COMMITTEES

Holds regular CLEs dealing with contemporary maritime issues. The committee also has a standing subcommittee that reviews local admiralty rules and from time to time proposes changes to the same. Finally, the committee is studying the implementation of technology as it relates to maritime practice.

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Chris Reilly
Admiralty Committee Co-Chair
Email: creilly@nicollblack.com

Molly Henry
Admiralty Committee Co-Chair
Phone: 206-405-1969
Email: mhenry@schwabe.com

Assists the Court in the administration of Civil Rule CR 39.1 (ADR) by (i) processing attorney applications for certification and inclusion on the court’s register of neutrals, (ii) responding to court requests for ADR-related assistance (such as obtaining pro bono neutrals), and (iii) responding to inquires from the court or prospective neutrals; periodically presents ADR CLE programs (ranging from formal programs to informal “roundtable” discussions attended by one or more Western District judges); and, as the need arises, addresses (through committee mailings, meetings or work groups) ADR developments or emerging ADR issues. For more information about becoming a CR 39.1 neutral, or to view the Court’s register of neutrals, click here.

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Marc Cote
ADR Committee Co-Chair
Email: mcote@frankfreed.com

Has the primary goals of providing continuing legal education for federal appellate practitioners through free CLEs designed specifically for those practitioners; acting as a liaison between the federal appellate bench and members of the FBA-WDWA; enhancing communication between the bench and bar regarding topics such as rule revisions; and providing a source of information for key legal and practice developments, with a focus on Ninth Circuit practice.

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Charlene Koski
Appellate Practice Co-Chair
Phone: 206-627-4001
Email: ckoski@vnf.com

Jonathan S. Solovy
Appellate Practice Co-Chair
Phone: 206-388-1090
Email: solovylaw@earthlink.net

Acts as a liaison between the bankruptcy bench and bar. The committee disseminates information regarding rule, statutory, and case law modifications relating to bankruptcy practice; and provides comments to the Bankruptcy Court regarding proposed rule changes. The committee co-sponsors annual meetings with bankruptcy practitioners and members of the Bankruptcy Court. It has also published a newsletter summarizing court developments and unpublished opinions.

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Aimee S. Willig
Bankruptcy Committee Co-Chair
Phone: 206-292-2110
Email: awillig@bskd.com

David C. Neu
Bankruptcy Committee Co-Chair
Phone: 206-624-8300
Email: david.neu@millernash.com

Works to keep bar members informed regarding procedures in the federal courts. To that end the committee hosts and co-sponsors various CLEs, for which it designs curricula and selects speakers. The committee also assists and supports the substantive law committees of the FBA-WDWA when those committees hold CLEs. Finally, the committee hosts and coordinates the CLE program held every December before the FBA-WDWA’s Annual Dinner.

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Duncan Manville
CLE Committee Chair
Phone: 206-749-0500
Email: dmanville@sbwllp.com

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Kymberly Evanson
Constitution Day Committee Co-Chair
Phone: 206-245-1700
Email: Kymberly.Evanson@pacificalawgroup.com

Tania Culbertson
Constitution Day Committee Co-Chair
Phone: 206-553-4737
Email: tania.culbertson@usdoj.gov

Colleen Fitzharris

Provides input to the courts on issues relating to services offered to attorneys, including technology in the courtroom, technology in the clerk’s office, and courthouse amenities for lawyers; and serves as a liaison between the FBA-WDWA and the Washington State Bar Association.

For more information, contact:

Abteem Karimi
Email: Abteen_Karimi@wawd.uscourts.gov

For more information, contact:

Lish Whitson
Phone: 206-892-2164
Email: lish.whitson@whitsonlaw.com

The Criminal Law Committee’s primary goal is to provide continuing legal education and training to criminal law practitioners on trends and topics in the field of federal criminal law and trial practice. The committee’s other goal is to help maintain a competitive yet convivial bar by supporting professionalism, communication and civility among the members of the federal criminal bar.

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Will Dreher
Criminal Law Committee Co-Chair
Email: willdreher@gmail.com

Joanna Martin
Criminal Law Committee Co-Chair
Email: joanna_martin@fd.org

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Chris Fargo Masuda
DREAM Court Committee Chair
Phone: 828-319-7860
Email: chris@fargo-masuda.com

Provides input on federal judicial appointment candidates as requested by the court.

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

John Wolfe
Federal Appointments Chair
Phone: 206-839-4324
Email: john.wolfe@orrick.com

The Federal Civil Rights Legal Clinics offer free, limited legal advice and referrals to King and Pierce County residents. The Clinics focus on Washington State residents who are contemplating filing or have already filed legal actions in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington and who are encountering challenges accessing our legal system. For additional information about the Legal Clinics, please click here.

