I was born in the Pacific Northwest and have lived here all my life. I have lived and worked in Clark County since 1996. I have been focused on Washington Family Law, and Clark County Court, and knowing the law, the process, and the people who practice in this county and that serve on the bench here.

My journey to becoming a lawyer is a little unusual. My bachelor’s degree was in Religious Studies, but after graduation I ended up being an IT guy in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. If you worked at HP at the time there is a good chance I fixed your computer at some point. I enjoyed ensuring that problems (even the most difficult ones) were resolved with excellent customer service and efficiency.

In 2007 I went back to my alma mater Willamette University for law school, commuting from Vancouver to Salem.

I worked several practice areas early in my law career, but for the last 6 years I have focused on family law. I find great meaning in being able to guide and advocate for clients through one of the most difficult times of their lives. For three and a half years I was a staff attorney for legal aid here in town and my cases there all involved allegations of domestic abuse. I have experience with safety issues and highly contested divorce and custody cases.

I don’t seek out unnecessary conflict in a case however. In fact, when the case and client calls for it, I enjoy finding creative ways to resolve a divorce or custody case through negotiation, collaboration and civil communication. Oftentimes one of the best ways to save time and money in your case can be to start by finding out what you and the other party do agree on, narrowing the issues can reduce the stress and cost and allows us to focus on the remaining things that you just can’t agree on and have to let the court decide.

I am a person who is naturally interested in many many things and I enjoy getting to know clients and making a plan that fits them and their history and goals. I hope to work with you and help you to move on to a better future.