Tailored legal solutions that keep businesses moving with clarity and confidence, providing trusted support as brands navigate growth, regulation, and risk.
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(ABOUT ME)
Legal Counsel. Reimagined.
Let's be honest… no one wants to deal with lawyers. Good thing my firm only has one, me. I've spent 15 years in solo practice learning what actually matters: being strategic, responsive, and willing to think differently about legal problems. You can say I’m a legal Swiss Army knife. I've spent my career not just practicing law, but anticipating where it's headed. And right now? It looks like it’s heading straight into AI, data privacy, and the messy intersection of innovation and compliance. But whether you're in tech, a brand protecting your IP, or a business that needs contracts you can understand, then I’m here. Strategic counsel that cuts through the noise. The Credentials (Because They Matter): Law Degree-Check! CIPP/US (U.S. Privacy Certification)-Check! AIGP (AI Governance Professional)-Check! What actually matters is that I know how to meet clients where they are, understand what keeps you up at night, and build legal strategy that protects what you're building. The Extracurriculars (Because They Add Depth): Governor, Washington State Bar Board of Governors. Past President, Washington State Bar Foundation. Lecturer and staff attorney at the University of Washington. A decade volunteering in eviction defense. Named one of South Sound Business Magazine's 40 Under 40. The Bottom Line. My Attorney as a Service model has been running since 2012 — designed for modern businesses that need someone strategic, responsive, and willing to think beyond 'that's not how we've always done it.' I'm not your average lawyer. And I'm guessing you're not looking for one.
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Have questions? Book a paid consultation to get guidance on your situation and determine the best approach. Know what you need? Book a free 15-minute scoping call to discuss a specific fixed scope service and get started. Need ongoing support? Schedule a freelance counsel discovery call to explore monthly office hours or custom retainer arrangements.
(FAQ)
Legal answers in plain English
Running a business means dealing with contracts, trademarks, privacy policies, and now — AI? It’s a lot. And while I’m always happy to explain things one-on-one, here are answers to some of the most common questions I hear. Don’t see your burning question here? Reach out — or better yet, let’s talk.
What’s fractional counsel, and why do you call yourself ‘freelance’?
They're the same. I just think 'fractional' sounds like you're only getting 1/8th of a lawyer. I've been freelance way before 'fractional' became the buzzword du jour. Full strategic legal support on your schedule, without the cost of a full-time hire. No fractions. No buzzwords. Just solid counsel when you need.
Why can’t I use a standard contract for my SaaS product?
SaaS contracts need to cover things traditional contracts don't; like data ownership, uptime guarantees, subscription billing, and what happens to customer data if you shut down. A generic template will miss these critical protections for both you and your customers.
Do I really need a privacy policy on my site?
Yes, 100%. If you're collecting emails, using cookies, tracking behavior, or doing anything else with user data, you need a privacy policy. It’s often legally required — and it also shows your customers you take their privacy seriously.
Can’t I just copy one from another site or use a free template?
It’s risky. Privacy policies aren’t one-size-fits-all — they need to reflect how your business collects, uses, stores, and shares data. A generic policy might leave out something crucial (or include things you don’t actually do), which can lead to legal trouble. A custom policy helps ensure you're protected and compliant.
Do small businesses really need to care about this privacy stuff?
Absolutely. Privacy laws don’t just apply to big tech anymore — and the cost of getting it wrong can be huge (think fines, lost trust, and lawsuits).
What is AI governance, and why should I care?
AI governance is about making sure AI is used responsibly and legally — with transparency, fairness, and compliance. If your business uses or builds AI, it's worth paying attention to.
You have undoubtedly seen the above phrase posted on numerous videos on social media. I have seen it so many times it drives me crazy. I have done a video on this topic once but I feel people still are not getting it so I need to talk about it again.
Why are people doing it?
If you are not familiar; people who post a video or slide show or any content that uses music, are posting this phrase as a way to get out of copyright infringement. They believe, because they saw it on social media, that they are doing the right thing. They are saying they don’t own the rights therefore they are off the hook if anyone claims they are stealing their work. Well, they are wrong.
But why are they wrong?
Admitting you do not own something is not the same as getting permission to actually use something. Really what you are doing is admitting you stole someone else’s work and you are using it without permission.
What to do instead?
If there really is some music that you must use, then get permission. In writing. Otherwise find some royalty free music that you can use legally. Or simply just don’t use the music.
Like many people I watched the new Netflix/Tyler Perry movie A Fall from Grace. There was a lot of legal issues raised, several pertaining to family law. So how would those issues play out here in Washington State. Let’s find out shall we?
SPOILERS, if you have not seen the movie yet I suggest you stop reading and come back to this blog after you have.
- Let’s talk about the house. Grace had stated that the house had been hers and paid off for years. At one point her husband claims that now that they were married it was their house and he claim to it. Ummm, more than likely that would not be the case. That house was acquired and paid for in full before she ever married him. There is a strong argument that the house would be her separate property. Also him forging her signature is a crime, that does not change just because they are married.
- At some point after it is revealed that he stole her money and broken into her accounts, again a crime, he says that because of the state the live in he is entitled to that money as her husband. I believe the movie took place in Virginia. Virginia is not a community property state. Washington is a community property state; meaning that property acquired during marriage is considered community. Grace’s assets were acquired before marriage.
- It bugged me to no end to see him smugly sitting in her house after what he had done. So would he be able to do that? If you are at the point Grace was at divorce seems not only likely but necessary. If she had filed for divorce she could have gotten a temporary order or a restraining order getting him out of the house. With the evidence she had that shouldn’t be too hard.
While this was a fictional movie, it does raise some real life issues. If you are facing a divorce or another type of family law issue Sassy Litigations can help.
It seems more and more people are choosing to be cremated when they die. At least that is the case in the wills that I draft. Most people have a place they want their ashes scattered. But the question then becomes, can your ashes be scattered there?
Last year I read an article about how people are spreading the ashes of their loved ones around Disneyland/world. Apparently it is a highly popular area to spread ashes. However, it is illegal to do that there and if the ashes are seen, they get vacuumed up. Not exactly what your loved one probably wanted.
Another popular choice seems to come up is having the ashes spread in Hawaii or at sea. Ashes can be scattered at sea provided you follow some specific rules and in some cases you may need to check with the EPA. Seems many people do this from cruise ships, again you need make sure you follow the rules of the ship you are on. As for Hawaii as long as you are not having a crowd you are free to scatter, still check local rules though.
So what about here in Washington? For the most you scatter where you wish as long you get permission if you do not own the land. Many cemeteries now offer gardens or places where you can spread ashes.
If you are like the majority of Americans you have not made a will or thought about what you want to happen after you die. It is best not to wait it is the responsible thing to do and it doesn’t take long.