Toppenish Lawyers

Since joining the firm in 1994, Stephanie has worked on a wide variety of cases representing clients in employment, business and injury litigation, as well as estate litigation and business disputes. She also represents clients in matters involving misappropriation of trade secrets, noncompetition contracts, Consumer Protection Act claims, unfair competition issues, contract disputes and consults on matters of legal ethics.

In her commercial litigation practice, Stephanie focuses on complex business disputes, disputes between members of closely held companies and trust and estate litigation. She represents corporations, closely held businesses, fiduciaries as well as individual parties involved in these types of...

Dianne’s practice areas include environmental law, real estate litigation, natural resources law, and land use. Her commitment to these issues also extends to her life outside of work. She has co-authored articles about environmental issues and litigation, and she served as a member and officer of the Board of Trustees of the AgForestry Education Foundation from 2007 to 2012. Dianne also served on the Point Defiance Zoo Society’s Board of Directors for 11 years, including as President, and was chair of the 2013 Zoobilee. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of the fabulous Symphony Tacoma.

John Guadnola is a seasoned attorney with an extensive background and impressive record of success in his practice areas, which include antitrust litigation, alcohol regulation, copyright and trademark litigation, and complex litigation. As Executive Director and General Counsel of the Association of Washington Spirits & Wine Distributors, John is also actively involved in alcohol regulation issues on the legislative level and enforcement levels.

As co-lead counsel in a case of national significance (Costco v. Hoen), John represented distributor intervenors in a successful effort to defend Washington State laws governing distribution and sale of beer and wine against an antitrust claim brought...

Kurt represents South Sound businesses and individuals in White Collar Crime matters. He advises clients on corporate criminal risks, federal grand jury investigations, financial crimes, securities frauds, bankruptcy crimes, government contract frauds, real estate schemes, Medicare frauds-and tax frauds. He is GTH’s authority on cybercrime and legal issues relating to cybersecurity and data privacy. His work includes assisting South Sound businesses in creating cybersecurity plans consistent with the US protocols issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). He also advises clients on data privacy requirements arising from the European Union’s General Data Privacy Regulations (GDPR)...

Born in Philadelphia and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, Bill Holt moved gradually westward—with a 7-year stop in Iowa City to pick up his undergraduate and law degrees—until he got to Tacoma in 1970. He has lived and worked here in the Northwest ever since, joining GTH in 1971 after clerking for Judge William T. Beeks in the U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington.

His primary areas of practice include the purchase and sale of businesses and large commercial real estate projects, as well as intellectual property law, privacy and publicity law, public records law, and finance.

His primary areas of practice at GTH include environmental law with an emphasis on negotiations, mediation and litigation involving responsibility for hazardous and toxic waste cleanup. Brad has extensive experience in complex securities and business litigation, he has prosecuted several successful class actions, and he is often asked to speak about hazardous waste issues, environmental master planning, and liability issues affecting real estate transactions.

Alan Macpherson’s primary area of practice at GTH is estate planning and taxation. He particularly enjoys working on projects that combine financial and tax as well as legal aspects, such as establishing and monitoring investment LLCs and generation-skipping trusts and helping clients build specific themes into their estate plans, like helping with the education of grandchildren.

Jemima has handled hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of real estate transactions involving almost every sector of the market. Her primary practice areas are commercial and real estate transactions. She has extensive experience with all facets of land use matters including title and survey review, development, and environmental studies and reports.

Her clients include private developers, landowners, purchasers and sellers, landlords and tenants, borrowers and lenders, regional and national banks, universities, non-profit organizations, assisted living facilities, hotels, and homeowner’s associations, each of whom have various business and real estate needs. With the passage of I-502, her work has also...

Sal practices in state and federal courts throughout the state of Washington and has litigated most of the Western states as well. One focus of Sal’s practice is medical negligence, wrongful death, and serious injury cases. Sal has represented patients who have been injured as a result of doctors, nurses, and emergency room physicians making mistakes resulting in death, paralysis, brain injuries and loss of life or harm to babies. Sal has brought actions against Multicare, CHI Franciscan, Harborview, Children’s Hospital, and Swedish Medical center among others. Sal’s cases have involved surgeons, OBGYN doctors, Emergency Department...

