Practice Areas
Real Estate, Litigation, Land Use, Appellate
Legal Experience
Tom has practiced in the areas of real estate transactions, land use and business litigation since 1986. He regularly represents lenders, borrowers, developers, real property owners, title companies, homeowners associations, escrow agents and real estate professionals. His experience includes real estate financing, leasing, purchase-and-sale transactions and disputes, title disputes, foreclosures, lease disputes, condominium matters, land use permitting, rezones, professional and lender liability claims and insurance coverage issues.
Tom has resolved numerous real estate and commercial disputes through summary judgment, arbitration and mediation. In addition, he has successfully tried jury and non-jury cases in federal and state courts, and briefed, argued and won numerous appeals.
Washington Law & Politics Magazine recognized Tom's achievements by naming him a "Super Lawyer," a designation reserved for fewer than five percent of all lawyers in Washington State.
Representative Matters
- Represents numerous homeowners associations, advising on a wide-variety of management and property issues and in dispute resolution
- Represents major national insurance company in numerous sales of company properties located in western Washington
- Assisted scores of property owners and lenders clear up title defects in order to make their real property marketable or to enhance its value
- Regularly reviews and revises standard loan documentation for national commercial lender to assure compliance with Washington state law
- Successfully represented a secured lender with a $4.2 million lien in a priority dispute with an Indian tribe over a failed multi-phase condominium
- Represented the borrower in a $5.3 million refinance of a shopping center
- Prevailed at trial and on appeal in case allowing sale of church property on grounds that sale was permitted under charitable trust doctrines and that deed restriction violated state's anti-discrimination statute: Niemann v. Vaughn Community Church, 154 Wn.2d 365, 113 P.3d 463 (2005).
- Appearing as amicus curiae, successfully urged the Washington Supreme Court to bar post-sale challenges to trustee's sales by secured lenders: Plein v. Lackey, 149 Wn.2d 214, 67 P.3d 1061 (2003)
- Convinced Supreme Court to reinstate summary judgment that escrow agent client did not breach its duties to seller in a real estate transaction: Denaxas v. Sandstone Court of Bellevue, 148 Wn.2d 654, 63 P.3d 125 (2003)
Personal
Tom lives in Seattle with his wife and three children. He is active in his children's school and after-school activities as well as in his church. He enjoys many outdoor activities, especially skiing.
Education
University of Oregon School of Law, J.D.; Order of the Coif;
Editor, Oregon Law Review
Yale University, B.A.
Memberships and Recognition
Washington State Bar Association
King County Bar Association
Washington Land Title Association
American Land Title Association
AV rating, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory
Super Lawyer® 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008
Community Service
Legal Action Center, Board of Advisors, former Chair
King County Housing Justice Project, Volunteer Lawyer
St. Joseph Church Pastoral Council Chair and Lector
YMCA, Family Programs Leader
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