Lisa M. Ward

Georges Yates, a partner and chair of the firm's International practice, focuses his practice on: international business transactions and joint ventures; mergers and acquisitions; cross-border business operations, investment and taxation; real estate acquisitions, syndications, finance, leasing and development; and corporate finance (equity and debt). He serves as outside general counsel to a number of public and private companies. He also coordinates strategic relationships between Perkins C...

Ako Miyaki-Murphy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Ako, who practices law in Seattle, Washington, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ako is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Professional Experience Jacquelyn Beatty focuses her practice on litigation with an emphasis in insurance coverage and appellate matters. She has over 35 years of experience primarily representing insurers in complex coverage and bad faith matters. Jacquelyn also represents clients in complex commercial litigation. Jacquelyn has been lead trial and appellate counsel in several Washington insurance cases of first impression that resulted in significant victories for her insurer clients. She ha...

Sue Morgan, a partner in the firm's Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice, advises clients on executive and equity compensation, corporate finance and securities, and insider trading compliance. Her representative clients include Boeing, Clearwire, Costco, Crocs, InfoSpace Inc., Intermec Technologies Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Molex, Molson Coors Brewing Company and Weyerhaeuser. Sue frequently speaks on issues including executive compensation, option exchanges, ins...

BACKGROUND Syed’s practice focuses on U.S. and international patent and trademark prosecution, enforcement, licensing and litigation matters. He received a B.Eng in Aerospace Engineering from Ryerson University and a M.Eng. in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where his graduate research focused on acoustic emissions monitoring of space shuttle external tanks. Syed earned his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law (2012), where he served as a judicial ...

Jacek R. Pawlicki is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Jacek R., who practices law in Seattle, Washington, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jacek R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

James Gradel, a partner in the firm's Commercial Finance and Real Estate Finance practices, has more than 25 years of experience representing institutional and private lenders and borrowers in secured and unsecured debt financing transactions. He focuses his practice on senior and mezzanine financing of leveraged buyouts, construction and permanent real estate loans, multilender loan syndications and participations, intercreditor transactions, high yield note offerings, credit enhanced bond f...

Dr. Rhys Lawson focuses his practice on creating patent portfolios to obtain integrated worldwide protection for his clients' inventions. Rhys works with a variety of clients, ranging in size from independent inventors and early-stage entrepreneurs to multinational corporations, universities and non-governmental organizations. Rhys is the head of the firm's life sciences practice group and a member of the mechanical engineering practice group. His areas of particular technical expertise are b...

Elizabeth A. Hoffman-Graff is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Elizabeth A., who practices law in Kirkland, Washington, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elizabeth A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David A. Perez is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Intellectual Property. David has a nationwide practice, and is based in Seattle, Washington. He has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in his practice areas.