Shelton Lawyers

I am a criminal defense attorney with over 30 years of experience, deeply committed to justice and protecting the rights of the accused. Throughout my career, I have defended clients against a broad spectrum of charges, ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies, ensuring they receive fair treatment under the law. My approach to criminal defense is uniquely strategic, informed by my extensive understanding of both sides of the courtroom. Having previously served as a prosecuting attorney in King County, I gained invaluable insights into how the state constructs cases against defendants. Now, in my role as a criminal defense attorney, I...

Immigration attorney with a focus on family-based immigration law. I'm passionate about helping people of different backgrounds acquire legal status and pursue the American dream. As an immigrant myself, I understand how complex and intimidating the U.S. immigration system can be. I enjoy helping people resolve their immigration issues so they can focus on building their future. I live in Tacoma, Washington with my wife and two daughters. In my free time, I enjoy playing soccer, spending time with my family, and working on house remodeling projects.

Welcome. My goal is to listen to clients and deliver effective and cost efficient high quality legal services, focusing on maximizing results either through negotiation or litigation, whichever is appropriate for the circumstance. Many cases can be resolved amicably through settlement. This office offers a free initial telephone with a lawyer to discuss your legal issue: (253) 272-1434. With over 20 years of experience in Tacoma in Pierce County, Washington, I represent clients in many other cities and states who are civilians, military servicemembers, and veterans. Because there is often so much...

Ellis McGehee Carter is a distinguished attorney specializing in corporate and tax matters for nonprofit, tax-exempt, and mission-based businesses, alongside advising donors on major gifts. With a profound dedication to serving organizations that make a significant impact, Ms. Carter leverages her extensive experience in nonprofit governance, tax law, and business transactions to provide unparalleled legal guidance. Her expertise extends to navigating complex tax issues for exempt entities, ensuring they remain compliant while advancing their mission. Ms. Carter's adeptness in handling intricate business transactions for nonprofits is evident through her work on reorganizations, the creation of affiliates and subsidiaries, and facilitating mergers,...

A Seattle native, Amanda O’Halloran joined the firm in 1995, after graduating from Seattle University School of Law. She focuses her practice primarily on providing employment law advice to a diverse group of businesses, ranging from car dealerships and other retail establishments to healthcare providers, financial services companies, non-profits, and private membership associations. She is frequently called upon to provide advice on difficult employment terminations, conducting internal harassment and discrimination investigations, drafting employment agreements and other contracts, and developing anti-harassment policies and conducting training. Amanda works closely with Human Resource personnel, executive management, and business owners to resolve...

Warren’s primary area of practice is labor and employment law. In this capacity, he represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, including discrimination, harassment, termination, wage-and-hour litigation, collective bargaining, grievance arbitration, and day-to-day advice.

If client loyalty and satisfaction are any measure of an attorney’s success, then Warren has a lot to proud of. After 30 years, he continues to represent his first legal client, a chain of locally owned grocery stores. In fact, he has worked for many of his clients for several decades. Some of his other long-term clients include Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma Housing Authority,...

Chong H. Ye is a Federal Way, WA personal injury trial lawyer who understands that when clients come to him with legal concerns, they need his experience and his readiness to fight the insurance companies on their behalf. Chong spent the first ten years out of college in ministry leading youth, college, and adults. His ministry experience is advantageous in ensuring his clients receive individualized attention with their cases. Furthermore, he advises his clients to continue receiving the necessary medical treatments and allow him to concentrate on preventing the insurance companies from taking advantage of them. Ultimately, his goal is...

Rita is a founding partner and CEO of McKinley Irvin. With an eye toward the future, Rita works with the firm's leadership team to maintain McKinley Irvin’s commitment to excellence in law practice, client service, professionalism, and firm management. In addition to her work at McKinley Irvin, Rita is deeply involved in the Tacoma community and has served as a director on several local and professional boards. She currently serves on the Legal Pathways Community Advisory Board and as a Dressel Scholars Mentor at the University of Washington Tacoma. Additionally, Rita founded MI’s Black Law Student Mentorship Program where she...

Lesley has been practicing exclusively immigration law since July, 2005. She has significant experience in representing clients in Immigration Court, both detained and non-detained cases; appeals from Immigration Judge decisions, both at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; and the Board of Immigration Appeals. Lesley also specializes in affirmative applications, including green card applications, asylum, NACARA, and citizenship applications filed with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Lesley handles labor certifications, including specialty cook applications. She is fluent in Spanish. Lesley is actively involved in her community and was appointed by Mayor Greg Nickels to the Seattle Immigrants and...