Valarie Zeeck joined GTH in 1997. Her primary area of practice is employment law and litigation. She advises and provides training to owners, managers, and employees in employment law in order to help them reduce litigation expense and risk. She also defends employers in employment-related litigation, focusing on extracting clients from litigation at the earliest possible stage.

Valarie has written and co-authored several papers for legal publications and periodicals and has been a frequent speaker on legal matters at educational and business seminars. She is a member of the Pierce County chapter of Washington Women Lawyers.

Lisa Kremer's practice focuses primarily on estate planning, probate, and guardianship. She particularly enjoys working with families to try to resolve issues with a minimum amount of stress and turmoil. Lisa also advises businesses, particularly on trademark, copyright and privacy issues, including HIPPA compliance.

Lisa began her professional career as a journalist. She was an award-winning reporter for The News Tribune. In 2005 she decided to move from writing about people’s problems to helping solve them. She commuted from Tacoma to the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle and graduated in 2008.

Lisa is a Trustee of the Tacoma-Pierce County...

There are two things that are more important than anything to Assistant Managing Attorney Jonathan Moffitt, his faith and his family. Because of these values and his belief that every parent has a right to be intimately involved in the lives and upbringing of their children, Jonathan chooses to practice family law as a primary component of his practice. As a husband and father of four, Jonathan understands the bond between a parent and child. This is a bond that should not be interfered with lightly and one that should be fought for vigorously. Additionally, there are two characteristics that Jonathan values...

Jordan K. Foster, Criminal Defense Attorney I started my career doing real estate, business, and construction law. A few years back, I decided a change of pace was in order and began practicing criminal defense law. Since entering the criminal defense arena, I have been voted a Rising Star in Criminal Defense Law by Washington Super Lawyers in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Today I focus primarily on criminal defense. I assist people facing misdemeanors, felonies, and traffic infractions. I am an active member of the Washington State Bar Association, the Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association, and...

Nicholas (Cole) Douglas is a partner at Cochran Douglas, which has its offices in Tacoma, Washington. Concentrating his practice on personal injury matters, ranging from car accidents to product liability and wrongful death, he also takes on sexual abuse cases, serving clients throughout the state of Washington. Douglas is a compassionate and empathic attorney, taking the time to listen to his clients and answering all their questions. He provides personalized solutions for each of his clients cases and understands the pain they must be going through, especially when they are injured by another person’s careless actions. Graduating cum laude and with dean’s...

Kelsey Morfitt is a former United States Air Force attorney and hails from Enumclaw, Washington.

Kelsey graduated magna cum laude from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington and majored in Spanish and Political Science. She graduated cum laude from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington while serving as a member of Gonzaga Law Review and interning for the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office, Washington State Attorney General’s Office Social and Health Services Division, Washington State Senate Committee Services, and the Chambers of Judge Robert Whaley in federal district court. Kelsey also completed service projects in Honduras with...

Denver criminal defense attorney Shannon Polley has devoted her entire legal career to getting her clients’ criminal charges reduced or dismissed. She nearly always secures a favorable resolution through aggressive negotiations alone. Though if necessary, Shannon is an experienced courtroom litigator and is prepared to fight for a not guilty verdict at trial.

I was born in an army hospital in Fort Knox, Kentucky. My father was in the army, and before I was a year old and my older brother two years old, my father had died in Vietnam. A widow at 24 years of age with two babies in diapers, my mother felt that the best education she could give my brother and me was real world experience. So for a year, when I was a junior in high school, we backpacked around the world. I traveled through numerous countries and regions (China, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia,...

Firm founder Larry Lehmbecker was raised in Renton, Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1983 and University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco in 1986. Upon graduation, Larry decided he wanted to serve the people with whom he grew up. He moved back to the Seattle area and opened a general law practice providing legal services such as family law, estate planning, small business consulting, personal injury and workers’ compensation. However, he soon learned that the work he found most compelling was representing people who were injured in accidents. Often in desperate need...

