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Foster Garvey History

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For over a century, the story of Foster Garvey has been woven into the progress of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Our history is one of steady presence and partnership, marked by a commitment to the communities and clients we serve.

Foundation in the Region’s Growth

Foster Garvey’s origins are rooted in the 20th-century expansion of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Our attorneys helped shape the legal frameworks for landmark projects, from the 1962 World’s Fair to the rise of international trade. This legacy is more than a record of past work; it is a foundation of practical experience in bringing complex undertakings to life.

Merger of Complementary Legacies

In 2019, Foster Pepper and Garvey Schubert Barer merged as equals. This union brought together Foster Pepper’s deep-rooted practice in public finance, governance and regional business with Garvey Schubert Barer’s entrepreneurial focus on sectors like hospitality, media, telecom, sports, arts and entertainment. The combined firm retained the strengths of both: local understanding and national capability.

A Continuing Practice

From our founding to our presence across six offices today, our growth mirrors the evolution of the communities and industries we serve. Explore the milestones in our timeline to see how our history informs our approach to every case and client relationship.

History & Heritage

Follow the paths of our founding firms Foster Pepper (FP), Garvey Schubert Barer (GSB) and the combination that establishes Foster Garvey. Featuring archival images from the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI).

1904

Roots Form

FP: Weter & Roberts is founded by James Weter and Fred Roberts.

1921

A New Venture

FP: Tanner & Garvin is founded by Vaughn Tanner and John Garvin.

1922

Partner Ascent

FP: Harold Shefelman becomes a partner at Weter & Roberts and the firm changes its name to Weter Roberts & Shefelman.

1924

Trailblazing Woman

FP: Evangeline Starr, the firm’s first secretary, passes the bar exam.

1926

A Key Addition

FP: Paul Ashley, a friend of Harold Shefelman, joins Tanner & Garvin.

1936

Olympic Gold

FP: Robert “Bobby” Moch coxswains the University of Washington rowing team to Olympic Gold in Berlin. His legacy is featured in the 2023 film The Boys in the Boat. Read more in this History Spotlight.

1941

Judicial Pioneer

FP: Evangeline Starr becomes the second woman judge in Washington State.

1948

Future Leader Joins

FP: Tom Foster is admitted to the Washington bar and joins Tanner Garvin & Ashley.

Historic black and white photo of a busy street with pedestrians and a large multi-story building in an urban setting.
Portrait of a woman with short, wavy hair wearing a formal dress with puffed sleeves, looking slightly to the side.
Vintage photo of a rowing team posing with oars on a dock, wearing matching sleeveless shirts and shorts, nine standing, one seated.
Rowing teams compete on a river with a large crowd watching from the shoreline in a black and white photograph.
A person in a courtroom sits at a large wooden bench with an American flag in the background.
1906 photograph of the Lowman Building in Seattle, where Weter & Roberts begins practice. (University of Washington Special Collections: SEATTLE 3059) Portrait of Evangeline Starr. (MOHAI) Robert "Bobby" Moch, coxswain of the 1936 Olympic gold-medal crew (kneeling, front), later translates his leadership from the water to a distinguished legal career. Moch is depicted in the 2023 feature film "The Boys in the Boat." (MOHAI) 1936 Olympic Gold: Robert "Bobby" Moch and the University of Washington crew wins the men's eight, with Italy second and Germany third. (MOHAI) Judge E. Starr presides over a courtroom on April 26, 1950. (MOHAI)

1952

Building the Team

FP: Lou Pepper joins Tanner Garvin & Ashley.

1953

Strategic Hire

FP: Dan Riviera joins Tanner Garvin & Ashley.

1954

Space Law Pioneer

GSB: Andrew G. Haley co-founds the firm Haley Bader & Potts and helps establish the field of space law, coining the term “metalaw.”

1957

New Identity

FP: Tanner Garvin & Ashley changes its name to Garvin Ashley & Foster.

World’s Fair Catalyst

FP: Harold Shefelman joins the commission for the Seattle World’s Fair as voters pass a key development bond.