I have been practicing bankruptcy and personal injury law in Seattle for over 31 years. I have helped over 5000 individuals get debt free or receive fair compensation for their personal injuries.

I am a resident of Gig Harbor, WA, and have lived in the community for over 20 years. I focus my practice on estate planning, including: wills, trusts, and probate administration.

Relax – You’ve Got the Support of an Experienced Law Team
Your personal injury is just that – personal. And although your personal injury case has a number, you will be treated like a person throughout the process.

While You Recover Your Team Promptly Handles the Details
By choosing the Law Offices of Steven D. Weier to handle your personal injury case, you are choosing the attention that is vital to your personal recovery, and the professional know-how that is crucial to your best possible settlement:

You and your case will simply receive more service thanks to our heavily staffed team. We understand your...

Campos Avelar Law is committed to fighting for immigrant rights. Our goal is to gain justice and equality for immigrants through the victory of each case we take on. Our dedication is reflected in the energy and time that we commit to your particular legal matter. If you are looking for a passionate and experienced team, Campos Avelar Law is where your searching ends

Christopher Morales grew up a military brat, whose family was stationed all over the western United States, including Phoenix, AZ, Albuquerque, NM, Denver, CO, and Corpus Christi, TX. While he enjoyed each place for its own unique charm, upon landing in King County, it was love at first sight. Christopher kept his higher education local for as long as possible, attending the University of Washington where he earned a degree in political science. He did leave Western Washington for a short period of time to attend law school at Creighton University in Nebraska but pined for the cloudy skies and...

Michael T. Smith advises individuals and companies of all types and sizes regarding the proper formation and structure of a business entity (corporation, limited liability company, etc.), their general business and corporate matters, issues related to the purchase or sale or lease of real property and transactions to purchase or sell their business. Michael also focuses his practice on assisting people prepare their estate plan, including wills, trusts, community property agreements, durable powers of attorney, health care directives, and helping families navigate and administer a loved one's estate in probate proceedings. Michael can also assist with guardianship proceedings for loved ones...

I have been helping clients with DUI defense & traffic infractions for over 25 years! My understanding and knowledge of your situation with your case is what sets me apart. I work directly with you one-on-one to see your case through and get you the best possible outcome!

EXCLUSIVE PRACTICE - My practice is concentrated on Criminal, DUI, and Traffic defense cases. I am not a general practitioner who handles many different types of law. Criminal law has been my focus area since I became a lawyer over 25 years ago.

CUSTOMER SERVICE - I treat clients the way I would...

Before becoming an attorney, Reuben worked in the construction and building trade. He puts his prior life experience to good use in his practice areas of environmental and land use law. In addition to being a skilled attorney, Reuben is a compassionate advocate who loves working with his clients to solve problems and keep goals and objectives on track.

Reuben began his career at the Washington Supreme Court where he served as law clerk to Justice Charles W. Johnson. Prior to that, he served as an extern to Judge James L. Robart at the Federal District Court in Seattle.

Shelly focuses her practice on employment law and litigation, commercial litigation, products liability, construction law, insurance defense and coverage, and appellate advocacy. She represents individuals and businesses in all aspects of commercial and employment disputes and especially enjoys working with clients to help them understand the legal process. Shelly prides herself on being a tough advocate for her clients and finding strategic and creative solutions in tough cases.

Shelly joined GTH in 2011. A graduate of the University of Washington School of Law, she began her legal career in Alaska, first serving as a judicial law clerk for...

Before earning her law degree, magna cum laude, from Gonzaga University School and joining GTH in 1991, Margaret Archer was a financial analyst for Westinghouse Hanford Company. She puts her business acumen and insight into the world of finance to good use in her position as Chair of our Board of Directors and in her practice areas of land use, real estate litigation and commercial litigation.

James joined GTH after completing a clerkship for the former Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court. He focuses his practice pursuing trials in the areas of personal injury, catastrophic accidents, employment law, and insurance coverage.

He has briefed and argued multiple appeals, including cases before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Washington Supreme Court. In his practice he has represented families in wrongful death cases, victims in sexual abuse cases, and many returning U.S. service members who face discrimination or retaliation in the workplace.

When he’s not working, he’s blazing trails, scaling peaks, and skiing with his...

Patricia Pearson joined GTH in 2001 and is a member of our Labor and Employment group and Defense Litigation group where she represents and advises clients in a variety of matters including employment law and products liability. She particularly enjoys advising clients on all types of employment issues that arise and working with them to develop sound employment policies by drafting employment documents, including employee handbooks and non-compete agreements.

