- DivorceAt Helsell Fetterman we understand the highly personal decisions you face when divorcing your spouse; when making decisions affecting custody, visitation and support of your children; or when bringing your family together through adoption. We guide and support you through these complex and difficult decisions, helping you to make the right choices and protecting your interests from unfair overreaching.
- Child SupportMatters Involving Children – Child Support, Parenting Plans, Custody and Parentage, Visitation, Modifications, Relocations, Guardians ad litem, as well as Adoptions including Single Parents and Same-Sex Partners.
- Child Custody and Visitation
- Adoption
- GuardianshipWe have years of experience and knowledge that we use to provide exceptional, personal service and insight to our clients involved in the health care industry. The breadth of our expertise covers all facets of licensing, hospital privileges, malpractice, risk management, patient guardianships, as well as the many employment, business and transactional issues faced in operating health care facilities.
- Spousal SupportOn December 20, 2017, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Act”), ushering in an extensive array of new tax laws. Among them were some fundamental changes to the characterization and treatment of alimony. General Rule and Effective Dates Until January 1, 2019. Currently, and until January 1, 2019, the […]
- Legal SeparationDivorce/Marital Dissolution and Legal Separation – Contested and Uncontested; Property Settlements including characterization and division of assets, businesses, stocks, and stock options; Separation Contracts and Property Agreements; and Spousal Support/Maintenance.
- Wrongful DeathWe have successfully defended insured and self-insured individuals and businesses for decades. Collectively the firm has handled thousands of personal injury cases. We have assisted clients with claims of wrongful death, birth injury, and other large claims.
- Sex Crimes
- Assault
- Restraining Order
- Mergers and AcquisitionsWe use our knowledge and experience to provide exceptional, personal service and insight to our clients involved in business transactions. The breadth of our experience covers business start-ups; financing; mergers and acquisitions; asset sales; and operational contracts such as dealer supply contracts, manufacturers’ representative agreements, intellectual property licenses, equipment and fixture lease agreements, professional service contracts, management agreements, and long-term purchase and supply contracts.
- Business DisputesFor decades we have successfully handled contract disputes, financing and securities litigation, business disputes, insurance disputes, lender liability, directors and officers liability, antitrust, intellectual property, creditor rights, trade secrets and non-competition agreements, and consumer protection.
- Business TransactionsAt Helsell Fetterman, we provide exceptional service to businesses and individuals in the areas of intellectual property protection, including trademarks, copyrights, licensing, corporate planning, and business transactions and contracts.
- Limited Liability CompaniesOne of Laura’s favorite projects is helping people achieve the dream of owning a business. She assists clients with the formation of limited liability companies, partnerships, S-corporations, and other suitable entities. Then she ensures those entities run efficiently by providing comprehensive operating agreements, and arranges for appropriate exit strategies to ensure a smooth succession to the next generation of owners.
- Intellectual PropertyIn the increasingly global modern economy, intellectual property (IP) is often a company’s greatest asset. It is also the key for a company differentiating itself in a competitive market. Intellectual property law includes patents (inventions and designs), trademarks (words and symbols used to identify the source and quality of goods or services and to establish brands), copyrights (creative rights in works such as literature, photographs, images, and videos), and trade secrets and proprietary information (from business secrets and customer lists to the recipe for a secret sauce). Helsell Fetterman’s attorneys can help you establish, protect, and sell or license your valuable intellectual property rights in order to achieve your business goals.
- Wrongful Termination
- Employment DiscriminationThrough a series of class actions and other lawsuits challenging underpayment of wages, employment discrimination, and unsafe working and living conditions, we have recovered millions of dollars and improved the overall working conditions of the men and women who go to sea on America’s fishing vessels and factory trawlers.
- Employment Contract
- Employment LitigationAt Helsell Fetterman we understand the issues you face when entering, managing, or terminating employment relationships. We guide you through the many trials and tribulations that can occur in the workplace and protect your important legal rights. We regularly represent employers, although we have also represented employees, which gives us unique and balanced insight that we apply to accomplish win-win solutions for difficult employment issues. When such solutions are not possible, we have plenty of experience representing clients in investigations conducted by government agencies such as the EEOC and in federal and state courts.
