, Longyear, Malnati & ...

Seattle – March 4, 2008 - Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that Christopher Alston, Member in the firm’s Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy practice group, has been awarded the United Way of King County’s (UWKC) Volunteer of the Year award. The ...

January 18, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that Ron Whitener, Of Counsel in the firm’s Native American legal services group, has been appointed Chief Judge for the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis.   As a foremost expert ...

January 16, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC has been listed by Thomson Financial as 2nd in the nation for “U.S. Municipal New Issues – Competitive Offerings”, with $2.80 billion in 2007.  The firm ranked 4th in the same category last year. Rankings and ...

January 14, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce three Associates have been named Member in its Seattle office. Neil Dial joined Foster Pepper as an Associate in 1999 and is part of the firm’s Litigation practice group. His civil litigation ...

January 10, 2007 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Miriam H. Cho and Matthew A. Nyman to its Seattle office. Miriam Cho, a former associate at Goodwin Procter LLP in Washington, D.C., joins Foster Pepper as an Associate in its Litigation and ...

January 4, 2008 – The Bond Buyer recently recognized 10 of the nation's most innovative municipal-bond issuers for transactions that financed major public infrastructure projects, including bridges, hospitals, schools, water, an airport, and housing ...

Seattle – December 10, 2007 - Foster Pepper PLLC announced it has launched its first ever recruiting video on its website at www. foster.com. Entitled “It’s the People Who Make the Difference,” the video addresses three distinct groups – lateral attorneys, ...

December 3, 2007 – Foster Pepper is pleased to announce that seven attorneys from the Seattle office have been named Rising Stars for 2008 by Washington Law & Politics magazine in its December/January 2008 issue. Rising Stars are lawyers who have been ...

November 9, 2007– Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Olivia Pennella and Eileen Suh to its Seattle office. Olivia Pennella joins the firm as an Associate in its Business practice group. She comes to Foster Pepper from Barclays North, Inc. in ...

October 31, 2007 - Foster Pepper PLLC was recently honored for its Pro Bono activities in two areas: Washington Appleseed, a non-partisan, non-profit organization made up of public interest law centers working to identify and address injustices in ...

October 18, 2007 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Melissa Engelmann, Stacey Fitzpatrick, Steven Gillespie and Kelly Lonergan to its Seattle office. Melissa Engelmann joins the firm as an Associate in its Litigation practice group. She was ...

September 25, 2007 - Patrick Schneider, Member in the firm's Land Use practice group, has been honored by the Association of Washington Business (AWB) with its 2007 Heavy Lifter Award. Schneider, who has chaired the AWB Land Use Committee for several ...

September 18, 2007 - Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that 18 attorneys from its Seattle office were named as Best Lawyers in America®, by Woodward White, Inc for its 2008 publication. Best Lawyers in America® is a unique legal referral guide subscribed ...

September 15, 2007 – Jeff Frank, a Member in Foster Pepper’s Construction and Litigation practice groups, has been recognized with the 2007 Defense Research Institute’s (DRI) Community Service Award. This national award honors a single DRI member whose ...

August 31, 2007 - John Bley, Of Counsel in Foster Pepper's Financial Institutions Group, advises banks and other financial institutions on regulatory intervention, compliance and enforcement prevention, regulatory and legislative relations, strategic ...

August 21, 2007 - Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that Ramsey Ramerman, Associate in its Municipal Government practice group, has been appointed by Governor Christine Gregoire to serve on the newly created Public Records Accountability Executive ...

August 10, 2007 - Foster Pepper has been named a 2007 Washington Best Workplace by the Puget Sound Business Journal (PSBJ). To find the best employers, the PSBJ asked readers to nominate their own or other companies. Nominations were accepted between ...

July 30, 2007 - Foster Pepper PLLC's success in four practice areas received high rankings in the 2007 edition of Chambers USA. The firm's Real Estate and Land Use practices received top-tier ranking within the Northwest, with Gary Ackerman, Gary Fluhrer, ...

July 26, 2007 - Foster Pepper PLLC has been listed by Thomson Financial as second in the nation for “U.S. Municipal New Issues – Bond Counsel Competitive (AT5b),” with $1.7 billion in the first half of 2007. Rankings and volume totals include all long-term ...

Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Douglas L. Davies to its Seattle office. Douglas L. Davies joins Foster Pepper as a Member in its Litigation and Dispute Resolution and Financial Institutions practice groups. Formerly a Shareholder at Lane ...

Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Colm P. Nelson and Allison C. Schwartzman to its Seattle office. Colm Nelson, a former associate at Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker in Seattle, joins Foster Pepper as an Associate in its Litigation and Dispute ...

Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Ron J. Whitener to its Seattle office. Ron Whitener, an Assistant Professor of Law and the Assistant Director of the Native American Law Center at the University of Washington, joins Foster Pepper as an Of Counsel ...

Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Kellie Gronski and Emanuel Jacobowitz to its Seattle office. Kellie Gronski, a former associate at Wells, Love & Scoby, LLC in Boulder, Colorado joins Foster Pepper as an Associate in the Real Estate practice ...

Foster Pepper PLLC announced Brad Berg, John Nelson and Jane Pearson have been elected by firm membership to serve on Foster Pepper’s Executive Committee, effective July 1, 2007. They join Chair Robert Kunold, Chuck Nomellini and Nancy Giunto, who as ...

Foster Pepper PLLC announced today that 27 attorneys from its Seattle office were named as Super Lawyers® by Washington Law & Politics, a designation bestowed upon only five percent of the state’s attorneys. The Foster Pepper attorneys honored represent ...

Foster Pepper PLLC announced that Robert Kunold, Jr., Member in the firm’s Business practice group, has been appointed Chair of the firm’s Executive Committee (i.e., Managing Partner). Kunold succeeds J. Tayloe Washburn, who held the position since 2001 ...

Foster Pepper PLLC has been ranked the fourth best law firm in Seattle (tied with Graham & Dunn) by Corporate Board Member magazine. The firm’s recognition comes, in part, for its work with Costco Wholesale, JELD-WEN inc. and Paul Allen Cos and reflects ...

Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Jeannie S. Simpson to its Seattle office. Jeannie Simpson joins the firm as an Associate in its Real Estate Practice Group. Prior to joining Foster Pepper, Simpson was an Associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP ...

Seattle – May 19, 2007 – Jeff Frank, a Member in Foster Pepper’s Construction and Litigation practice groups, has been recognized with a 2007 American Bar Association (ABA) Silver Gavel Award – New Media as a Key Contributor. The award was a reflection ...

Seattle – May 1, 2007 - Foster Pepper PLLC announced that Judy Runstad, an Of Counsel in the firm’s Real Estate and Land Use practice groups, was awarded a Corporate Director of the Year Award for 2007 by the Seattle-Northwest Chapter of the National ...

Spokane – April 11, 2007 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Milton G. Rowland to its Spokane office. Milton Rowland joins Foster Pepper as an Of Counsel in its Litigation practice group. Prior to joining Foster Pepper, Rowland served as ...

Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that Jake Larson, Member in the firm’s Litigation practice group, has been awarded King County Bar Association’s (KCBA) “Outstanding Mentor of the Year” award. Larson was honored at the KCBA’s Washington Young ...

Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Suzanne M. Larsen to its Seattle office. Suzanne M. Larsen joins Foster Pepper as a Member in its Real Estate practice group. Prior to joining Foster Pepper, Larsen was Vice President and Area/ Regional Counsel ...

Seattle – January 26, 2007 –Foster Pepper PLLC has been listed by Thomson Financial as 4th in the nation for “U.S. Long-Term Municipal New Issues – Competitive Offerings”, with $2.05 billion in 2006. Rankings and volume totals include all long-term municipal ...

Seattle – January 24, 2007 - Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Associate Joseph A. Brogan has been elected to be a Member of the firm. Joe Brogan joined the firm as an Associate in 2000. His practice concentrates in land use and environmental ...

Seattle – Former Washington State University and Detroit Lions’ offensive lineman Mike Utley has been named the 2006 Walter Camp "Man of the Year." Since being paralyzed as a result of a spinal cord injury during a 1991 NFL game, Utley has been a symbol ...

