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WASHINGTON MEMBERS
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Sherri M. Anderson Sherri M. Anderson represents clients in divorce cases which involve
complex financial or jurisdictional issues. She is recognized as one of the Top 10 attorneys in Washington
State by Super Lawyers and as a Band 1 attorney by Chambers (Family/Matrimonial: High Net Worth). Sherri is
a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys and the International Academy of Family Lawyers.
She is one of the 100 Diplomates of the American College of Family Trial Lawyers. Sherri is a graduate of
the University of Washington School Law (’91). She is involved with nonprofit boards that focus on child
welfare and education. She and her husband and two sons are diehard Seattle Seahawks fans and fantasy
football competitors.
Phone: 425-362-6874
Email: info@smalaw.biz
Web: www.smalaw.biz
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Mark Arend, a partner at McKinley Irvin, began his career as a fighter
pilot and officer in the U.S. Air Force. After working as a technology executive, Mark chose to practice
family law, specializing in cases with high-net-worth property issues and complex child custody matters.
Mark serves as Commissioner Pro Tempore in Pierce County Superior Court. He has presented CLEs on the
intersection of military life and family law and teaches mock trial skills to local high school students.
Mark is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell and listed as a Washington Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers®.
He is an Invited Member of the Order of Barristers and has received the Washington State Bar Association Pro
Bono Publico Award multiple times. He is admitted to practice throughout Washington State and in U.S.
District Courts of Western Washington, actively participating in legal committees and professional
organizations.
Phone: 253-952-4290
Email: marend@mckinleyirvin.com
Web: www.mckinleyirvin.com
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Brent Bohan, a partner at McKinley Irvin in Seattle, is a family law practitioner who
focuses on complex divorce matters with a focus on high-asset property division. With over ten years of
experience, Brent is a frequent speaker on family law topics, including high-asset divorces and advanced
child and spousal support issues. He is also a contributing author for the King County Bar Association
Washington Lawyers Practice Manual.
Brent is peer-reviewed and rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell. He has been distinguished as a
Washington Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers® and is listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in the field of
Family Law.
Phone: 206-625-9600
Email: bbohan@mckinleyirvin.com
Web: www.mckinleyirvin.com
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Kenneth E. Brewe is the founder of Brewe Layman P.S. which has offices in Seattle, Everett,
and Mount Vernon, Washington. His practice focuses on complex matters typically involving significant
estates. He has been named a “Super Lawyer” by Washington Law & Politics annually since 2001 as
well as a “Top 100 Lawyers” by said publication. Ken has been selected for inclusion in “Best Lawyers” by
U.S. News and World Report annually since 2012 and has been a member of the National Trial Lawyers
Top 100 Lawyers for Washington State since 2008. He is A.V. rated (very high to preeminent) by Martindale
Hubbell, frequently speaks at CLE seminars, regularly mediates family law matters and is a contributing
author for multiple family law chapters in Washington Practice. He has been an AAML member since 2000. Ken
was named Seattle Family Law Attorney of the Year in 2014 by Best Lawyers as reported in U.S. News and
World Report.
Phone: 425-252-5167
Email: kennethb@brewelaw.com
Web: www.brewelaw.com
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Michael W. Bugni was admitted to the AAML in 2004. He has practiced family law in King &
Snohomish Counties (litigation, mediation & appeals) since 1983, emphasizing dissolutions, parenting, child
support and modifications (including relocation). Mr. Bugni served as a pro tem family law
commissioner from 1998 - 2007. He is a past chapter president (Washington AAML). Past offices include board
president - Center for Conflict Management (family law mediation); and Northwest Family Life (DV treatment
agency). Mr. Bugni is available to conduct family law mediations.
Phone: 206-365-5500
Email: mike@lawgate.net
Web: www.lawgate.net
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Marc T. Christianson is of counsel at McKinley Irvin. He has practiced family law since
1976, largely focusing on complex dissolution matters involving significant assets, property, or business
interests, as well as family law mediation, arbitration and collaborative practice. Marc is rated AV
Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, designated as a "Super Lawyer," and listed in "Best Lawyers in America."
He is a past president of the Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association and serves as a pro tem Superior Court
Commissioner and Superior Court Judge in Pierce County.
Phone: 253-592-6350
Email: mchristianson@mckinleyirvin.com
Web: www.mckinleyirvin.com
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Linda Kelley Ebberson of Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson, PLLC leads her firm's
substantial family law practice group. She and her firm provide tax, business, estate planning and real
estate expertise for divorce clients with complex estates. Linda is a skillful negotiator and trial attorney
whose typical clients are owners of publically and family held Northwest businesses, executives and
professionals or their spouses. She has been named to the Martindale Hubbell Register of Preeminent Women
Lawyers, has held their highest "AV" rating since 1997, and has been named annually as a "Super Lawyer" by
Washington Law & Politics since 1999. Linda is a rare breed, a genuine Northwest
native.
