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NEWS
April 25, 2008
Summit’s Ralph Palumbo Co-Chairs Seattle University School of Law Gala Event
Ralph Palumbo and his wife Marlys Palumbo are co-chairs of the Seattle University School of Law’s 35th anniversary gala celebration. The event will take place at Benaroya Hall with a concert directed by Maestro Gerard Schwarz of the Seattle Symphony and narrated by actor and playwright Anna Deavere Smith. Summit Law Group is pleased to be a gold sponsor of this celebration. [Event Invitation]
April 24, 2008
Summit Welcomes a New Legal Assistant
Kay Bradford joins Summit’s labor and employment practice group. Kay has an AA degree in paralegal studies and many years of experience as both a paralegal and as a legal assistant, including time at both Perkins Coie and Boeing.
April 16, 2008
Summit’s Employment Law Update
New state and federal laws affecting employers’ leave obligations for military personnel and their families are explained in the labor and employment group’s regular update. [Read]
April 7, 2008
Litigation Paralegal Returns to Summit
Liz Rasmussen rejoins us today as a Paralegal in the litigation practice group. Liz was most recently working as a litigation paralegal at Keller Rohrback LLP.
April 1, 2008
Summit Announces a New Member
Chad Mitchell joins Summit as a new member in the litigation practice group. Chad was formerly with the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis. Chad will be situated in our new Tri-Cities office at 1020 North Center Parkway, Suite 109, Kennewick, Washington 99336, (509) 735-5053.
March 27, 2008
Summit is Recognized as a Go-To Firm for Startups
In the article “Inside Entrepreneurship: Use Care When You Seek Out Legal Help,” by Susan Schreter in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Summit Law Group is recognized as one of the few firms in the area that provides “excellent legal services to young companies” and is “very approachable from a startup entrepreneur’s perspective.”
March 20, 2008
Summit’s Accounting Manager Receives Volunteer of the Year Award
Congratulations to Richard Wood, Summit’s accounting manager, for being awarded “Volunteer of the Year” by the Puget Sound Association of Legal Administrators. Richard has spent many, many hours doing volunteer work for the ALA, and the members all raved about him at the awards ceremony. |
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March 8, 2008
Ralph Palumbo Is Inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers
Ralph has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in America. Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. Fellowship in the College is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of fifteen years trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship. [Press Release]
March 3, 2008
A New Legal Assistants Join Summit Law Group
Adina Davis joins Summit as a legal assistant in the labor and employment group. Prior to joining Summit, Adina worked at Lee Smart Cook Martin & Patterson, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and Graham & Dunn.
February 1, 2008
Summit Is Honored to Receive the 2008 Promise Award
Summit Law Group was honored to receive the Children’s Home Society 2008 Promise Award. Otto Klein (who sits on the Board) and Kristin Anger donated many hours of pro bono work on behalf of this worthy nonprofit organization.
January 28, 2008
Summit Featured at Northwest Next Leaders Council Luncheon
Summit member John Chun discussed the business of Summit Law Group at the Northwest Next Leaders Council Luncheon. Audience members included recipients of the Puget Sound Business Journal's "40 Under 40" Award and their guests. Chun's presentation focused on Summit's innovative and nontraditional business model. The event took place at the Columbia Tower Club. (Event Flyer)
January 15, 2008
Summit Is Recognized as One of the Go-To Firms for Startups
In the article “Ultimate Guide for Seattle Entrepreneurs to Get Their Idea Off the Ground,” by Marcelo Calbucci in Seattle 2.0 Blog, Summit Law Group is recognized as one of the top law firms assisting startup companies.
January 2008
Summit Clients Nominated for WSA Industry Achievement Awards
Summit Law Group is pleased to announce that Summit clients Ramp Technology Group, LLC and Formotus, Inc. are finalists for the upcoming 2008 WSA Industry Achievement Awards, to be presented at a gala event on February 7, 2008. Ramp, which develops and implements technology solutions to address complex client needs and initiatives across diverse industries, is a finalist for Service Provider of the Year. Formotus's products and services, which leverage the Microsoft Office platform and enable non-technical workers to create, deploy and manage applications for their wireless mobile devices that integrate with existing enterprise systems using standards-based Web services, have been nominated for Business Product of the Year. We congratulate both Ramp and Formotus on their tremendous accomplishments.