Lance did not begin his legal career expecting to be a bankruptcy attorney. But along the way, working for a general practitioner, he found that the trade most rewarding. Consumer bankruptcy was a fast-moving process that could offer people real relief very quickly. The many legal concepts in bankruptcy come naturally to Lance, and he finds fulfillment not only in devising the best strategies for clients, but also fully advising and explaining the procedures and decisions along the way. He structures his practice to provide maximum direct communication with his clients. Lance has called the Great Northwest...

My practice focuses on probate, guardianships, estate planning, TEDRA (Trusts and Estate Dispute Resolution Act of Washington) litigation and alternate dispute resolution.

Nigel is a partner at Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC. He is proud to represent maritime workers at the same firm where he interned starting in high school. Born and raised in Seattle, Nigel has worked across the country for various law firms and on different matters. He graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington D.C. before working as a litigation associate for Milbank, LLP, a New-York based law firm with over 150 years of experience. After learning from top-tier attorneys at Milbank, Nigel went back to his roots by working for Stacey & Jacobsen, where he worked during the...

Brian Edwards started his career in clinical psychology, where he often served as a court-appointed counselor for mentally ill patients. With his listening and conflict resolution skills, honed through his years as a therapist, and because he’s driven by a desire to help people who are going through difficult transitions, he chose to become a family law attorney. "This is the area of law that really matters the most. It touches on the most fundamental pieces of peoples’ lives: their family, their children, and their financial security." He has significant trial experience and is particularly knowledgeable in non-parental custody matters. He...

Behind Jennifer Payseno’s calm and deliberate demeanor are the intellect and ability of one of Seattle’s finest family law attorneys. Affiliated with McKinley Irvin since 1999, Jennifer is highly regarded throughout the legal community for her integrity, courtroom skills, and unwavering commitment to every family she serves.

Ryan joined GTH in 2012, where his primary areas of practice now include litigation, administrative regulations, and land use law. Ryan’s litigation experience spans a broad range of legal issues, but is frequently focused on products liability, land use, real estate, and business disputes. He is also breaking ground in the emerging area of cannabis business and regulation law, advising his clients as they develop some of the first legal marijuana businesses in the country.

Ryan moved to the Northwest to attend Seattle University School of Law in 2006 after growing up in the Midwest and obtaining a bachelor’s...

Kirk Davis spent fifteen years as a prosecutor. He tried one of the first "two strikes" cases in Washington State putting away a sex offender for life in prison. He brings the same level of passion and commitment in private practice helping those who have been injured in accidents or assaults. He has obtained several verdicts and settlements well into six figures.

Nick is a trial attorney that joined Anderson Carey & Williams in 2015. Appearing for defendants and plaintiffs in federal and state courts throughout California, Arizona, Washington and other jurisdictions, Nick's litigation experienced includes successful resolutions of various Jones Act, food contamination, constructions defect, insurance bad faith, and product liability cases on behalf of many different businesses and individuals. Nick grew up in New Jersey and after highschool he attended New York University for undergraduate studies in music and business. After he graduated in 2007 with honors from NYU he moved over to Virginia for law school and attended...

Justin Mishkin received his undergraduate degree from University of Washington, with certificates in Political Science and Economics. After undergraduate school, Justin attended law school at University of La Verne College of Law, a small private law school in Southern California. While in law school Justin spent two years at a family law clinic donating his time to helping those who could not afford to pay for legal representation. While at the legal clinic, Justin helped to prepare hundreds of family law petitions. After law school, Justin served as general counsel for a company that...

John is a international lawyer with multiple post graduate degrees from both U.S. and European schools. He is a certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Controls Specialist. He has extensive multifaceted experience in business law and litigation.

Kristi O'Brien's practice is primarily in the area of business transactions and real estate transactions. Kristi represents business clients and medical practices in real estate, commercial, corporate planning, partnership, asset and stock purchase and sale, employment, and health law.

Do you need assistance navigating the complex probate process? Lead Attorney Sheila Ridgway from Ridgway Law Group, P.S. has more than 28 years of legal experience in this area and she can help guide you every step of the way. She focuses primarily on probate issues such as estate and trust litigation, guardianship, TEDRA, will contests, elder law, fiduciary services and mediation. Sheila has taken on very contentious and challenging cases in the past, but she has a proven track record of case victories under her belt. Attorney Ridgway provides individualized representation to her clients that are tailored to meet...