Top best Estate Lawyers in Seattle | 955 available

Alexa Cancilla is an Associate Attorney at Dellino Family Law Group. She is committed to guiding her clients through the complexities of the divorce process with empathy and compassion. Alexa understands that the legal proceedings can be daunting, particularly for families with children, and she strives to be a supportive and forward-thinking advocate for each client. Her detail-oriented approach ensures that the resolutions she helps clients reach will positively impact their families for years to come. Alexa is dedicated to protecting her client’s best interests and believes in diligently advocating on behalf of each client to achieve the best possible outcome.. My Approach. I understand that the divorce process is complex and often leads to feelings of uncertainty for parents and children. It is my goal to help my clients feel grounded throughout the legal process by being a compassionate and empathetic advocate for each of my clients. Having focused on many cases that involve children, I know how important it is to be forward thinking and detail oriented when helping clients reach a resolution that will have a lasting impact on their family.. Background. I am an Arizona native and moved to Washington in 2018, happy to trade the desert heat for the ocean breeze. Outside of the office, you can find me reading, spending time near the water, exploring my creative side by crafting soaps, blending teas, and bookbinding.. Education. J.D., Seattle University School of LawB.A., Arizona State University, Management EntrepreneurshipProfessional Associations & Affiliations. Washington State Bar Association, Family Law Section

Alex's practice focuses on civil litigation involving a wide range of subject matters. He has represented national, regional, and local financial institutions in commercial litigation, real estate litigation, and bankruptcy cases. He has also represented businesses and individuals in disputes involving contracts, insurance, investments, loans, leases, real estate, employment, and enforcement of judgments. Before attending law school and joining HCMP, Alex worked in the biotechnology industry as an entrepreneur and research scientist working on computational biology, bioinformatics, pharmaceutical target discovery, and development of biological threat detection devices for defense and national security applications.

Al Wallace is a Member in the Seattle office and leads Williams Kastner’s Land Use practice area. Mr. Wallace focuses his practice on Real Estate Development, Land Use, and Environmental Law. He has vast experience in obtaining entitlements for residential, commercial, industrial developments, and mineral resource projects. He complements his land use practice with prior experience as a practicing urban planner for the cities of Redmond, Mercer Island and Tacoma.

After over a decade as a litigator with the State of Washington and one of the top 100 largest law firms in the United States, Michael G. Ballnik joined Phinney Estate Law as a partner in 2009.  While he excelled as a litigator, Michael made the move to an estate planning practice in order to use his extensive legal background for the benefit of individuals, families, and small businesses and to spend more time with his own wife and daughter.. At Phinney Estate Law, Michael serves as the Complex Drafting Partner.  In this position, he utilizes the skills he developed while interpreting and drafting complex insurance agreements and settlement documents for large commercial entities to draft trust agreements and other complex estate planning vehicles for Phinney Estate Law clients.. Michael joined the Seattle office of international law firm Cozen O’Connor as a litigation associate in October of 2001, and was promoted to partner in 2004.  Michael was named a 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008 Rising Star attorney by Washington Law & Politics magazine.  Michael received a Pro Bono Publico Service Commendation from the Washington State Bar Association in 2004.  Along with the Seattle office of Cozen O’Connor, Michael also received the 2005 Amicus Award from the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project due to ongoing pro bono efforts on behalf of immigration and asylum clients.Prior to working at Cozen O’Connor, Michael served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington.  In that capacity, he represented the Washington Department of Corrections in civil litigation and appeals and argued before the Washington Court of Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Michael received his bachelor of arts degree in Criminology from the University of Manitoba in 1993 and earned his law degree, with distinction, from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1997, where he was a member of the North Dakota Law Review.. When not working or spending time with family, Michael is an avid hockey player and fan.

After being in private practice for 6.5 years, Lisa W. Gafken has returned to the Washington Attorney General's Office, where she began her career in 2001. Her initial assignment with the AGO was with the Utilities and Transportation Commission Division, where she spent four years representing Commission Staff in rate proceedings, telecom proceedings, and compliance proceedings.  In addition, Ms. Gafken represented the Commission in court proceedings to enforce Commission orders. She left the AGO in 2005 to enter private practice.  During her time in private practice, Ms. Gafken focused on litigating trust and estate matters under TEDRA, protecting vulnerable adults under Chapter 74.34 RCW, and representing clients in both contested and uncontested probate and guardianship matters. She began as an associate attorney, and then opened a law firm with a partner.. Ms. Gafken returned to the AGO in April 2012, and now serves as an Assistant Attorney General in the Public Counsel Section, where she represents customers of investor-owned utilities in proceedings before the Utilities and Transportation Commission.. She is a member of the Washington State Bar Association.  Ms. Gafken served as a board member of MAMA Seattle, the Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle, from 2008 to 2014. In addition, she was a founding member of the Lawyers Fostering Independence team, a group of lawyers offering legal assistance to foster children aging out of the foster care system, and she served as a board member for a nonprofit child care center.. Ms. Gafken obtained her Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Politics and Government (political science) from the University of Puget Sound.  She graduated cum laude from Seattle University School of Law in 2001.

A practicing lawyer for 24 years, Ron handles a broad range of real estate and general business transactions for both individuals and institutions.. In the real estate area, Ron regularly represents purchasers, sellers, developers, landlords, tenants and lenders in commercial real estate transactions. He has extensive experience counseling clients on site acquisition, entity selection, financing, construction, leasing and re-sale. He frequently advises clients in connection with real estate with known or suspected environmental risks, including allocating environmental risk among buyers and sellers. Ron has handled transactions involving retail, office, industrial, multifamily, and mixed use projects, including condominium developments and conversions.. In the business area, Ron handles the full spectrum of corporate and business transactions, including asset and equity transfers, entity structure (including joint venture structuring and financing in the real property development context) and governance. He has lived, studied, and worked in Japan; traveled extensively in Asia; and represented a number of Asian investors with U.S. business interests.. Ron’s achievements have been recognized by Super Lawyers® magazine, which has named him as a Super Lawyer® each year from 2004-2015. This is a designation reserved for fewer than five percent of all lawyers in Washington State. Ron was named as a Top 40 Real Estate Super Lawyer® from 2007 through 2012 and has received the AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbel Law Directory.

A big issue in law and technology right now is client confidentiality:. I take all precautionary measures to protect confidences, and at the same ensure that the client's hardship is clearly outlined to the opposing side.  While being guarded, the client's story must be told to make it known that he/she deserves an award of monetary or other relief.  This is how I achieve cost-efficient results and resolution of  casework in any forum.

A 1994 graduate from the University of Montana School of Law, and a recipient of a Masters of Law in Taxation from the University of Washington School of Law, Derek has 14 years of experience practicing law in Washington State. He enjoys helping people achieve their estate planning goals. He resides in Seattle with his wife and three daughters.