December 1, 2007
Linda Swanson Joins Summit Law Group
Linda Swanson has joined Summit Law Group’s labor and employment group as a Compensation Analyst. Linda recently retired as an Human Resource Analyst with the City of Longview after a long and successful career, with extensive experience doing wage surveys, comparable analysis, and exhibit preparation for interest arbitration and bargaining. She is available to assist clients in such areas, particularly those who are so swamped with other work that taking the time to do comparable analysis and exhibit preparation takes a “back seat” to other work. Linda can be contacted by calling any of the labor and employment attorneys or by contacting her directly at lindas@summitlaw.com.
December 6, 2007
Summit Attorney Is Tapped to Advise Those Awaiting the Issue of Patents
In her article, “Inside Entrepreneurship: Take Steps to Protect Patent Filings,” in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Susan Schreter turned to Summit attorney Cy Hersch for advice regarding how those awaiting the issuance of a patent can protect their intellectual property rights.
December 4, 2007
Two Summit Lawyers Are Selected 2008 “Rising Stars”
The Washington Law & Politics magazine has selected two Summit lawyers as 2008 Rising Stars. Rising Stars represent the best Washington attorneys who are 40 or under as voted on by the state’s most experienced and well-regarded senior attorneys. Summit’s Denise Ashbaugh (labor & employment/litigation) and Beth Kennar (labor & employment) were honored.
December 2007
Summit’s Innovative Business Model Helps Retain Excellent Women Lawyers
The article “Changing How Law Firms Do Business,” by Jessica Goldman in the Bar Bulletin of the King County Bar Association, explores the ready rewards to law firms like Summit Law Group, their clients and their lawyers from permitting lawyers to work balanced-hours schedules.
November 16, 2007
Summit Welcomes New Member Maureen Mitchell
Maureen Mitchell has joined Summit’s environmental and litigation practice groups. Maureen earned a B.A. degree from Smith College in 1995 and her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 2000. She was Executive Articles Editor for the Pacific Rim Law & Policy Journal.
November 2007
Summit’s Labor Group Publishes Washington State Public Employer Overtime Guide
Summit attorneys Beth Kennar and Bruce Schroeder released the 2007 edition of the Washington State Public Employer Overtime Guide for the Association of Washington Cities. In conjunction with the publication, Bruce conducted two all-day classes for public employers from throughout Washington on “The FLSA—Understanding Public Sector Overtime Laws.” The classes took place on October 23 in Ellensburg, Washington and on October 24 at Seatac, Washington.
September 20, 2007
Summit Attorney Is Selected as Finalist for 2007 E-Philanthropy Award
For the second year in a row, the Alliance for International Women’s Rights, a nonprofit organization founded and directed by Summit attorney Lisa Herb, was selected as a finalist for the International ePhilanthropy Award. The Alliance received “Honored Finalist” in the category of “Best Community Building/Volunteerism.” The International ePhilanthropy Award is an annual award sponsored by the ePhilanthropy Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. The Foundation helps nonprofit organizations learn to utilize the best internet practices and services to aid in their philanthropic endeavors.