Spokane – January 22, 2007 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce the expansion of its Business practice group in Spokane with the addition of former Preston Gates Ellis LLP (now K&L Gates) Partner, J. Christopher Lynch. J. Christopher Lynch joins ...

Spokane – January 22, 2007 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce the expansion of its Business practice group in Spokane with the addition of former Preston Gates Ellis LLP (now K&L Gates) Partner, J. Christopher Lynch. J. Christopher Lynch joins ...

Seattle – January 3, 2007 –Foster Pepper is pleased to announce that two attorneys from the Seattle office have been named Top Lawyers for 2007 by Seattle magazine in its January 2007 issue, as named by their peers. Seattle magazine surveyed more than ...

Seattle – December 27, 2006 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce the further expansion of its Litigation and Construction practice in Seattle with the addition of two more highly skilled construction litigators namely, former Bullivant Houser ...

Seattle – December 12, 2006 – Foster Pepper is pleased to announce that eight attorneys from its Seattle office have been named Rising Stars for 2007 by Washington Law & Politics magazine in its December/January 2007 issue. Rising Stars are lawyers ...

Seattle – November 15, 2006 – Foster Pepper recently announced that Joanna Plichta has joined the firm as Pro Bono Counsel, practicing in the Seattle office. Foster Pepper has a long-standing tradition of contributing to the Northwest community through ...

Seattle – November 1, 2006 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Kenneth L. Myer to the firm. Myer joins Foster Pepper as a Member in the firm’s Business practice group. Prior to joining Foster Pepper he was a Partner at Short Cressman & Burgess ...

Spokane, WA – October 30, 2006 - Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that Jeff Nave, Chair of the firm’s Municipal Government practice group, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL). Jeff ...

Seattle – October 30, 2006 – Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Katie Carder, Gavin C. Gaukroger, Jenny V. Hsu, Terrance J. Keenan, Kirsten M. Lundell and Sven G. Peterson joined the firm, all practicing in the Seattle office. Katie ...

Seattle – September 14, 2006 - Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that 17 attorneys from its Seattle office were named as Best Lawyers in America®, by Woodward White, Inc for its 2007 publication. The Best Lawyers in America® publication is a unique ...

Seattle - July 31, 2006 - Foster Pepper PLLC's success in three practice areas received high ranking in the 2006 edition of Chambers USA. The firm's Real Estate practice received top-tier ranking within the Northwest, with Gary Ackerman, Gary Fluhrer, ...

Seattle – July 28, 2006 - Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that Brad Thoreson, Member in the firm’s Real Estate practice group, has been appointed to leadership positions for the following organizations: Boys and Girls Clubs of King County ...

Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that seven attorneys from its Portland office, Foster Pepper Tooze LLP, were named as Super Lawyers® by Oregon Super Lawyer magazine, a designation bestowed upon only five percent of the state’s attorneys. ...

As published in the WSBA Environmental & Land Use Law Newsletter - May 2006

Foster Pepper PLLC has been ranked the fifth top law firm in Seattle by Corporate Board Member magazine. The firm’s recognition comes, in part, for its work with Costco Wholesale, JELD-WEN inc. and Paul Allen Cos, and reflects an achievement given all ...

Seattle – June 1, 2006 - Foster Pepper PLLC announced today that 27 attorneys from its Seattle office were named as Super Lawyers® by Washington Law & Politics, a designation bestowed upon only five percent of the state’s attorneys. The Foster ...

Seattle –May 15, 2006 - Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that three of the firm’s attorneys as well as the firm’s Pubic Service Director have been honored and recognized in the community. Lee Voorhees, Of Counsel in the firm’s Healthcare, ...

In order to give back to the community, Foster Pepper’s associates are give their time to volunteering at legal clinics and regularly educating law students who want to become pro bono volunteers at local law schools on legal issues that affect indigent ...

Litigation, Antitrust and Consumer Protection, Employment, and Land Use attorney John Nelson helped pro bono client Clyde M.* save his home by unwinding a real property sales transaction. Clyde is an 84 year old WWII veteran who served in support of ...

Seattle – April 25, 2006 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that four of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized in two new surveys: Washington CEO magazine’s annual League of Justice: Washington’s Most Amazing Attorneys rankings, and Seattle ...