Phone: 206-654-2406
Email: ebberson@lasher.com
Web: www.lasher.com
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Shannon Ellmers is a skilled litigator and negotiator who maintains a practice in family
law with an emphasis on marital dissolutions that involve complex financial and property issues. Shannon
provides exceptional representation to family law clients in every setting, whether direct negotiation,
formal dispute resolution, or trial. Shannon often represents business owners, entrepreneurs, physicians,
trust beneficiaries, attorneys, and corporate officers. Shannon's approach is one of well-reasoned scale,
determined by the needs of the client and the applicable legal principles, and often involves working with
outside experts to develop sound, defensible legal approaches. Shannon is a frequent speaker at CLE attorney
seminars on family law topics.
Phone: 206-330-0677
Email: shannon@ellmerspllc.com
Web: www.ellmerspllc.com
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H. Michael (Hank) Finesilver has practiced family law since 1974. He has published
articles, made presentations at seminars, and served as a judge and family law commissioner pro tem for King
County. He has extensive appellate experience. He has also served as a mediator and arbitrator, for which he
is available. Hank serves on the Board of the Washington Chapter of the Association of Family Conciliation
Courts (AFCC), is an active member of the AAML National Amicus Committee through which he has co-authored
amicus briefs on the subject of the privacy of family court proceedings and the enforceability of military
disability indemnity agreements in the Nevada Supreme Court, in 2022 and 2023, as well as the military
disability indemnity issue in the Virginia Supreme Court in 2023; and two amicus briefs filed in the U.S.
Supreme Court involving International Child Abduction (Retention) issues under the Hague
Convention.
Email: bavajadas@gmail.com
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Janet A. George has been in practice since 1975. She has a BA from Stanford and a Masters
in psychiatric nursing from the UW. Prior to law school she was an assistant professor at the UW School of
Nursing. When time allows, she is an adjunct professor of law at Seattle University Law School. She has been
selected as a "Super Lawyer" every year since 2003. She was named by the King County Superior Court judges
as one of 20 outstanding lawyers in King County. In January 2017, Janet merged her firm with McKinley
Irvin.
Phone: 206-447-0717
Email: jgeorge@mckinleyirvin.com
Web: www.mckinleyirvin.com
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Thomas G. Hamerlinck graduated with honors from Harvard Law in 1981 and has been a fellow
in the AAML since 1993. He is one of the top 100 lawyers in Washington per Seattle Magazine and one
of the state's top 10 “Super Lawyers” per Washington Law & Politics. He has been listed in The
Best Lawyers in America since 1995. Tom has spoken at over 60 seminars on a variety of
divorce-related topics, and is the author of the “property division” chapters in the Family Law
Deskbook (2d Ed), published by the WSBA.
Phone: 206-382-0000
Email: t.hamerlinck@wkolaw.com
Web: www.wkolaw.com
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David P. Hazel began his legal career as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Yakima County in
1977 and has been in private practice since 1978. His practice has focused exclusively on matrimonial and
family law since 1985. In January 2021, Dave transitioned from full-time litigation to mediating and
arbitrating family law cases. As a litigator, Dave was an aggressive advocate on behalf of his clients and
personally tried hundreds of cases involving all aspects of family law, including complex business and asset
valuation, property and debt division, custody, parenting plans, child relocation, third party custody,
maintenance (alimony), and child support.
Dave is a strong believer in the benefits of mediation and
arbitration and has mediated a high volume of cases. He knows that – if done correctly and with a skilled
mediator – mediation is faster, cheaper, less stressful, and yields better results for all parties
involved.
Email: dave@davidhazel.com
Web: www.davidhazel.com
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Katherine Kent has practiced law since 2000 and is the Managing Partner of Whitaker Kent
Ordell. The focus of her practice is on divorce cases involving difficult custodial matters and the
protection, valuation and distribution of assets and business interests. She a Fellow in the American
Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and she formerly served as a pro tem Family Law Court Commissioner in King
County Superior Court. She has been consistently named as a Super Lawyer and as a top lawyer in Seattle
Metropolitan Magazine. She is organizer and Chair of the Continuing Legal Education “Hot Topics in Family
Law” seminar hosted annually by the King County Bar Association and frequent presenter on family law
topics.