September 14, 2007
Summit Hosts Annual Reception for the Boards of the Minority and Ethnic Bar Associations
Summit was honored again this year to host a reception for the minority and ethnic bar association board members. Board members were offered a rare opportunity to meet and mingle with each other in an informal gathering. Invitations were extended to the Asian Bar Association, the Cardozo Society, the Filipino-American Legal Association, Q Law, the Korean-American Bar Association, the Latina/o Bar Association, the Loren Miller Bar Association, MAMAS, the Northwest Indian Bar Association, the Pierce County Minority Bar Association, the South Asian Bar Association, the Vietnamese American Bar Association, the Washington Association of Attorneys with Disabilities, the Washington Women Lawyers, and the King County Washington Women Lawyers. Good food, plenty of libations, and lively conversations made for a lovely summer evening at Summit. This was the second annual event and Summit intends to continue the tradition in September of each year. [Invitation]
September 12, 2007
Eight Summit Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America 2008
Summit lawyers Mike Erickson (corporate), Jessica Goldman (First Amendment), David Heineck (environmental), Otto Klein (labor and employment), Polly McNeill (environmental), Ralph Palumbo (environmental), Bruce Schroeder (labor and employment), and Mark Worthington (corporate) have been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2008, published by Woodward/White (www.bestlawyers.com). Ralph Palumbo and Otto Klein were specially recognized for having been listed for at least 10 years.
September 2007
Summit Attorney Recognized by the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs
The State of Washington Department of Veterans Affairs recognized Summit lawyer Rod Younker for his “exceptional performance” as an instructor at the Veteran Administration’s recent Supervisory Essentials Training program.
August 24, 2007
Summit’s Innovative Use of Office Space Featured in The Puget Sound Business Journal
In the article “Design: Firms Try Nontraditional Style to Improve Culture,” by Katie Stapleton-Paff, The PSBJ highlights Summit Law Group’s effective use of its office space to foster client service and effective team building.
August 24, 2007
The Puget Sound Business Journal Explores Summit’s Unique Fee Model
In “Fees: Attorneys Offering Clients Options to Billable Hours,” by Deirdre Gregg, The PSBJ reports on Summit Law Group’s novel approach to fee and billing arrangements.
July 1, 2007
Summit's Commitment to the Community
Summit Law Group was the challenging law firm in Food Lifeline's Food Frenzy, a competition among King County law firms from July 13-30, 2007 to raise funds for Food Lifeline. Food Lifeline is an organization that supplies food to the food banks of Western Washington. One hundred percent of Summit's attorneys and staff contributed to raising $10,000 for Food Lifeline through a silent auction and other activities. |
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June 28, 2007
Summit Wins Summary Judgment in Employment Litigation.
Summit represented a public agency in litigation in the Eastern District of Washington in which the plaintiff, a current employee, asserted four causes of action: wrongful retaliation in violation of public policy, defamation, false light tort, and a Section 1983 claim for deprivation of his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. In response to the agency’s summary judgment motion, the plaintiff abandoned all claims except his claim that he was deprived of his rights under the First Amendment. The federal court dismissed the remaining claim, agreeing with the employer “that Plaintiff’s exercise of his free speech rights interfered with the efficient operation of the agency that employed him.” [Read decision]
June 20, 2007
Summit Wins Appeal in Breach of Contract Case
Summit clients Hospitality First, Inc., and Cascade Hospitality LLC, both hotel companies, were sued by their airport shuttle service for breach of contract. In 2006, the case went to trial in King County Superior Court, where the hotels prevailed and were awarded attorney fees and costs. The plaintiff appealed the judgment to the Court of Appeals but did not post security. The hotels used the judgment in their favor to execute on the plaintiff’s claims, purchased the claims at a sheriff’s sale, and arranged for the dismissal of plaintiff’s appeal. At both the trial court and appellate levels, the plaintiff argued that the hotels could not engage in this tactic, and the hotels prevailed at each step. At one point, the plaintiff filed a motion for the appellate court to enjoin the sheriff’s sale. In a five-page decision, a court commissioner denied the motion and explained why the hotels should be allowed to execute on the claims against them. Summit’s team included John Chun, Denise Ashbaugh, and Maureen Mitchell. [Read decision]
June 8, 2007
Summit Co-Sponsors Diversity Conference
Summit co-sponsored the Annual Statewide Diversity Conference Planning Committee which addresses and supports diversity in Washington's legal profession.