Municipal Government, Environmental, Land Use attorney Michael Schechter successfully represented a detained immigrant from El Salvador, Jose H.*, in a pro bono immigration matter that resulted in a grant of a visa. Jose grew up on a farm on the outskirts ...

Seattle - March 13, 2006 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that John L. Bley has joined the firm. John will serve as an Of Counsel attorney in the Financial Institutions practice group where he will advise banks and other financial institutions ...

Seattle -February 6, 2006 - Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Hugh D. Spitzer, a member of the firm's Municipal Government and Public Finance practice group, has been selected by the League of Women Voters to be one of two recipients of the ...

Seattle - January 24, 2006 - Foster Pepper PLLC has been listed by The Bond Buyer as 5th in the nation for "Top Bond Counsel: Competitive Issues," with $2.26 billion of bonds in 2005. The January 17, 2006 issue ranked firms for eight separate bond-related ...

Seattle - January 17, 2005 - Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that associates Laura McClellan, Robert A. Perez, and Carllene M. Placide have been elected Members of the firm. Laura McClellan joined the firm as an Associate in 2003. Her practice ...

Seattle - December 27, 2005 - The law firm Foster Pepper & Shefelman PLLC has announced that effective January 1, 2006, its name will legally change to Foster Pepper PLLC. The shorter name is more conventional in today's business and professional environment. ...

Seattle - December 23, 2005 - Foster Pepper PLLC announced today that attorney W. Gregory Guedel, a member of the firm's Litigation and Construction practice groups, has been named to the Board of Directors for AIDS Housing of Washington (AHW). Founded ...

Seattle, WA - (Dec.1, 2005) - Foster Pepper PLLC announced today that 11 attorneys from its Seattle office and two from its Portland office were named as Best Lawyers in America®, by Woodward White, Inc for its 2006 publication. The Best Lawyers in America® ...

Seattle, WA - (Nov.16, 2005) - Gillis E. Reavis, a Member in Foster Pepper's Litigation, Environmental and Insurance Coverage practice groups, is featured as a contributing author in the Association of Washington Business' (AWB) Environmental Compliance ...

Foster Pepper PLLC announced today that attorney Jack J. Cullen, chair of the firm's Creditors' Rights and Bankruptcy group and past chair of the firm's Executive Committee, has been unanimously elected to the Interlaw Board of Directors. Interlaw, ...

Seattle - October 17, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Christopher S. Napier has joined the firm, practicing in the Seattle office. Christopher Napier joins the firm as an Associate in the Real Estate practice group. Prior to joining ...

Spokane - October 12, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Taudd A. Hume joined the firm, practicing in the Spokane office. Taudd Hume joins the firm as an Associate in the Litigation practice group, where his practice is focused on litigation ...

Seattle - October 3, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Kelly M. Angell, Rosa Fruehling-Watson, Mark S. Leen and C. Ryan Russell joined the firm, all practicing in the Seattle office. Kelly Angell, a 2004 Summer Associate with the firm, ...

Seattle - October 3, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Kathryn L. Gerla has joined the firm, practicing in its Seattle office. Gerla is a well known environmental attorney, having spent many years with the Washington Attorney General's ...

Seattle - September 1, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Marc R. Greenough has joined the firm, practicing in the Seattle office. Marc Greenough joins the firm as a Member in the Municipal Government and Public Finance practice groups. ...

Seattle - August 31, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Alicia M. Danielson has joined the firm, practicing in the Seattle office. Alicia Danielson joins the firm as an Associate in the Business practice group, with an emphasis on tax ...

Seattle - August 19, 2005 - Foster Pepper PLLC announced today that 31 attorneys from its Seattle office were named as Super Lawyers by Washington Law & Politics, a designation which only 5% of the state's attorneys receive. The attorneys honored represent ...

Seattle - July 18, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC announced today that William H. Patton has joined the firm, practicing in the Seattle office. William H. Patton will serve as a Member in the Municipal and Public Finance practice group. Prior to joining FP, ...

Seattle - July 13, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Jamie M. Goodwin, Laura E. Karassik and Derek P. de Bakker joined the firm, all practicing in the Seattle office. Jamie Goodwin joins the firm as an Associate in the Real Estate practice ...

