Top best L Lawyers in ZIP 98124 | 30 available

Kris heads Costello Law Firm’s litigation practice and represents corporations, executives, business owners and professionals in highly regulated industries. Her practice focuses on complex civil litigation, complicated white collar defense, professional licensing defense, and civil and regulatory defense and compliance. Kris is a courtroom attorney with extensive litigation experience, having tried more than fifty cases to the bench and the jury. She has litigated hundreds of contested evidentiary matters and resolved hundreds of matters through motions practice and alternative dispute resolution.. Kris teaches trial advocacy at the University of Washington School of Law and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA). She leverages her 25 years of trial experience and 10 years as a teacher of trial advocacy for all the firm’s clients.. Kris graduated from Boston College in 1987 with a B.A. in History and received her J.D from Boston University School of Law in 1991. She was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1991 and worked as a King County Public Defender for seven years. She founded Costello & Associates in 1998. Kris is a member of the Federal Bar Association, Western District of Washington and is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Jim earned his undergraduate degree in Sociology, with a minor in Native American Studies, from Western Washington University in 1996.  Jim earned his law degree from Western State University College of Law in 2005, graduating summa cum laude and valedictorian of his class.. In 1994, Jim began volunteer and civilian service in law enforcement, serving as a Sheriff Explorer Cadet, Police Dispatcher, Juvenile Probation Tracker, Drug Task Force Office Assistant, and as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff.  In 1997, Jim began sworn service as Deputy Sheriff, Detective, and Field Training Officer for the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.  Jim also served for three years on his Union’s negotiations team and executive board, holding positions of Second Vice-President and Secretary.  After Jim’s best friend and fellow Deputy died in the line of duty, Jim left law enforcement in 2002 to pursue a career in labor law.  Just prior to law school, Jim served as a Volunteer Firefighter for his community in Sun City, CA.. In 2005, Jim began representing public safety labor unions in both Washington and California, serving as a panel attorney for PORAC's Legal Defense Fund, as well as an Associate Attorney and Labor Consultant with the law firms of Lackie, Dammeier, & McGill (Upland, CA) and Cline & Associates (Seattle, WA).  In 2007, Jim began representing police and fire management as a Labor Relations Manager for the Port of Seattle.  Having been on both the union and management sides of labor, Jim has handled administrative disciplinary matters from the initial interview through the appeals process, responded to officer-involved shootings and critical incidents, negotiated collective bargaining agreements, and represented clients during administrative hearings, grievance arbitrations, and unfair labor practices.  Jim has also provided training on the legal rights of public sector employees in disciplinary proceedings, collective bargaining, and officer-involved collisions.. From 2009 to 2012, Jim served as the Public Sector Coordinator and Director of Corrections & Law Enforcement, as well as a Staff Attorney, for Teamsters Local 117.  In January of 2012, Jim joined The Boeing Company as a Human Resources Investigations Manager for Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA).. In August of 2011, Jim began serving on the Advisory/Operations Board of Safe Call Now, a 24-hour crisis intervention and referral service for public safety employees and their families, and in December of 2012, was appointed as Vice-President.. Jim is admitted to practice law in both Washington State and California.  His professional memberships include:  Christian Legal Society, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs, Law Enforcement Alliance of America, and National Rifle Association.  Jim is married, has two daughters, and is active in his local church.

I an employment lawyer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I also serve as a judge pro temore (a temporary judge) on the Seattle Municipal Court. I am running for King County Superior Court Department 30 and will be on the ballot mailed to voters on October 14. I am running to bring a new and more inclusive voice to the court.

Assistant City Prosecutor, Seattle City Attorney’s Office, Criminal Division | LEAD | Familiar Faces