For 40 years, Robert has limited his practice to the representation of people injured through the negligence of others, including while on the property of others, in motor vehicle and commercial truck collisions, in wrecks caused by drunk drivers, as well as those who have been harmed in nursing home and other care facilities. He has represented thousands of Arizonans and Washingtonians who have been injured by the misconduct of others. On behalf of his clients he has collected millions of dollars from large insurance companies, major corporations, and numerous others who have caused harm to those clients....

Brad handles a variety of serious criminal cases, including both felony and serious misdemeanor matters This year, Brad was named to the distinguished Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America, by The National Trial Lawyers organization. He also was named one of the Top 40 under 40 Criminal Defense Lawyers. In 2016 he was also recognized by the National College for DUI Defense as one of the most experienced DUI defense attorneys in the country when he was voted in as a member of the organization. In July of 2016 Brad was also named one of the Top Tacoma DUI Lawyers by...

With over a decade of experience in corporate law, regulatory compliance, and expansion strategy, I am committed to providing practical, results-oriented legal solutions for small businesses and individuals. As the Managing Attorney at Heritage Legal Advisors, I focus on helping clients navigate the complexities of business formation, contracts, and estate planning to safeguard their assets and achieve their goals. Having managed multi-million-dollar commercial agreements and advised on mergers, acquisitions, and market expansions, I bring big-business expertise to small business clients. My career includes saving clients significant costs through meticulous risk management, efficient contract negotiation, and regulatory compliance strategies. In estate planning, I...

Aaron "AJ" VanderPol has years of experience fighting for injured workers in the L&I system. He's litigated cases at the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals and in Washington Courts and recovered millions of dollars in settlements, Board awards, and expected pension payouts. AJ founded Green River Law, PLLC with the central idea that injured workers need advocates. Every worker pays into Washington's worker's compensation system and that system should support workers when they need it the most.

My law practice is different than many law firms in that I personally prepare most of the bankruptcy documents with my client's involvement (as opposed to just handing over the case to a paralegal or legal assistant).

When clients have questions or concerns they speak directly to me. Although I have a busy law practice, I do not operate my firm as a "mill" but rather I strive to focus on each individual client's concerns.

The Law Office of Timothy Wilson is devoted to representing only individuals in need of filing either a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. I have...

Amy Jones earned her Juris Doctorate from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University located in Macon, Georgia. She was admitted to the Georgia Bar in November 2005. After receiving her law degree, Amy represented injured workers in their on-the-job injuries. In addition, she served as a Special Attorney General representing the Georgia Department of Human Resources Child Support Division. Amy moved to the Northwest in 2008 and obtained her Bar Licenses in both Oregon and Washington.

Prior to joining Sears Injury Law, she worked for the law firm of Driggs, Bills & Day for over seven (7)...

I was born and raised in the Northwest. After graduating from the University of Washington with honors, I attended Gonzaga University School of Law where I was awarded a Thomas More Scholarship. As a Thomas More Scholar, I dedicated myself to helping others both in the local and international communities. My international work included a visit to Rome where I provided services for the homeless and co-leading a mission in Honduras where our group of students provided much needed repairs at local village schools, and distributed needed school supplies which our group had purchased through fundraising....

Over the course of his career, Mark Arend has filled the shoes of a businessman, a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, and an attorney. Using his diverse vocational background, he helps clients facing high-tension, complex, and adversarial family law matters. Some of his practice areas include child custody, domestic violence, child support, relocation, high net worth divorce, and military family law.

Mark’s approach to family law is based on common sense, strong ethical standards, and the highest level of professionalism. His goal is simple: to “do better” for his clients than any other legal representative would do. Mark is...

Attorney Cheryl Van Ackeren is passionate about protecting the rights of service members and ensuring that veterans get the benefits they deserve.
Long before graduating from Seattle University’s School of Law, Cheryl knew she wanted to be a lawyer. Cheryl enlisted in the Army at 18 to achieve her goal and hoped to take advantage of the “green to gold” program to become an officer, and eventually, a Judge Advocate General. Cheryl’s military career began in the signal corps with the 1st Calvary Division, Fort Hood, Tx. Her enlistment included a 15 month deployment to Iraq during the early days of...

Bilingual Mandarin Chinese and English attorney. Admitted to the New York State Bar, Washington State Bar, and qualified to the Chinese Bar. Has attorney experience both in the U.S. and in Beijing, China. Mainly focus on the U.S. immigration law, business law, and China practice.