Seattle - July 11, 2005 - Foster Pepper PLLC's expertise in two practice areas received high ranking in the 2005 edition of Chambers USA. The firm's Real Estate practice received a top-tier ranking of second within the Northwest, with Michael Kuntz, ...

Seattle - July 6, 2005 - Foster Pepper PLLC has been ranked the fourth best law firm in Seattle by Corporate Board Member magazine, up from a ranking of fifth for 2004. The firm's recognition comes, in part, for its work with Costco Wholesale, Jeld-Wen ...

Click here for the full article.

FP Attorney Discusses New Rule for Financial Advisors

Seattle -- June 9, 2005 -- Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce that it is a recipient of the 2005 BEST Award. Each year the Resource Venture, along with the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and Seattle Public Utilities, honors a small number ...

Todd C. Hayes joined FP in 2004 as an Associate in the Litigation practice group. His practice is focused on representing policy holders, including property owners, developers, and contractors, in insurance coverage litigation, construction defect litigation, ...

The article argues that the state Public Disclosure Act and attorney-client privileges counter-balance each other to the benefit of the public. Click here to view the full article.

March 23, 2009 – WaMu veteran Bill Lynch has joined Foster Pepper PLLC as Of Counsel. Lynch will be working in the firm’s Financial Institutions Group, which represents large and small commercial banks, savings associations, savings banks, and local ...

January 30, 2009 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome one of the region’s top public finance attorneys – Nancy Neraas. After 24 years in the Seattle office of K&L Gates, Nancy joins Foster Pepper as a member in its Municipal and Public Finance ...

January 15, 2009 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome two new Corporate attorneys to its Business practice, former Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP attorneys Vincent A. Ricci and William H. Orndorff. Vincent (Vin) Ricci joins Foster Pepper ...

October 28, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC recently welcomed Michael J. Gamsky to its Seattle office. Mike joins Foster Pepper as a Member in its Business, Securities and Financial Institutions practice groups. Most recently Special Counsel and Shareholder ...

October 17, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Sinjin Dinh, Nicole Guerrero, Amy Kauppila, Laura Marquez-Garrett, Matthew Maynard, and Adrian Urquhart Winder to its Seattle office. Sinjin Dinh joins Foster Pepper as an Associate in the ...

Seattle – July 16, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC recently welcomed Jason (Jay) R. Donovan to its Seattle office. Jay joins Foster Pepper as an Associate in its Insurance Coverage and Litigation practice groups. Most recently an attorney with Jenner & ...

Seattle – June 30, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC recently welcomed John Sobba to its Seattle office. John joins Foster Pepper as an Of Counsel in its Business, Intellectual Property, Antitrust and Consumer Protection, and Health Care practice groups. Most ...

Seattle – March 11, 2008 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Jenifer Merkel to its Seattle office. Jenifer joins Foster Pepper as an Associate in the Estate Planning practice group.  Formerly an attorney at Reed, Longyear, Malnati & ...

January 10, 2007 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Miriam H. Cho and Matthew A. Nyman to its Seattle office. Miriam Cho, a former associate at Goodwin Procter LLP in Washington, D.C., joins Foster Pepper as an Associate in its Litigation and ...

November 9, 2007– Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Olivia Pennella and Eileen Suh to its Seattle office. Olivia Pennella joins the firm as an Associate in its Business practice group. She comes to Foster Pepper from Barclays North, Inc. in ...

October 18, 2007 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Melissa Engelmann, Stacey Fitzpatrick, Steven Gillespie and Kelly Lonergan to its Seattle office. Melissa Engelmann joins the firm as an Associate in its Litigation practice group. She was ...

Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Douglas L. Davies to its Seattle office. Douglas L. Davies joins Foster Pepper as a Member in its Litigation and Dispute Resolution and Financial Institutions practice groups. Formerly a Shareholder at Lane ...

Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Colm P. Nelson and Allison C. Schwartzman to its Seattle office. Colm Nelson, a former associate at Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker in Seattle, joins Foster Pepper as an Associate in its Litigation and Dispute ...

Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Ron J. Whitener to its Seattle office. Ron Whitener, an Assistant Professor of Law and the Assistant Director of the Native American Law Center at the University of Washington, joins Foster Pepper as an Of Counsel ...

Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Kellie Gronski and Emanuel Jacobowitz to its Seattle office. Kellie Gronski, a former associate at Wells, Love & Scoby, LLC in Boulder, Colorado joins Foster Pepper as an Associate in the Real Estate practice ...

Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Jeannie S. Simpson to its Seattle office. Jeannie Simpson joins the firm as an Associate in its Real Estate Practice Group. Prior to joining Foster Pepper, Simpson was an Associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP ...

Spokane – April 11, 2007 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Milton G. Rowland to its Spokane office. Milton Rowland joins Foster Pepper as an Of Counsel in its Litigation practice group. Prior to joining Foster Pepper, Rowland served as ...

Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Suzanne M. Larsen to its Seattle office. Suzanne M. Larsen joins Foster Pepper as a Member in its Real Estate practice group. Prior to joining Foster Pepper, Larsen was Vice President and Area/ Regional Counsel ...

Spokane – January 22, 2007 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce the expansion of its Business practice group in Spokane with the addition of former Preston Gates Ellis LLP (now K&L Gates) Partner, J. Christopher Lynch. J. Christopher Lynch joins ...

Seattle – December 27, 2006 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to announce the further expansion of its Litigation and Construction practice in Seattle with the addition of two more highly skilled construction litigators namely, former Bullivant Houser ...

Seattle – November 15, 2006 – Foster Pepper recently announced that Joanna Plichta has joined the firm as Pro Bono Counsel, practicing in the Seattle office. Foster Pepper has a long-standing tradition of contributing to the Northwest community through ...

Seattle – November 1, 2006 – Foster Pepper PLLC is pleased to welcome Kenneth L. Myer to the firm. Myer joins Foster Pepper as a Member in the firm’s Business practice group. Prior to joining Foster Pepper he was a Partner at Short Cressman & Burgess ...

Seattle – October 30, 2006 – Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Katie Carder, Gavin C. Gaukroger, Jenny V. Hsu, Terrance J. Keenan, Kirsten M. Lundell and Sven G. Peterson joined the firm, all practicing in the Seattle office. Katie ...

Seattle - March 13, 2006 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that John L. Bley has joined the firm. John will serve as an Of Counsel attorney in the Financial Institutions practice group where he will advise banks and other financial institutions ...

Seattle - October 17, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Christopher S. Napier has joined the firm, practicing in the Seattle office. Christopher Napier joins the firm as an Associate in the Real Estate practice group. Prior to joining ...

Spokane - October 12, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Taudd A. Hume joined the firm, practicing in the Spokane office. Taudd Hume joins the firm as an Associate in the Litigation practice group, where his practice is focused on litigation ...

Seattle - October 3, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Kelly M. Angell, Rosa Fruehling-Watson, Mark S. Leen and C. Ryan Russell joined the firm, all practicing in the Seattle office. Kelly Angell, a 2004 Summer Associate with the firm, ...

Seattle - October 3, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Kathryn L. Gerla has joined the firm, practicing in its Seattle office. Gerla is a well known environmental attorney, having spent many years with the Washington Attorney General's ...

Seattle - September 1, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Marc R. Greenough has joined the firm, practicing in the Seattle office. Marc Greenough joins the firm as a Member in the Municipal Government and Public Finance practice groups. ...

Seattle - August 31, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Alicia M. Danielson has joined the firm, practicing in the Seattle office. Alicia Danielson joins the firm as an Associate in the Business practice group, with an emphasis on tax ...

Seattle - July 18, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC announced today that William H. Patton has joined the firm, practicing in the Seattle office. William H. Patton will serve as a Member in the Municipal and Public Finance practice group. Prior to joining FP, ...

Seattle - July 13, 2005 Foster Pepper PLLC recently announced that Jamie M. Goodwin, Laura E. Karassik and Derek P. de Bakker joined the firm, all practicing in the Seattle office. Jamie Goodwin joins the firm as an Associate in the Real Estate practice ...

Todd C. Hayes joined FP in 2004 as an Associate in the Litigation practice group. His practice is focused on representing policy holders, including property owners, developers, and contractors, in insurance coverage litigation, construction defect litigation, ...