Phone: 206-258-6891
Email: k.kent@wkolaw.com
Web: www.wkolaw.com
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Sabrina L. Layman began her career as a family law practitioner 20 years ago when she
joined Ken Brewe's law firm as an intern, and then as a newly-minted associate, making partner after just
five years. Since that time, Sabrina has represented clients in a full range of “cradle to grave” family law
matters, particularly complex and high net-worth divorce cases, including property and business valuation,
property division, spousal maintenance, parenting plans and custody arrangements. She also represents
clients in private independent adoptions and step-parent adoptions. A tireless advocate for her clients,
Sabrina combines a depth of legal knowledge in the area of family law with an equally nuanced view of the
complex emotional and financial concerns that her clients are facing. Sabrina works closely with each client
to understand their goals and objectives in order to provide the highest level of support and advocacy. Her
work has received attention from her clients and legal colleagues as Sabrina was recognized as a Super
Lawyer and Rising Star in the area of family law by Washington Law & Politics magazine. Sabrina was
recently accepted into the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) which is a nationally recognized
group of family law attorneys.
Phone: 425-252-5167
Email: sabrinal@brewelaw.com
Web: www.brewelaw.com
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Carena McIlwain Upon graduating from law school in June 1993, Carena worked in civil
litigation in Philadelphia until she relocated to Washington. Since 2000, she has worked exclusively in
family law handling family law matters including complex and high asset divorces, legal separations,
parenting, child support, relocations, modifications and domestic violence petitions while at Anderson,
Fields & McIlwain, Inc., P.S. She practices in both King and Snohomish counties. She has been a fellow of
the AAML since 2019. She is also a Board Member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts and
regularly volunteers with the King County Family Law Legal Clinic.
Phone: 206-322-2060
Email: Carena@a-f-m-law.com
Web: www.a-f-m-law.com
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Christina A. Meserve has been assisting clients with family law issues since 1979. Her
practice emphasizes dissolutions and modifications, as well as mediation, arbitration, and the drafting &
review of prenuptial agreements. Chris is a former member of the Board of Trustees of The Evergreen State
College, a former president of Washington Women Lawyers, and a former president of the Thurston County Bar
Assoc. Her law firm (Connolly, Tacon and Meserve) provides a wide range of services in family law and other
areas.
Phone: 360-943-6747
Email: ctm@olylaw.com
Web: www.olylaw.com
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Elizabeth Michelson was admitted to practice in 1980 and has practiced family law in
Snohomish County throughout her entire career. She has been a fellow of the AAML since 1996 and was named
one of the top 100 lawyers in Washington by Seattle Magazine. She is listed in "The Best Lawyers in
America." She has served on the Reduce Family Conflict Committee of the Domestic Relations Commission.
Elizabeth is of counsel at McKinley Irvin in Everett.
Phone: 425-258-4208
Email: lmichelson@mckinleyirvin.com
Web: www.mckinleyirvin.com
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Robert J. Miller With over 20 years experience in the area of family law, Bob has
established himself as a highly-skilled litigator and an unwavering advocate for his clients. Bob assists
his clients in all areas of family law, particularly complex and high net-worth divorce cases, including
property and business valuation, property division, spousal maintenance, parenting plans and custody
arrangements, and pre- and post-nuptial agreements.
An aggressive and strong negotiator, Bob has successfully tried hundreds of cases. However, the nature of
family law is such that most cases settle before ever going to trial. Bob advocates for his clients during
mediation to achieve the best possible results, even in thorny and contentious divorce matters.
Bob began his legal career in Massachusetts in 1993, in the area of family and domestic relations and
personal injury law. He moved back to Washington State in 1999 where he began his private practice as a
family law practitioner and civil litigator with a Seattle-based firm, working there for ten years until
joining Brewe Layman in 2009. When not practicing law, Bob is a sports enthusiast and enjoys cheering on all
the Seattle-area teams, although he still has a soft spot for the Boston Red Sox. He lives in Edmonds with
his wife and three teenaged children.
Phone: 425-374-5012
Email: robertm@brewelaw.com
Web: www.brewelaw.com
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LuAnne Perry's skills and expertise have resulted in successful outcomes for her clients in
all types of domestic relations matters including divorce, alimony, equitable distribution for nonmarried
partners, child support, and child custody/visitation. LuAnne has represented many high net worth clients
with complex financial situations.
Her goal is to help her clients navigate difficult situations and choose the most logical, effective path to
resolution. Her approach to family law often includes an interdisciplinary team, including financial
advisors, mental health professionals, forensic accountants and real estate advisors. Any or all of these
team members can be brought in if necessary to help resolve a case or for ongoing family
support.
Phone: 206-834-7550
Email: lap@tplgsea.com
Web: www.tplgsea.com/
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Lisa Ann Sharpe is dedicated to helping her clients with their family law issues. She
provides the highest level of family law advice to clients in complex divorce and custody cases. She
regularly handles cases with large estates and difficult family issues. Lisa also has over 20 years of
experience in mediation and arbitration. Her approach includes building a team of financial and parenting
experts, when necessary. She is A.V. rated by Martindale Hubbell and has been named a Super Lawyer by
Washington Law and Politics.
