NEWS

January 2012
Summit Member Will Serve as Adjunct Professor at the University of Washington
This spring, Chris Brown will teach Advanced Partnership Taxation in the Masters of Taxation program at the University of Washington School of Law.

January 2012
Chris Brown Named President of the Seattle Alternative Investment Association ("SAIA")
Summit Law Group member Chris Brown will serve as President of SAIA for 2012. SAIA is a Seattle-based nonprofit organization which organizes events related to the hedge fund and alternative investment community. [Read]

December 1, 2011
Summit's Executive Director Receives a Rare Award
The attorneys and staff of Summit Law Group extend our congratulations to Marc Reynolds for his receipt of the Spirit of PSALA Award from the Puget Sound chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators. In the chapter's 40 years only eight others have received this distinguished award which recognizes exceptional leadership in the organization.

November 16, 2011
Summit Law Group's Litigation Group is "Highly Recommended"
The Legal Media Group has recognized Summit Law Group as one of only seven Seattle litigation firms which are "highly recommended," explaining: "Summit Law Group is known for its innovative practice model, which calls for a roster of only partners and of-counsel members, on the belief that clients will be better served strategically and economically by having cases handled by experienced, shareholder attorneys versus the more customary mix of both associates and partners." Summit members Phil McCune and Ralph Palumbo were acknowledged as "litigation stars" and Denise Ashbaugh was recognized as a "future star." The Legal Media Group also noted significant litigation being handled by Summit members Lynn Engel, Otto Klein, and John Chun. [Read]

November 10, 2011
Summit is Recognized as a Top National and Seattle Law Firm
In the second edition of its highly-regarded annual analysis and ranking of American law firms, U.S. News & World Report ranked Summit's labor law practice among the Best Law Firms nationally. The publication also acknowledged Summit Law Group among the top Seattle law firms for commercial litigation, environmental law, labor law, natural resources law, corporate law, employment law, environmental litigation, First Amendment litigation, and securities/capital markets law.

October 4, 2011
Otto Klein is the Best of the Best
Summit Law Group member Otto Klein has been named the Best Lawyers' 2012 Seattle Labor Law – Management Lawyer of the Year.

September 17, 2011
Summit Law Group is Lead Sponsor of Community Enhancement Project
Summit Law Group, along with Mortenson Construction and Microsoft, were lead sponsors of NAIOP's 23rd Annual Community Enhancement Project. This year the beneficiary was Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center in their new location at Dunmire Stables in Redmond, WA. NAIOP Washington is the local chapter of a national commercial real estate and development association. Summit member Marta Lowe is a member of NAIOP's Community Enhancement Committee, which raised over $40,000 and had more than $200,000 in labor and materials donated to help Little Bit provide therapeutic riding programs to more riders with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. The work done on the 17th will allow Little Bit to open its doors in January 2012 to hundreds of new riders currently on the waiting list at the center's main site. More than 200 volunteers painted, landscaped, built and upgraded the indoor and outdoor arenas, improved barns and repaired fencing, and a great time was had by all.

September 16, 2011
Seattle’s Ordinance Enforcing Yellow Pages Opt-Outs Satisfies Washington’s Constitution
U.S. District Court Judge James L. Robart has rejected the yellow pages industry’s Washington constitutional challenges to Seattle’s ordinance enforcing resident do-not-deliver directives. The ordinance is the first of its kind in the nation. On September 16, 2011, Judge Robart ruled that the ordinance does not violate the Washington constitution’s free speech, privileges and immunities, and supremacy clauses. As he did when rejecting the yellow page industry’s claims under the United States Constitution, he concluded that the City of Seattle’s opt-out ordinance is a constitutional means of ensuring that yellow pages are not delivered to Seattle residents against their wishes. The City of Seattle is represented by Jessica Goldman, Denise Ashbaugh, Molly Terwilliger, and Deanna Schow of Summit Law Group.

August 30, 2011
Summit Lawyers Are Again Acknowledged as Best Lawyers
Twelve Summit Law Group lawyers have been recognized as 2012 Best Lawyers In America. They are Lynn Engel (commercial litigation), Michael Erickson (corporate law), Jessica Goldman (litigation – First Amendment), David Heineck (environmental law; litigation – environmental), Otto Klein (employment law – management; labor law – management), Polly McNeill (environmental law), Scott Osborne (real estate), Ralph Palumbo (environmental law), Shannon Phillips (employment law – management), Bruce Schroeder (employment law – management; labor law – management), Michael Thorp (environmental law; natural resources law), and Mark Worthington (corporate law; securities/capital markets law; securities regulation).

July 29, 2011
Summit Law Group Recognized as a Top Washington Law Firm
Summit Law Group ranked 8th in Puget Sound Business Journal's survey regarding Washington's most respected law firm brands.

June 28, 2011
Seattle’s Ordinance Enforcing Yellow Pages Opt-Outs Held Constitutional
U.S. District Court Judge James L. Robart has rejected the yellow pages industry’s First Amendment and Commerce Clause challenges to Seattle’s ordinance enforcing resident do-not-deliver directives. The ordinance is the first of its kind in the nation. On June 28, 2011, Judge Robart ruled that yellow pages are commercial speech. He concluded that the City of Seattle’s opt-out ordinance is a constitutional means of ensuring that yellow pages are not delivered to Seattle residents against their wishes. The law properly protects resident privacy rights and avoids the environmental burden to the City of collecting and recycling unwanted yellow pages. The City of Seattle is represented by Jessica Goldman, Denise Ashbaugh and Molly Terwilliger of Summit Law Group.

