Gig Harbor Business Lawyers

Michael T. Smith advises individuals and companies of all types and sizes regarding the proper formation and structure of a business entity (corporation, limited liability company, etc.), their general business and corporate matters, issues related to the purchase or sale or lease of real property and transactions to purchase or sell their business. Michael also focuses his practice on assisting people prepare their estate plan, including wills, trusts, community property agreements, durable powers of attorney, health care directives, and helping families navigate and administer a loved one's estate in probate proceedings. Michael can also assist with guardianship proceedings for loved ones...

Shelly focuses her practice on employment law and litigation, commercial litigation, products liability, construction law, insurance defense and coverage, and appellate advocacy. She represents individuals and businesses in all aspects of commercial and employment disputes and especially enjoys working with clients to help them understand the legal process. Shelly prides herself on being a tough advocate for her clients and finding strategic and creative solutions in tough cases.

Shelly joined GTH in 2011. A graduate of the University of Washington School of Law, she began her legal career in Alaska, first serving as a judicial law clerk for...

Before earning her law degree, magna cum laude, from Gonzaga University School and joining GTH in 1991, Margaret Archer was a financial analyst for Westinghouse Hanford Company. She puts her business acumen and insight into the world of finance to good use in her position as Chair of our Board of Directors and in her practice areas of land use, real estate litigation and commercial litigation.

Andrea is a trial lawyer with an emphasis in business and employment litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants. She has successfully represented clients litigating shareholder, non-competition, and employment discrimination disputes, and obtained pre-trial injunctions. She has achieved jury verdicts enforcing her clients’ contract rights, represented clients in trust and estates disputes, and obtained protection for vulnerable adults. She also regularly represents clients in the areas of regulatory monitoring and advocacy, including extensive work in alcohol regulation and policy, and with Washington's Liquor and Cannabis Board.

Andrea joined GTH in 2005 after graduating from Seattle University School of Law,...

Ellis McGehee Carter is a distinguished attorney specializing in corporate and tax matters for nonprofit, tax-exempt, and mission-based businesses, alongside advising donors on major gifts. With a profound dedication to serving organizations that make a significant impact, Ms. Carter leverages her extensive experience in nonprofit governance, tax law, and business transactions to provide unparalleled legal guidance. Her expertise extends to navigating complex tax issues for exempt entities, ensuring they remain compliant while advancing their mission. Ms. Carter's adeptness in handling intricate business transactions for nonprofits is evident through her work on reorganizations, the creation of affiliates and subsidiaries, and facilitating mergers,...

Conor McCarthy is an experienced Real Estate and Estate Planning attorney, and has spent nearly 15 years helping his clients navigate and resolve complex transactions and disputes. Serving clients large and small, private and public, Conor prides himself on taking the time to listen and fully understand a client’s challenges and goals.

Conor began his career as a civil litigator zealously advocating in contract, construction, real estate, land use and commercial disputes. He then transitioned to become a skilled municipal and transactional attorney negotiating and closing complex commercial and real estate deals, and resolving difficult land use challenges. After managing...

Robert Dickson practices civil litigation, with a focus on issues related to business, real property and construction law. His clients are diverse, ranging from large corporations to residential homeowners. Recently, Mr. Dickson expanded his practice to include the representation of property owners in mediating their distressed property matters through the Foreclosure Fairness Act. Another element of Mr. Dickson's practice includes contributing to various legal publications. In particular, he serves as an editor and contributing author of the LexisNexis Practice Guide: Washington Real Estate Litigation (LexisNexis 2014) and a contributing author for the Washington Lawyers Practice Manual. At present,...

Clients value Erik for his sense of strategy, diplomacy and willingness to jump into the trenches with them to truly understand their actual legal needs.

Erik's practice areas include contract drafting; small/mid-size business counsel; general litigation including personal injury pre-litigation and trial work.

He is heavily involved on the front lines of the cannabis industry, having been introduced to the industry during the legalization phase in Colorado and following this up with providing business counsel to the top retailers and producer/processors in Washington State.

Erik has a long track record of pro-bono public legal service, gaining him recognition in both Colorado and...

Travis’ practice focuses primarily on business and real estate transactions, with an emphasis on entity formation, governance, and mergers and acquisitions. Travis believes that a good process is the best way to arrive at good results. Thus, before he can provide effective legal advice, he must first carefully listen to the client’s particular situation and understand exactly what the client both needs and wants. Only then can a comprehensive strategy be crafted to help resolve the client’s current legal needs but also allow the client to continue working towards the client’s aspirations. Travis’ practice gives him great satisfaction because he...

Although often I have a full case load, I will try to assist you in any way I can even if I can't take your case at the time you contact me.

For 23 years I have focused on tax, estate planning and business law. If you need tax planning, IRS representation, tax compliance advice, or estate planning and probate, I have the experience you are looking for. I practice in the U.S. Tax Court and represent clients directly with IRS. I enjoy working with individuals with tax representation and estate planning. I also have extensive experience in many aspects of commercial law, as a corporate counsel, in new business startup, and as a general accounting advisor. I am a partner at GSJones Law Group, P.S. in...

Thomas Balerud, after 17 years with the same firm, has opened his own law practice, located in downtown Tacoma. Tom is a graduate of both Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Puget Sound. Tom has enjoyed success in many well publicized high-profile State and Federal cases. He is currently serving as a Trustee to the TPCBA. Tom and his experienced staff are currently available to assist clients in his two practice areas: Criminal Law and Personal Injury.

For nearly a decade, Brad served as general counsel for Tacoma-based Associated Petroleum Products, Inc. In this capacity, he became an experienced advisor to directors, owners and senior managers in the petroleum distribution industry, dealing with the structuring, drafting and negotiating of corporate and commercial transactions, business and strategic initiatives, risk management, and litigation. After Associated Petroleum was acquired by Fortune 500 World Fuel Services, Inc., Brad continued to support both Associated Petroleum and World Fuel Services’ North America Land Division as senior counsel until joining GTH.

Brad focuses on business, commercial and transactional law at GTH, supporting the day-to-day...

I am a qualified securities attorney with over 33 years of experience representing and counseling reporting companies under the 1933 and 1934 Securities and Exchange Acts. My practice primarily focuses on serving as securities counsel, compliance counsel, and general counsel for corporate clients. I have extensive experience in preparing, completing, and filing Exchange Act reports with the SEC, ensuring timely and accurate compliance with all regulatory requirements. As compliance counsel, I develop, instruct, and monitor corporate insider trading policies, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance guidelines, and corporate ethics policies. In my role as general counsel, I advise companies on compliance with state corporate laws and...

Experience Matters!

Emigrating from Japan in 1981, I was thoroughly convinced that life in the USA offered the values and virtue I so desired. After deciding to make America my home, I was able to start a construction company by 1984. By 1986, I was building homes and since then I have been serving the company as president. I have been involved with hundreds of projects and have an extensive hands-on knowledge of construction methods, processes, and the full range of governmental issues that too often implicate today's builders. The company's main business has been land development and...