Outcome-focused, outcome-driven
Biography
My practice focuses on dispute resolution and general counsel services for community association clients. Services include guidance on covenant enforcement, association governance, insurance coverage, alternative dispute resolution, construction defects, major repair projects and loans, vendor contract review and drafting, easements, repair allocation responsibility, and other client needs.
My overarching goal when serving clients is to resolve problems while staying mindful of the need to preserve and build community.
I have been serving community association clients since I joined this law firm in 2010. Prior to joining this firm, I worked for a boutique litigation firm in downtown Seattle assisting clients with real estate and commercial disputes.
My professional and personal volunteering activities are also a reflection of my focus on community building. I serve on the WSCAI Board of Directors. I also serve on the Board of Governors and Membership and Marketing Committees of the Washington Athletic Club in downtown Seattle.
In addition to practicing law, I also write and edit. I have served on the WSCAI Communications Committee since 2010. I chaired that committee and edited WSCAI's Chapter Magazine, Community Associations Journal. I have contributed articles to the Journal, Super Lawyers Magazine, Above the Law, NW Lawyer (now Bar News), and various other publications.
I routinely present at WSCAI educational events, and have covered topics such as board resolutions, resale certificates, WUCOIA, short-term rentals, and major repair projects.
In 2018, I completed a 40-hour Mediation Training by the Dispute Resolution Center of King County.
Education
- University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, Washington
- J.D. - 2007
- University in Washington, Seattle, Washington
- B.A. - 2004
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Major: Political Science and Communications (Editorial Journalism)
Pro-Bono Activities
- Member, WSCAI Board of Directors, 2020-Present
- Member, WSCAI Financial Committee, 2022-Present
- Board Liaison and Member, WSCAI Law Day Committee, 2022-Present
- Board Liaison and Member, WSCAI ADR Committee, 2021-2022
- Chair (2 years) and Member, WSBA Editorial Advisory Committee (EAC), 2012-15
- Member, WSBA Judicial Recommendation Committee, 2013-16
- Newsletter Editor and Young Lawyer Liaison, WSBA Litigation Section, 2012-13
- Editor-in-Chief and Associate Editor, De Novo, 2009-11
- Chair and Chair-Elect, WYLD EAC, 2009-11
- WYLD Editorial Advisory Committee Member and De Novo Contributing Writer, 2008-13
- Chair (2 years), Board Liaison (2 years), and Member, WSCAI Communication Committee, 2010-Present
- Editor, WSCAI Journal-The Chapter Magazine, 2014-2015
- WSCAI Journal – Chapter Magazine Contributing Writer, 2010-Present
- WSAJ Women’s Trial Advocacy Program Participant, 2010
- WSBA NWSidebar and NWLawyer Contributing Writer, 2007-15
- Contributing Writer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2016-2019
Past Positions
- Rand L. Koler and Associates, Associate Attorney, 2007 to 2010
Languages
- English
Ancillary Businesses
- Legal Journalism
Published Works
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Changing Scenes of Communities (March/April 2011)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, 11 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Association’s Experience Working With Legal Counsel (1/2012)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Shifting Maintenance Responsibility To The Association: A How-To Guide (3/2012)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Should You Hit “Send”? Use of Email in Association Business (7/2012)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Pot Shops: Is it High Time to Allow a Marijuana Dispensary in Your Condominium? With Stephan Fjelstad (11/2012)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Green Thumbs Up! If properly regulated, a shared garden can make your community blossom (2/2013)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Compliance Letters: Magic Bullets…or Marketing Tools? (4/2013)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Don’t Clear The Dishes? Federal Rule Prohibits Many Satellite Dish And Antenna Restrictions. With Sergey Petrov. (9/2013)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Want to Save on Paper? Explore the Option of Using Email to Send Owner Meeting Notices and Conduct Owner Voting (4/2014)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Hiring a Roofer or Landscape Architect? Here are a few things to keep in mind when contracting with a vendor (9/2014)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Trading Spaces: Allocation and Reallocation of Parking (1/2015)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, On the Road Again: Street Dedications and Maintenance