Top Best Family Lawyers | 21033 Available

Shannon Montoure is a Whatcom County native who has been practicing family law for ten years. For the past six years, her practice has been limited to Collaborative Divorce. Shannon has been actively promoting collaborative law in Whatcom and Skagit counties and is currently vice-president of Whatcom Collaborative Professionals.

Sands is the founder of McKinley Irvin. Together with his partners, he has built a firm of outstanding lawyers, staff, and service delivery models – all focused on delivering personalized client service and excellent legal results in every client relationship.. Sands began practicing law in 1991. In 1999, he retired from active law practice to focus on the firm’s strategic plan, growth, and developing a strong management team. Since that time, McKinley Irvin has established itself as the largest family law firm in the Pacific Northwest, and one of the largest in the U.S. More importantly, McKinley Irvin has distinguished itself by the quality of its lawyers, and by the high level of service and results provided to clients.. In 2020, the firm’s co-founder, Rita Herrera Irvin, replaced Sands and now leads the firm. Sands now focuses his time pursuing opportunities to help solve problems for law firms and their clients.

Ambere Adkins has been employed in the legal field for over a decade with the majority of her time focused on domestic relations. She is licensed in the state of Arkansas as well as Washington. She is also a certified Attorney Ad Litem.. Ambere has a passion for helping her clients achieve peace and comfort following the uncertainty and stress of litigation. She is dedicated to achieving a favorable result for all of her clients and is careful to consider all angles of a case in order to anticipate any future needs or issues that may arise post-litigation. Ambere has experience in all aspects of family law and prioritizes providing her clients with a detailed and empathetic approach to resolving their case.. When she is not working, Ambere enjoys spending time with her family. Ambere is also a member of multiple nonprofit organizations and holds multiple positions at her local church. Ambere has a passion for animal rescue and assisting those in need in her community. She prioritizes making a positive difference in the world around her.

I am an Associate Attorney at Reed Longyear Malnati Corwin Burnett, LLP. My practice focuses primarly on family law and civil litigation, including contract disputes. I also manage trademarks and have resolved many beverage law disputes. I appoach each case with diligence and professionalism, and I treat my clients with kindness and compassion. I understand that my clients are are trusting me with their unique life experiences, often during a very traumatic time. I begin each matter with the goal of obtaining an amicable and swift resolution for my client, but and an experienced litigator and prepared to advocate for my clients in court. I have managed numerous complex litigation cases in both family and contract law and has established a beverage law practice, assisting local distributors and suppliers with various issues, from defending statutory protections to negotiating contracts.. When I am not advocating for my clients, I like to hike, camp, longboard or garden when the weather permits. During the colder months I like to spend my days at home with my family, preferably by a warm fire with a great cup of coffee.

Ellery Johannessen is the owner of Johannessen Law, PLLC. His practice focuses on all manner of domestic relations and general civil litigation from pleading through trial. Ellery attended the University of Baltimore School of Law where he honed his advocacy skills by participating in moot court for all three years, interning for an associate judge on Maryland’s highest court, and participating in the school’s appellate advocacy clinic by representing the state in a criminal appeal. Ellery graduated magna cum laude in 2013 after earning an array of advocacy awards and leading the University of Baltimore to a nationwide 5th place finish in the National Moot Court Competition in New York City.. After law school, Ellery represented national banking institutions in foreclosure, collection, and related collateral litigation at both the state and federal level. The work further honed Ellery’s litigation abilities with court appearances three to four days per week, every week. Ellery also managed the firm’s FDCPA compliance and evictions department. He then shifted to a general civil litigation firm in the busy suburbs of Washington DC, practicing primarily family and foreclosure defense law. His practice ranged from amicable divorces of parents who get along to high conflict parties who were prepared to walk away from large property settlements over an emotional attachment to a small piece of personal property, and from basic products liability cases involving a malfunctioning electric car to bizarre intellectual property theft claims running on parallel tracks in both state and federal court. Ellery successfully defended homeowners against flawed foreclosures and helped them to modify their mortgages and keep them in their homes. He obtained protection orders against domestic abusers, as well as defended against frivolous cases brought by disaffected former partners and family members. Ellery has obtained sizeable settlements against national lending institutions for violations of federal banking statutes and equal credit opportunity laws. He has also successfully resolved disputes, real property disputes, construction defect claims, and cases across host of other disciplines. Since relocating to Washington from Maryland, Ellery has focused exclusively on family law.. Ellery is an east coast native and transplant to the PNW. He comes from a large, blended family. He is the oldest of four, with a younger sister who is close in age and twin half-brothers who are 23 years his junior. Ellery took an unusual route to the practice of law, jumping straight into the work force after high school. But after losing his “dream” job as a police officer in 2009, Ellery shifted his focus back to academics and completed his undergraduate degree in psychology and entered law school, where he excelled.. After marrying his far better half, they resolved to make a big move west. Ellery had always been drawn to this part of the country, having spent his childhood visiting his extended family on Vashon Island. Ellery’s wife is an Idaho native who also had a strong urge to return to the west. Ellery and his wife made the move in the summer of 2019 and welcomed their first child in December of that year.

Peyton Healy is a former Parent's Defense Attorney, where she worked to assist and reunify families following intervention from the Department of Children and Youth Services. In the course of her work representing parents in dependency proceedings, Peyton showed an appreciation for the dynamics that influence family law decisions.. Prior to working as a Parent's Defense Attorney, Peyton worked with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Additionally, while in law school, Peyton worked for the Tulalip Tribal Court. Throughout her legal career and education, Peyton improved the lives of her clients by arguing the law in their favor. Peyton understands the value of providing her clients with clear, direct, and timely counsel. Regardless of their issues, Peyton is committed to working with them to provide the best resolution.. During her free time Peyton is fond of climbing boulders, traveling and spending time with her animals. As a Midwest transplant, when not working on client's cases, she re-locates to the nearest wide open space to enjoy nature.