- Non-compete Agreement
- Severance Agreement
- Sexual HarassmentEffective June 7, 2018, and in direct response to the #metoo movement, the Washington State legislature passed RCW 49.44.210, a new law prohibiting employers from requiring their employees, as a condition of employment, to sign a nondisclosure agreement, waiver, or any other document that prevents the employees from disclosing workplace sexual harassment or sexual assault. […]
- Real Estate LitigationWe also handle private matters affecting property use or ownership including construction, boundary disputes, adverse possession, covenant disputes, and other issues involving homeowner associations. At our law firm, the same attorney involved in the initial planning stages of a project stays on the case through all administrative and judicial appeals, providing the highest level of service and commitment to the client.
- Construction LitigationWe have years of experience representing developers, general contractors and subcontractors in claims arising from the construction of commercial and residential buildings ranging from public works projects and high rise buildings to condominiums and single-family homes. Our particular focus is representing subcontractors against allegations of construction defects ranging from complex framing and foundation issues to moisture penetration claims involving roofs, cladding, decks, windows, doors and venting.
- Real Estate TransactionsWe provide comprehensive legal services to property owners and developers. In addition to our real estate transaction and land use practices, our attorneys are able to address legal issues involving environmental laws that arise in the course of buying, selling, owning or developing contaminated property. We assist you in assessing and mitigating risks as a buyer or seller and in responding to notices from regulators or claims from other property owners. In addition, we work through the cleanup process – from investigation to completion – and ensure that those responsible for funding the cleanup contribute their fair share.
- Eminent DomainWe also have extensive experience and legal expertise in land use planning, zoning, subdivision, permitting, water pollution, stormwater, wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas, water rights, transportation planning, and eminent domain (condemnation). We have represented all parties involved in land use matters—including landowners, businesses, municipalities, citizen groups, and homeowner associations—over the full range of regulatory and administrative issues that arise in the use of real property and development of private and public projects.
- Easement
- Land Use and ZoningSam Jacobs’ practice focuses on real estate and land use law with an emphasis on residential, mixed-use and infill development issues. He represents developers, housing cooperatives including floating home communities, condominiums and homeowner associations on matters of land use and municipal law matters. Additionally, he advises and represents clients on general real estate matters including negotiating and documenting real estate transactions.
- Personal InjuryAt Helsell Fetterman we understand the importance of having an experienced trial attorney handle the defense of a claim against you or your insured. If you face a claim for personal injury, insured or otherwise, we have the resources and expertise to guide you through all stages of the process, including insurance coverage, discovery, mediation, trial and appeal.
- Medical MalpracticeWe use our years of experience to provide you exceptional, personal service in your pursuit of compensation for severe injuries and death. The breadth of our experience covers motor vehicle accidents, toxic exposures, burn injuries, medical malpractice, aviation accidents, and boating accidents.
- Auto Accidents
- Estate PlanningAs the older generation passes its wealth to the next generation, many families find themselves tangled in estate disputes following the death of a loved one. Trust and Estate Litigation is an area of law which requires a very specific knowledge and understanding of statutory and case law, experience with general litigation principles, and the time and resources to effectively represent a client’s interests. At Helsell Fetterman, we have gone to significant lengths to assemble a top-notch team of attorneys to meet the growing demands for trust and estate litigation.
- WillsShea Fanelli has joined Helsell Fetterman — a Seattle-based law firm serving businesses, organizations, and individuals. Shea is part of the firm’s Trust and Estate Litigation practice group. At Helsell Fetterman, Shea’s practice will focus on assisting clients in matters involving will contests, trust disputes, fiduciary abuse, vulnerable adult protection actions and elder abuse. Prior […]
- TrustsWe are thrilled to announce that Kameron Kirkevold has been recognized as Best Lawyers’ 2023 Lawyer of the Year for Litigation – Trusts and Estates. Lawyer of the Year is awarded to the individual attorney with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region and only one attorney is recognized for […]
- Power of AttorneySean Peterson has joined Helsell Fetterman — a Seattle-based law firm serving businesses, organizations, and individuals. Sean is part of the firm’s Estate Planning and Probate and Taxation Groups. At Helsell Fetterman, Sean will help families and individuals achieve their estate planning goals by utilizing wills, trusts, healthcare & financial durable powers of attorney, and […]
- Probate
- BankruptcyOur team has extensive experience representing marine creditors in creating, enforcing and foreclosing maritime liens, including vendors’ liens and ship mortgages, through vessel arrest proceedings involving the United States Marshal. In turn, we will follow a vessel and its owner into bankruptcy where the unique worlds of maritime law and bankruptcy law converge.
- Foreclosure
- Tax Law