June 20, 2011
Eleven Summit Attorneys Named 2011 “Super Lawyers”
The Washington Law & Politics magazine has recognized eleven Summit Law Group members as 2011 Super Lawyers. The Summit lawyers recognized are: Mike Bolasina (labor and employment), John Chun (labor and employment), Mike Erickson (corporate), Jessica Goldman (litigation), Otto Klein (labor and employment), Phil McCune (litigation), Polly McNeill (administrative law), Ralph Palumbo (litigation), Bruce Schroeder (labor and employment)¸ Mike Thorp (environmental), and Mark Worthington (corporate). In addition, John Chun, Phil McCune, and Ralph Palumbo were named among the top 100 lawyers, in total points, in the 2011 nomination, research, and blue ribbon review process.

June 20, 2011
Three Summit Attorneys Named 2011 “Rising Stars”
The Washington Law & Politics magazine has recognized three Summit Law Group members as 2011 Rising Stars. The Summit lawyers recognized are: Denise Ashbaugh (litigation/labor and employment), Maureen Mitchell (environmental), and Molly Terwilliger (litigation).

June 7, 2011
Bolasina and Osborne Join Summit Law Group
Summit Law Group announces the addition of two new attorneys to the firm, Michael C. Bolasina and Scott B. Osborne. Summit Law Group is an innovative and non-traditional law firm providing employment, labor, corporate, real estate and environmental legal advice, as well as exceptional litigation services, to public entities and private sector customers in a broad cross-section of industries.

“Summit Law Group was founded on the commitment to providing remarkable service to its clients,” says Rod Younker, managing member. “We are excited to welcome two attorneys to our team who share that commitment and who have great depth of experience and expertise.”

Michael C. Bolasina. Bolasina joins Summit as a member of the Labor/Employment Practice Group, where his practice primarily focuses on employment law for government and private employers. He defends employment-related litigation, consults on employment issues, conducts trainings on a variety of topics and performs investigations. Mike also represents churches and other not-for profit organizations in tort-related litigation. Prior to joining Summit, Mike served as a Shareholder at Stafford Frey Cooper. He earned his J.D. in 1989 from New York University School of Law, and his A.B., with high honors, from University of Michigan in 1986.

Scott B. Osborne. Osborne joins Summit as a member of the Real Estate Practice Group. He specializes in counseling real estate developers, investors, landlords, tenants and lenders in transactions involving all types of commercial real estate, including office buildings, hotels, shopping centers and multi-family projects. Osborne has more than 35 years of experience in real estate and finance law, most recently with the law firm of K & L Gates. He earned his J.D. in 1975 from the University of Washington School of Law, and his B.A. from Yale University in 1971.

May 9, 2011
Summit Prevails in Key First Amendment Case on Behalf of the City of Seattle
Judge James Robart of the District Court for the Western District of Washington denied a motion for preliminary injunction by yellow pages publishers in a landmark case brought against the City of Seattle. The Court agreed with the City that yellow pages are commercial speech and are not akin to newspapers and other noncommercial speech. The Court held that Seattle’s ordinance requiring the permitting of yellow pages distributors, a licensing fee, and compliance with a citizen opt-out system satisfied the intermediate First Amendment scrutiny applicable to commercial speech. The full decision is available here. The City of Seattle is represented by Jessica Goldman, Denise Ashbaugh, Molly Terwilliger, Deanna Schow and Liz Rasmussen.

May 6, 2011
Summit Sponsors Annual Minority Bar Association Executive Board Reception
For the fifth year, Summit was pleased to be the host and lead sponsor of the Minority Bar Association Executive Board Reception which brought together representatives of each of the state’s 15 minority bar associations, WSBA President Steve O’Toole, and other bar leaders.

May 5, 2011
Summit Sponsors Successful Childhaven Luncheon
Summit was pleased to sponsor Childhaven’s annual luncheon. Childhaven provides therapeutic care to abused and neglected children ages 0-5. Seven hundred community members attended the luncheon which raised $340,000 to support Childhaven’s work. Summit member Marta Lowe serves as corporate secretary for Childhaven and spoke at the luncheon.

April 12, 2011
Summit Lawyer Featured in Super Lawyers
Summit member John Chun’s successful litigation practice was again profiled in Super Lawyers in an article entitled “Summit of Success.”

January 24, 2011
Summit Prevails in Lawsuit Using Anti-SLAPP Law
Summit Law Group clients, two paramedic firefighters, were sued by a coworker, who claimed harassment, defamation, and tortious interference with business relationships. The lawsuit was brought in King County Superior Court and then removed to the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. Through a motion to strike and dismiss, which included arguments under the Washington Anti-SLAPP law, our clients obtained dismissal of all the claims and were awarded $10,000 each for statutory penalties. Click here for the ruling. In addition, the Court awarded 100% of Summit’s fees sought in connection with the motion. Summit’s team in the litigation included John Chun and Sofia Mabee.

January 20, 2011
Summit Practice Groups Receive Corporate Intl Magazine Awards
For 2010, Corporate Intl Magazine has chosen Summit as Corporate Law Firm of the Year in Washington, Employment/Labor Law Firm of the Year in Washington, and Litigation Advisory Firm of the Year in Washington.