1960

Name Evolution

FP: Weter Roberts & Shefelman changes its name to Roberts, Shefelman, Lawrence, Gay & Moch.

1966

Humble Beginnings

GSB: Three young lawyers establish the firm Houger, Garvey & Schubert with 39 files and $800 in the bank.

1968

New Partnership

FP: Lou Pepper and Dan Riviera become partners at Garvin Ashley & Foster. The firm changes its name to Ashley Foster Pepper & Riviera.

Man in a suit holds a model rocket in front of a wall map, showcasing interest in aviation or aerospace.
A group of ten men in suits sitting and standing in front of architectural drawings in a black and white photo.
Space Needle during 1962 Seattle World's Fair with vintage fair ticket advertisement featuring attractions and pricing.
Man observing a large electronic device while others engage with equipment in a busy indoor setting.
Two men in suits having a conversation in a library with shelves of legal books in the background.
Three men in suits and ties smile in a vintage black and white photograph, standing against a plain backdrop.
Haley with Vanguard Trophy. Andrew G. Haley collection, Grisham Law Library Archives, University of Mississippi. Seattle Planning Commission and World's Fair Office members meet on March 6, 1958 to plan the 1962 Century 21 Exposition. Top row (L-R): Spaeth, Huggard, M. Brown, McCoy. Bottom row (L-R): Thiry, Harold Shefelman, Cotter, Mandeville, P. Brown, Roy Morse. (Item 56928, Engineering Dept. Photographic Negatives, Seattle Municipal Archives) Left: Space Needle at the World's Fair, painted in "Galaxy Gold." Right: 1962 event flyer. (Seattle Municipal Archives, 73121 & 435) Harold Shefelman tours an exhibit at the Seattle World's Fair in 1962. (MOHAI) In 1963, word is given to Stanley H. Barer, Walla Walla, by Dean Lehan K. Tunks from the University of Washington School of Law that he has won an appointment by Chairman Warren G. Magnuson (D), Wash. to staff the Senate Commerce Committee in Washington, D.C. (MOHAI) Founders Bill Houger, Ken Schubert, and Mike Garvey in 1966. The three young lawyers established Houger, Garvey & Schubert with 39 files and $800 in capital. (Firm Archives)

1972

National Expansion

GSB: The firm becomes the Pacific Northwest’s first law firm to open a Washington, D.C. office.

1973

International Presence

GSB: The firm becomes one of the first U.S. law firms to station an attorney with a law firm in Japan, Matsuo & Kosugi.

Landmark Deal

GSB: The firm represents the purchasers of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Washington State’s first winery.

1974

A Visionary Joins

GSB: Stan Barer joins the firm, bringing a vision that would shape its national and international reach for decades. His life and contributions are detailed in an obituary by the UW School of Law.

Leadership Transition

FP: Paul Ashley becomes Of Counsel and the firm’s name changes to Foster Pepper & Riviera.

1979

Historic Trade Pact

GSB: Stan Barer negotiates the resumption of shipping trade between the U.S. and China after a 30-year hiatus.

1982

Regional Growth

GSB: The firm becomes the second law firm with offices in both Seattle and Portland.

Simplified Identity

FP: Roberts, Shefelman, Gay & Moch changes its name to Roberts & Shefelman.

1986

Strategic Merger

FP: Foster Pepper & Riviera merges with Drake & Whitely.

1988

Combined Legacy

FP: Roberts & Shefelman and Foster Pepper & Riviera merge to form Foster Pepper & Shefelman.