June 1, 2007
Seven Summit Lawyers Named 2007 Super Lawyers
The Washington Law & Politics magazine has chosen seven Summit Law Group members as 2007 Super Lawyers. The Summit lawyers honored are Charlie Carter (corporate), John Chun (labor and employment), Mike Erickson (corporate), Otto Klein (labor and employment), Phil McCune (litigation), Ralph Palumbo (litigation) and Mark Worthington (corporate). John was the subject of a featured article entitled The Friendly Foe.
June 1, 2007
Germany and SIFF Come to Summit
Summit opened its Dot Lounge to the Consulate General of Germany, Karsten Tietz, for a reception held in honor of the German-nominated films and actors playing at the Seattle International Film Festival. Along with the excellent camaraderie of folks from the Pacific Northwest German community, we were treated to authentic German beers, bratwurst and pretzels. Sehr gut!
May 22, 2007
Polly McNeill Receives 2007 Service Recognition Award |
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Polly McNeill received the Service Recognition Award from the University of Washington School of Law at the annual Alumni Recognition Banquet at the Fairmont Hotel. Dean W.H. “Joe” Knight presented Polly with the award on behalf of the Alumni Association Board of Trustees in honor of her years of service as President of the Alumni Association and member of the Law School Foundation, and as a volunteer for student and alumni activities. The Service Recognition Award was created in 1973 as a means of recognizing alumni for contributing actively toward the welfare of the Law School and its students. |
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Back Row L-R: Marc Reynolds, Chris Brown, Richard Wood, Larry Locker, Phil McCune, Jessica Goldman, Mike Erickson, Kristin Anger, Jamie Evans; Front Row L-R: John Chun, David McNeill, Polly McNeill, Shannon Phillips |
May 21, 2007
Summit Welcomes New Member James D Evans
James D. (Jamie) Evans joins Summit as the newest member of the Corporate & Securities practice group. Jamie earned a B.A. degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, and received his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall). Jamie started his legal career at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in Palo Alto and then moved to the Seattle office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati.
May 18, 2007
Summit Law Group Receives Praise From Loren Miller Bar Association
At the Loren Miller Bar Foundation Scholarship Dinner, Summit Law Group received public appreciation from outgoing President Richard Mitchell for its generosity. Over the past year, Summit has been pleased to donate executive assistant resources and make available the use of its conference rooms, some snacks and beverages, and maybe a little toner and copy paper to the local minority bar association for its monthly Executive Board meetings.
May 17-18, 2007
Summit’s Labor and Employment Lawyers Speak at Annual LRI
Summit’s Labor and Employment Group attorneys were the featured speakers at the Association of Washington Cities' annual Labor Relations Institute held in Yakima. Presentations included:
May 3, 2007
Summit Law Group Featured in The Complete Lawyer
Summit’s outside-the-box approach to client service is highlighted in an article entitled Use Appreciative Intelligence to Work Smarter.
May 2, 2007
Summit Law Group Featured in The Wall Street Journal Law Blog
Summit’s creative and rational approach to billing arrangements is admired in a posting entitled The Billable Hour: Still the Lead Dog, But Gaining Competition
May 1, 2007
Six Summit Lawyers Are Selected as Best Lawyers 2007
The Seattle Metropolitan magazine has selected six Summit Law Group members as Best Lawyers 2007. The Summit Lawyers honored are Mike Erickson (corporate), Mark Worthington (corporate), Polly McNeill (environmental), Ralph Palumbo (environmental), Otto Klein (labor and employment) and Bruce Schroeder (labor and employment).
May 2007
Summit Client Nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Summit Law Group is pleased to announce that Shaun Botha, founder and Chief Technology Office for Summit client Twisted Pair Solutions, Inc., is a finalist for the upcoming 2007 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, to be presented at a gala event honoring prominent movers in the local entrepreneurial community. Twisted Pair Solutions designs and builds enterprise software solutions that power interoperable group communications. The company’s WAVE™ software technology enables and manages real-time, secure, group communications over the IP network, linking in people and devices. We congratulate Shaun on his leadership and accomplishments in creating a world-class business in the Pacific Northwest. |