For information about volunteering in either Legal Clinic, please contact:

Tracy Morris
Federal Civil Rights Clinic
Executive Director
Email: tracymmorris@comcast.net

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Vanessa Soriano Power
Fundraising Committee Chair
Phone: 206-386-7553
Email: vanessa.power@stoel.com

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Meena Pallipamu
Immigration Committee Co-Chair
Phone: 206-419-7332
Email: meena@meenaimmegrationlaw.com

Adam Boyd
Immigration Committee Co-Chair
Phone: 206-708-8744
Email: adam.boyd@ghp-law.net

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Cindy Randall
In-House Counsel Chair
Email: crand@microsoft.com

Addresses issues arising out of patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and other forms of intellectual property. The committee also addresses the interplay between intellectual property rights and other disciplines, such as licensing, unfair competition, antitrust and economics.

Click here for links to various online resources, including information relevant to intellectual property issues.

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Brian Park
Intellectual Property Committee Chair
Phone: 206-386-7542
E-mail: BCPark@stoel.com

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Rylan Weythman
Litigation Academy Committee Chair
Phone: 206-447-6225
Email: rylan.weythman@foster.com

Follows changes and proposed changes to the Federal Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure and Evidence that occur at the national level, develops proposed revisions to the local rules to accommodate those national rule changes, and periodically suggests changes to the local rules to improve practice in this District. The committee works closely with the court’s local rules committee on these projects. The committee also acts as a spokesperson for the FBA-WDWA before the rules committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States.

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Bree Kelly
Local Rules Committee Co-Chair
Phone: 206-370-6604
Email: bree.kelly@klgates.com

Kristin Beneski
Local Rules Committee Co-Chair
Phone: 206-595-3024
E-mail: kristin.beneski@atg.wa.gov

Recruits new members to the FBA-WDWA by explaining the benefits of membership to potential new members, including by offering CLEs on various practice topics. The committee also approaches practitioners and law firms in the Western District, offering information about the FBA-WDWA and the benefits of membership. To become a member or renew your membership, click here. To change or update your contact information, email fba@kcba.org.

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

David Ward
Membership Committee Co-Chair
Phone: 206-838-8650
Email: dwardseattle@hotmail.com

Jessica Andrade
Membership Committee Co-Chair
Phone: 206-393-5422
Email: jessica.andrade@polsinelli.com

For more information, contact:

Robyn Lipsky
Ninth Circuit Historical Society Liaison
Phone: 415-757-0286
Email: ExecutiveDirector@NJCHS.org

For more information, contact:

Tracy Morris
Email: tracymmorris@comcast.net

Is primarily responsible for nominating candidates for trustee and officer positions in the FBA-WDWA, and for recommending candidates to serve as Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representatives from the Western District of Washington.

For more information, contact:

Cynthia Jones
Nominations Committee Chair
Phone: 206-972-4943
Email: cjones@joneslegalgroup.net

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Roger Townsend
Past Presidents Committee Co-Chair
Phone: 206-518-6200
Email: rtownsend@bjtlegal.com

Cynthia Jones
Past Presidents Committee Co-Chair
Phone: 206-972-4943
Email: cjones@joneslegalgroup.net

Performs several functions to help the court address the concerns of pro se litigants. First, when pro se litigants apply for appointment of counsel, the U.S. District Court refers the case to a screening panel administered by the Pro Bono Committee. The screening panel recommends to the court whether counsel should be appointed, and the court accepts or rejects the panel’s recommendation. If the court agrees to appoint counsel, he or she may be selected from a Pro Bono Panel of volunteer attorneys, also recruited and administered by the Pro Bono Committee, or the request for volunteer counsel is circulated to pro bono coordinators in local law firms and agencies. Once a pro bono attorney has been identified, the appointment process is completed by the court. The Pro Bono Committee works closely with the court and other FBA-WDWA committees to come up with innovative ideas to reduce the number of pro se cases and to assist those who pursue claims in federal court on a pro se basis.

For additional information about the Pro Bono Panel or to join the panel, click here.

For more information or to join the committee, contact:

Claire McNamara
Pro Bono Committee Chair
Phone: 520-349-3698
Email: cm@mgm-legal.com

Committee Members: Rochelle Doyea, Kai Smith, Rose McCarty, Sophia Amberson, Camille McDorman

For more information, contact:

Ravi Subramanian
Clerk of Court
Phone: 206-370-8430
Email: Ravi_Subramanian@wawd.uscourts.gov

Maintains and updates the website of the FBA-WDWA, edits and publishes the FBA-WDWA’s newsletter, reports on the activities of the FBA-WDWA, and provides a forum to discuss current legal issues as they arise in this District and in the Ninth Circuit.

For more information, to join the committee, or to submit articles for consideration, contact:

Lauren Staniar
Communications Committee Chair
Email: lauren.staniar@usdoj.gov

Adrienne McKelvey
Website Committee Chair
Email: adrienne.mckelvey@redfin.com