Night view of the US Capitol building illuminated, with cars in motion on the street in the foreground.
Black and white photo of a house and a silo on a grassy hill under a cloudy sky.
A group of five men in business attire having a meeting around a large round table with papers and coffee cups.
Man pointing at a map next to a bulletin board with photos, discussing locations and properties.
Person seated at a desk, talking animatedly, with books and office supplies in the background.
"Washington, D.C. (1972)" by Hunter-Desportes is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Chateau Ste. Michelle's River Ridge winemaking complex sits alongside the Columbia River in Paterson, at the center of the company's 2,000-acre vineyard. (MOHAI) Three longtime friends and Seattle civic leaders Harold S. Shefelman (left), William A. Allen (center), and Paul P. Ashley (right) meet with Seattle Post-Intelligencer editors Thompson and Doughty to discuss the city's past, present and future, October 19, 1975. (MOHAI) Paul P. Ashley gives a presentation. (MOHAI) Stan Barer negotiates the resumption of shipping trade between the U.S. and China after a 30-year hiatus. (MOHAI)

1992

Academic Investment

GSB: The firm establishes the first permanent endowed professorship at the University of Washington School of Law.

1997

Financial Innovation

GSB: The firm represents China Ocean Shipping Company in the first securitization financing ever completed in the United States by a Chinese company.

1998

Eastern Reach

FP: Foster Pepper & Shefelman opens its Spokane office.

2000

Telecom Expansion

GSB: Haley Bader & Potts, P.L.C., one of the nation’s oldest telecommunications law firms, joins Garvey Schubert Barer in the Washington, D.C. office.

2001

Coast-to-Coast

GSB: The firm opens an office in New York to expand its sports, entertainment and intellectual property practices.

2004

Global Gateway

GSB: The firm opens an office in Beijing, reinforcing a longstanding commitment to Pacific Rim trade.

Centennial Celebration

FP: Foster Pepper & Shefelman celebrates its 100th anniversary and changes its name to Foster Pepper PLLC.

Gothic architecture with pointed arches and ornate windows, people walking in front of a historic building.
Modern office reception with wooden accents, a glass desk, seating area, and large window overlooking a scenic view.
Reception desk with computer at Carver Schubert Barer office, featuring a wall sign with city names including Beijing and Seattle.
The University of Washington's Graduate Library, photographed by the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. (Seattle Municipal Archives, Item 57732) FP Spokane office lobby. (Firm Archives) GSB Beijing office reception desk in 2004. (Firm Archives)

2011

Travel Industry Focus

GSB: The firm launches its hospitality, travel and tourism practice.

2014

Pioneering Practice

GSB: The firm establishes the first full-service law firm Cannabis practice.

2015

Inland Northwest Growth

FP: Spokane office triples in size with the addition of nine attorneys from the now-closed K&L Gates LLP local office.

2016

Golden Anniversary

GSB: The firm celebrates its 50th anniversary.

2019

Uniting Strengths

Foster Pepper and Garvey Schubert Barer merge to form Foster Garvey PC.

2024

Commitment to Tribal Law

Foster Garvey opens a Tulsa office, deepening its focus on federal Indian law, Tribal advocacy, energy and regulatory compliance to serve Native American communities.

Busy airport pickup area at night with cars and people under bright lights and signage.
Pathway through lush green plants inside a greenhouse, with sunlight filtering through the translucent roof above.
Garvey Schubert Barer 50 Years logo with cityscape background in black and white.
Logo of Foster Pepper PLLC with a background of blurred colorful lights.
Foster Garvey logo on a blue gradient background
City street view with modern skyscrapers and clear sky, featuring tall buildings and urban architecture.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Simultaneously as GSB’s hospitality and travel practice ascends, FP attorneys help groundbreaking infrastructure projects take off at airports and ports across the region. (Shutterstock) Washington voters legalize adult-use cannabis in 2012. By 2014, GSB establishes a dedicated Cannabis practice to guide clients through a new, complex regulatory landscape of cultivation, licensing and compliance. (Shutterstock) GSB commemorative logo from the 2016 semicentennial. (Firm Archives) FP wordmark. (Firm Archives) Our firm’s logo is adopted upon the 2019 combination that establishes Foster Garvey. Foster Garvey opens an office at the Mid-Continent Tower in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Shutterstock)
Row of ornate classical Corinthian columns with detailed carved capitals, showcasing architectural elegance and historical design.

Build Your Legacy

For over a century, our people have been the foundation of our story. Now it’s your turn. Explore how you can grow your career and become part of our future at a law firm that values deep roots and forward momentum.