Corporate/Business Law The firm's attorneys have expertise in organizing corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships, purchasing or selling businesses, and planning mergers and acquisitions. In addition, we prepare and moniter pension and profit sharing plans, and advise our corporate clients in employment issues, including wrongful discharge, discrimination and sexual harassment.

Trust and Estate Planning/Probate The firm is knowledgeable in establishing and operating trusts and wills and providing estate planning, with a goal of minimizing probate problems and taxes. In addition, our probate department draws from many years' experience in handling probates with sensitivity and efficiency.

Insurance Defense and Coverage Services The firm has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with insurance company clientele, particularly The State Farm Companies, Transamerica Insurance Company and the companies that now compromise ACE USA. We have defended insureds under the policies covering a wide array of risks, including personal injuries, medical malpractice, product liability, professional errors and omissions, hazardous waste and maritime. Our attorneys have many years of experience in handling insurance defense litigation and are committed to performing assignments in a cost-effective manner. A substantial practice area within our firm handles insurance coverage issues. We have expertise on a broad range of different policy forms, including commercial general liability forms, commercial fire forms, excess forms, special multi-peril forms, first party coverage, personal homeowners, auto and excess forms, marine insurance and title insurance. Assignments have involved marine insurance, first party property insurance, arson investigations and products liability coverage. These assignments include advising the carrier as to its defense agreements, participating in settlement negotiations and defending declaratory judgement actions brought by the insured or by other insurers seeking contribution. As a result of this experience, we are generally familiar with how the standard policy terms under the various forms are interpreted in Washington as well as elsewhere in the country. Our library and computer resources have contributed substantially in identifying pertinent judicial interpretations and providing responses to our clients in a timely manner. This experience enables us to provide our clients with carefully considered legal opinions that are based upon an understanding of the fundamentals of insurance law and the purpose behind basic underwriting principles that are reflected in the language of the insurance contract. We believe this understanding fosters sound advice and ultimately promotes successful results in coverage litigation.

Maritime The maritime/fishing industry has played an important role in the firm's history. The firm's attorneys are therefore well-versed in this area, representing vessel owners, shipyards, fishing vessels, tugs and barges, and maritime suppliers in many areas of law, including purchase and sale agreements, financing arrangements, charter transactions, property damage claims, seamans' injury matters and governmental penalty actions. Maritime clients in federal, state and local government actions are also represented. Real Estate The firm represents individuals and corporations in real estate matters such as purchase and sale of properties, foreclosure actions, title disputes, and landlord/tenant matters. Bankruptcy Bankruptcy trustees, as well as individual and corporate debtors and creditors, are represented in bankruptcy proceedings. Our many years of practicing before the Bankruptcy Court here in Seattle, provides us with the valuable insight into the workings of the Bankruptcy Court, as well as a solid background from which to draw in representing our clients in this specialized practice.