Jim is the Managing Attorney for the Washington branch of BPE and is responsible for the day-to-day management of that office in addition to maintaining a busy civil practice.
Estate Planning and Probate, Business and Corporate formation and transactions, Real Estate, Family Law, and General Civil Litigation.
Prior to joining BPE in 2022, Jim was a partner at the law firm of Lathrop, Winbauer, Harrel, Slothower and Denison for 23 years. He represented clients in a variety of civil matters including family law (divorce, separation, child custody, child support, relocations, prenuptial agreements, etc.), business and corporate formation, governance, and litigation, estate planning and probate, and general civil litigation. Jim has been a very active mediator for cases in both Kittitas and Yakima Counties. His extensive knowledge of the law and judges in Central Washington has earned him a reputation as an effective mediator for both simple and complex cases. In addition, Jim has served as a pro tem judge for the Upper Kittitas County District Court. He has also served as Court Commissioner and pro tem judge for the Lower Kittitas County District Court.
Jim regularly represents business owners and professionals (or their spouses) in matters involving complicated and substantial, multi-million dollar estates as well as individuals who have simple legal issues or questions that can be answered quickly and at little cost. Terming himself a “general practice attorney,” Jim’s case load at any time can include any number of cases in many different areas of law. Jim’s clients include farmers, business owners, physicians, nurses, judges, professionals, educators, accountants, construction workers, and stay-at-home spouses, just to name a few. Jim’s knowledge in many areas of law make him a great asset to his clients who can use Jim as an attorney for most of their legal needs.
- Represented a business owner in a dissolution action involving a multi-million dollar estate. Issues included disputes pertaining to several businesses, spousal support, and disputes related to the character (separate or community) of closely held businesses worth millions of dollars.
- Represented the estate of a gentleman who had real estate that was to be divided among fighting heirs resulting in a division of the property into several different parcels of land held by a newly formed corporation
- Represented police officers and firefighters in dissolution and custody matters revolving around complicated shift work and schedules
- Represented best-selling author in dissolution of marriage involving a multi-million-dollar estate including book royalties and film rights.
- Represented internationally known artist (painter) in dissolution involving rights to artwork created during and after the marriage
- Represented many stay at home parents who have been cut-off financially from wealthier spouses
- Represented many clients of all ages and financial situations in estate planning matters
- Represented many friends and neighbors in all manner of civil matters
- Voted “Best Attorney in Kittitas County” every year since 2013 by the readers of the Ellensburg Daily Record.
- Service Award from Rotary for his many years of service in the Rotary Youth Exchange for Kittitas County
- Kittitas County Bar Association
- Member of the Washington State Bar
- Admitted to practice in all Washington State Courts, and the Federal Courts for the Western District of Washington and the Eastern District of Washington.
- Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law, magna cum laude
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Texas A&M University.
Jim has been a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Ellensburg for many years. He is actively involved in community activities primarily through the Valley Theatre Company in Ellensburg, and he also directs the annual fall play for the Ellensburg High School. He has been married to his wife, Christina, since 1997 and has two grown daughters. When he is not working or engaged in some sort of theater activity, he loves taking out his kayak on one of the many rivers or lakes in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.