Since 1992, the Choquette Immigration Law Group (CLG) has assisted thousands of individuals and companies successfully navigate a complex and rather daunting immigration system. The firm’s founder, Paul Choquette, is intimately familiar with the immigration process from both the client and attorney perspective. Mr. Choquette was born and raised in Montreal, Canada and attended college and law school in the United States pursuant to a student visa. As a young immigration attorney he married an American citizen processing his own applications for conditional and permanent residence. Subsequently, he became a naturalized United States citizen. Never forgetting his...

Alex grew up on his family’s apple farm in Brewster, Washington. He learned every trade required to run a farm, but specialized in being the certified “gopher.” Alex graduated from high school ranked 2nd in the nation and top 25 in the World for his age in downhill ski racing. Alex studied at Jerusalem University in Israel, completed undergraduate studies from Seattle Pacific University, and finished his legal education at Seattle University School of Law where he was the Graduation Speaker. Alex learned trial skills by working as a Prosecutor for King...

For the past 30 years, she has represented businesses and individuals interfacing with the government; she helps businesses and individuals obtain all types of zoning and land use permits, assists individuals facing government compliance and penalty actions and represents individuals with property disputes about easements, boundaries and adverse possession. She also obtains licenses for all types of business enterprises. Ms. Koler frequently challenges arbitrary requirements associated with government compliance and land use permitting. See Guimont v. Clark, 121 Wn.2d 586 (Washington Supreme Court invalidated state law imposing mobile home relocation fee on developer); Berst v. Snohomish...

Attorney Moses has been defending juvenile and Family Law Clients in the courtroom since 1999. Whether your case is a divorce, legal separation, child custody and support, spousal support, domestic violence, or guardianship, he has the experience and resources necessary to achieve a successful outcome of your case. He has a strong background in defending the rights of individuals, and is competent to handle your case from beginning to end, with thoughtful attention to detail, whether it be at the negotiating table or in the courtroom.

My family has always been deeply committed to public service, with both of my parents actively involved in the Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs. My paternal grandfather, a former congressman in Nigeria and chairman of Ondo Local Government, founded the Ondo development committee. His contributions included developing the town by tarring roads and providing scholarships to indigent students, earning him an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Great Britain. Inspired by my family's legacy, I engaged in various activities in Nigeria to enhance the lives of the underprivileged, including supporting centers for abused women, constructing hostels...

With 30 years of experience representing people facing DUI and/or other criminal charges in Snohomish, King and Pierce Counties, and elsewhere in Washington State, I understand how the system works, and what you and I need to to optimize your defense before your next court appearance. In the courtroom your criminal defense attorney may be your only friend. i go all out for optimal outcomes. Tactful, Tactical & Effective representation.

As a US immigration attorney and a member of the WA chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Elena V. Yushkina loves helping clients navigate the nuances of making the US their home with compassion and professionalism. She knows from personal experience how challenging and overwhelming the immigration process can be, having successfully petitioned her own family's case under the H1B visa category and subsequently becoming a US citizen. As part of her immigration attorney practice, which focuses on business and family immigration, she represents and assists clients with nonimmigrant (B, H, L , O, P and E) visas and...

Matthew White is one of the founders of South Sound Law Group, along with his father, William White and his sister, Erin White. As a family owned and run law firm, South Sound Law Group does things a bit differently, and it shows, as they have a reputation in the community for caring, effective, and lasting advocacy.

Although the main office is located in Tacoma, WA, Matt and the rest of the team at South Sound Law Group regularly handle both criminal and civil matters all over western Washington.

Matt represents Washington residents, as well as visitors, tourists, and military members, on...

Andrew has been a member of the Washington State Bar Association for over 15 years and is an associate attorney at Envision Family Law. For the past decade, he has exclusively practiced in the area of family law to include divorce and custody cases. His wide-ranging background of litigation experience is extensively combined with years of knowledge as a skilled mediator.

Prior to entering law school, Andrew graduated from Dartmouth College with a degree in political science. From there, he continued his journey into the legal profession at the University of Maryland School of Law, graduating at the top 10% of...