Agreements, With Stephan Fjelstad (1/2015)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter, Magazine Stop in the name of the law! Anti-Harassment Protection Orders Help Shield Managers and Board Members From Overly Aggressive Owners (9/2015)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Levying the Federal Flood Insurance Surcharge: Ensure You Aren’t Paying More than You Should (4/2016)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Hey Neighbor, Let’s Make a Deal: As Real-Estate Development Booms, Adjacent Property Owners Enter into Construction Easement and License Agreements (5/2017)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, A Warped Situation: Sun deflection from neighbor’s windows is melting vinyl siding (10/2017)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Boundary Issues: Associations and Owners Often Face Problems Involving Damage and Repairs that Straddle or Cross Property Lines, With Bennett Taylor (2/2018)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Washington Statutes That May Apply to Your Community, With Terry Leahy (3/2018)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, How Can I Help You? The Increasing Value of Customer Service Skills in the Community Association Context (5/2018)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, 12 Things that Boards Appreciate about their Association Managers (11-12/2018)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Act Now! Delays in Decision-Making Can Exacerbate and Create New Problems (6/2019)
- WSCAI News Blog, Coronavirus Introduces New Legal Considerations for Common-Interest Communities (4/21/2020)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Signs of the Times: Input for Homeowners’ Associations Grappling With Political-Type Displays, With Mary Reiten (9/2020)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Serving on a Board and Preventing Burnout (4/2021)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Neighbor-To-Neighbor Disputes: What To Do When The Association Is Caught In the Crossfire (7-8/2021)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Going Virtual: New Law Expanding Options for Conducting Business Electronically Took Effect July 25 (9/2021)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Solar Panels in Community Associations, With Mary Reiten (4/2022)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, A Not-So-Nice Surprise: Condominium Associations, Contractors, and Owners May Be Fined For Non-Compliance With Asbestos Regulations During Unit Remodels (3/2022)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, Unraveling the Mysteries of Mediation: Why You Should Consider Resolving Disputes with WCAI’s Mediation Program, With Mary Reiten (6/2022)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure: How Good Contracts Save Money, Part I, With Melissa Guyott and Dave Gramann (5/2022)
- WSCAI The Journal—Chapter Magazine, An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure: How Good Contracts Save Money, Part II, With Melissa Guyott and Dave Gramann (6/2022)
Fraternities Or Sororities
- Kappa Delta
Professional Associations
- Washington State Bar Association, Member, 2007 to Present
- Washington State Community Association Institute, Member, 2010 to Present
- Washington State Association for Justice, Eagle Member, 2009-2010
Current Employment Position
- Shareholder Attorney
Practice Areas
- Community Association Law 100%
Bar Admissions
- Washington, 2007
- U.S. District Court Western District of Washington, 2009
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court Western District of Washington, 2009
Honors
- Selected to Super Lawyers: 2023
- Selected to Rising Stars: 2016 - 2021
- Profiled in Volunteer Spotlight Feature in WSCAI Community Associations Journal in March 2016
- While serving as WSBA EAC Committee Chair, Bar News (formerly NW Lawyer) received the National Association of Bar Executives (NABE) 2014 Luminary Award of excellence for regular publications for bars with more than 15,000 members
- De Novo won a first place American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD) Award of Achievement in the Newsletter category when I served as editor-in-chief in 2011
- WSBA Certificate in 2008 for 40-plus hours of pro bono service
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award (Top of Contracts Class, UW Law), 2005
Representative Cases
- Seattle Downtown Condominium v. Owner, King County Superior Court, 2009-2010
- Waterfront Association v. Owner, King County Superior Court, 2011-2013
- Historic Association v. Public and Private Transportation Entities, King County Mediation, 2020
- East King County Association v. Construction LLC, King County Superior Court, 2021
- Waterfront East King County Association v. Vendor LLC, Mediation, 2021
- Downtown Seattle High Rise Association v. Construction LLC, Mediation, 2022