Phone: 206-654-2404
Email: Sharpe@lasher.com
Web: www.lasher.com
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James D. Shipman is the managing partner of Shipman Uberti, P.S. He graduated magna cum
laude from Gonzaga Law School, where he was a Thomas More Scholar. Mr. Shipman has served as a Snohomish
County Superior Court pro tem commissioner since 2003. He serves as a frequent mediator for family
law matters in Snohomish County. Mr. Shipman was awarded the Civil/Family Law Clerk's award in Snohomish
County Superior Court in 2007, 2008 and 2011. He is a CLE lecturer on family law topics.
Phone: 425-258-6846
Email: jshipman@shipmanuberti.com
Web: www.shipmanuberti.com
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David B. Starks is a partner at McKinley Irvin. His practice focuses on divorce cases
involving the protection, valuation and distribution of significant assets and complex financial and
business interests. He has been named a "Super Lawyer" and as one of "The Best Lawyers in America." David's
practice also includes international family law and the Hague Convention. He is a frequent speaker on the
subject, co-author of the Washington Family Law Deskbook chapter on international law, and co-chair of the
American Bar Association International Law Section's Family Law Committee.
Phone: 206-625-9600
Email: dstarks@mckinleyirvin.com
Web: www.mckinleyirvin.com
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William R. Sullivan has practiced law for over 35 years in Snohomish County. He has served
as a member of the Snohomish County Bar Association Board of Trustees and on various Sections and Boards of
the Washington State Bar Association. He has also served as a Judge Pro Tem, Court Commissioner Pro Tem, and
as an arbitrator in the Snohomish County Superior Court since 1986. His practice is generally a civil trial
practice with a focus on family law. He has also established a significant mediation practice where he aids
parties in arriving at amicable agreements to resolve their disputes. Bill has been honored professionally
by the WSBA Family Law Section as the 2007 Attorney of the Year; by the Snohomish County Clerk as the 2006
Clerks' Choice "Pro Tem Jurist" Award; by receiving the 2016 President's Award from the SCBA; and has been
awarded the highest professional and ethical rating available by Martindale Hubbell.
Phone: 425-332-2000
Email: bills@millcreeklaw.com
Web: http://www.millcreeklaw.com
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Rebecca Torgerson is a shareholder with Brewe Layman, P.S., which has offices in Seattle,
Everett, and Mount Vernon, Washington. Ms. Torgerson joined Brewe Layman as an associate attorney in 2002,
after working for the firm as a legal intern during law school. Ms. Torgerson received her B.A. from the
University of Washington and earned her law degree from Seattle University School of Law in 2002. Ms.
Torgerson is a contributing author for several chapters in West's Washington Practice Family and
Community Property Law publication. Ms. Torgerson's practice emphasis is in family law matters,
including marital dissolution actions, committed intimate relationship actions and parenting plan
modifications.
Phone: 425-252-5167
Email: rebeccat@brewelaw.com
Web: www.brewelaw.com
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Since 2007, Jamie R. Walker has focused her practice exclusively on family law matters with
a focus on high-net-worth estates and complicated custody cases. Ms. Walker left a large firm in 2020 to
open her own practice. Jamie practices in King, Pierce, and Kitsap counties and has presented a number of
continuing education courses for her peers and has published several articles. Jamie also serves as a
mediator and volunteer settlement conference director. Ms. Walker holds a 10.0 “Superb” peer review rating
through Avvo, and has been distinguished by Super Lawyer's and Best Lawyer's Magazines. Jamie is the current
AAML Washington chapter President.
Phone: 253-314-5858
Email: jamie@jwalkerfamilylaw.com
Web: www.jwalkerfamilylaw.com
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J. Mark Weiss focuses on collaborative divorce and consultation. In 2005, he received the
"Attorney of the Year" award from the state Family Law Section. He is a "Super Lawyer" per Washington
Law and Politics. Mark is particularly skilled in cases involving complex property and financial
issues, including businesses, and in complex parenting disputes. Mark has taught and written extensively on
community property, business, and other family law issues. He has served on boards and committees to improve
justice, and trains attorneys in collaborative law.
Phone: 206-622-6707
Email: mweiss@mark-weiss.com
Web: www.mark-weiss.com
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Gordon W. Wilcox is of counsel at McKinley Irvin. He limits his practice to substantial
financial family law cases, including parenting issues. He is a co-author of chapters on Property
Identification, Valuation and Division in the WSBA Family Law Deskbook (1st ed) and the author of "Summary
Procedures in Family Law," American Journal of Family Law. He has presented at CLEs for 30 years and was a
board member of Columbia and Evergreen Legal Services for 33 years. Education: Yale College, 1965;
University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1968.
Phone: 206-233-9300
Email: gwilcox@mckinleyirvin.com
Web: www.mckinleyirvin.com
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