Raymond Municipal Lawyers

I seek to provide cost-effective and value-adding legal, government relations, and legislative advocacy services to businesses of/from all sizes and industries. Diverse and extensive areas of experience and interest that include administrative law and appeals, business law, consumer protection, higher and K-12 education policy, election law, employment law, legislation and public policy, litigation, local government and municipal law, real property law, tax law, trademark law, tribal law, and shipping and transportation law. My experience with state and local government entities includes various cities and counties as well as the Washington State Department(s) of Ecology, Employment Security (“ESD”), Financial Institutions, Human Rights...

For the past 30 years, she has represented businesses and individuals interfacing with the government; she helps businesses and individuals obtain all types of zoning and land use permits, assists individuals facing government compliance and penalty actions and represents individuals with property disputes about easements, boundaries and adverse possession. She also obtains licenses for all types of business enterprises. Ms. Koler frequently challenges arbitrary requirements associated with government compliance and land use permitting. See Guimont v. Clark, 121 Wn.2d 586 (Washington Supreme Court invalidated state law imposing mobile home relocation fee on developer); Berst v. Snohomish...

Geoff founded Seamark Law Group after 14 years at one of Seattle's premier mid-sized law firms. He has successfully tried multiple cases in federal and state courts, and he has represented municipalities at more than a dozen inquests into deaths arising from officer-involved shootings or other law-enforcement activities. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Virginia's School of Law. Prior to attending law school, Geoff was a Navy pilot who managed safety, flight-training, and aircraft-maintenance programs. He is particularly proud of his work defending police officers and also enjoys cases that involve scientific,...

Brad Meryhew is a highly respected and dedicated advocate who specializes in defending individuals facing accusations of sexual misconduct in both state and federal criminal courts in Washington. With a proven track record of success in jury trials, negotiations, and case dismissals, Brad has established himself as a prominent trial attorney in this challenging practice area. Moreover, his commitment extends beyond the courtroom, as he has played a pivotal role in driving improvements within the statewide sex offender management system through his advocacy for policy changes spanning fifteen years. Throughout his career, Brad has handled numerous high-profile cases, demonstrating his proficiency...

Scott Ellerby is a partner in the firm. His main areas of practice are real estate litigation, probate, trusts and estates litigation, municipal law, creditor-debtor law, commercial transactions and commercial litigation. He has lectured at numerous legal seminars over the past 25 years on topics in his practice areas, and has represented a wide range of private clients and public entities in negotiations, mediations, arbitrations, and bench and jury trials. Scott was a contributing author of the Washington Lawyers Practice Manual, and was chair of the King County Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Section. He earned his B.A....

Ray Weber has over 20 years experience in civil litigation. His practice concentrates on product liability, construction defect, personal injury, highway design, and insurance coverage. He has successfully defended product manufacturers in cases involving automotive, marine, medical and agricultural products; and local governmental entities in liability cases ranging from catastrophic injuries to public records act claims.

Early in his career, Don became a part of legal history when he served as counsel at the trial and appellate levels in the famous “snail darter” case (Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill, 437 U.S. 153 [1978]), litigated under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The litigation resulted in a successful review by the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition to practicing law in Chicago and the Pacific Northwest, Don has also taught law and served in senior administrative positions at the University of Puget Sound, University of Michigan, and University of Tennessee law schools.

Since joining GTH in 1982, Don’s practice...

As a fourth generation Washington lawyer, Hunter developed an early interest in the legal profession. He was drawn to the profession’s challenges and complexities, as well as the sound judgment required of good lawyers. Hunter pursued his interest at the University of Washington School of Law. There he researched and authored reports on modern legal issues for Law School Dean Kellye Testy and served as managing editor of the Washington International Law Journal. Hunter also served as a legal extern to United States District Court Judge Robert J. Bryan. Hunter’s practice areas include business and commercial litigation, municipal liability, insurance...

Nikki is a co-founder of Seamark Law Group. Her civil-litigation practice focuses on municipal law, police liability, and tort defense. She helps effectively and efficiently resolve high-stakes disputes through litigation, mediation, and trial. Nikki graduated from the University of Washington School of Law with high honors. During law school, she served as a managing editor for the Washington Law Review and was selected by the faculty as a teaching assistant for first-year legal writing classes. Nikki worked at a mid-sized firm in Seattle before co-founding Seamark. She currently serves on the Young Professionals Board for Treehouse, a nonprofit organization dedicated...

Bill Lynn has been with GTH since 1979 and his approach has always been characterized by an emphasis on problem-solving. His primary areas of practice include land use and zoning, real estate, environmental law, and municipal law. He has provided land-use representation for large and small residential, commercial, industrial and mixed-use projects throughout the Puget Sound area and is experienced at litigating matters under the State Environmental Policy Act.

Gretchen Salazar concentrates her practice on employment law, representing both employers and employees. Her work for employers includes advising clients with regard to compliance; representing clients before administrative agencies; employee relations counseling; and the review and drafting of handbooks and agreements. Gretchen provides employees with advice and counsel with regard to their rights and advocates for the enforcement of those rights through negotiation, mediation, administrative action, and litigation. Gretchen also practices commercial litigation and municipal law.