In Memorium
Peter D. Byrnes (1938-2007)
-
Peter D. Byrnes (1938-2007)
-
We lost our friend and colleague Peter Byrnes to cancer in June 2007. An accomplished trial lawyer, Peter was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Society of Barristers and believed fervently in the American judicial system as well as the benefits of resolving disputes by arbitration and mediation. We value his contributions to ADR and the rule of law and miss him greatly.
Richard M. Clinton (1941-2008)
-
Richard M. Clinton (1941-2008)
-
Our friend and colleague Dick Clinton lost his courageous battle with melanoma in December 2008, though his infectious smile and unfailing optimism were his hallmarks even to the end. Also a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Dick was one of the founders of the ADR Roundtable. We will miss his participation in our monthly roundtable discussions and his thoughtful comments on ADR practice and procedure. May the roads rise up to meet you, Dick.
Dennis George (1938-2017)
-
Dennis George (1938-2017)
-
We mourn the passing of our friend and colleague T. Dennis George on July 27, 2017. Dennis was a partner at Helsell Fetterman before he, with good friends and Helsell Fetterman colleagues Lyman Hull, Benjamin Porter and Laurie Kohli, founded George Hull Porter & Kohli, which he served as managing partner. Thereafter he was General Counsel of Dendreon Corp. He was later Of Counsel to the firm of McNaul Ebel Nawrot Helgren & Vance, and completed his career as a respected mediator and arbitrator.
Reflecting the high regard in which Dennis was held by his peers, he served as outside counsel to the Washington State Bar Association in a lawsuit brought against the WSBA and its then Executive Director, Dennis Harwick. He also served as President of the Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington; during his term he initiated the Alternative Dispute Resolution Task Force, which extensively studied ADR practices and needs in the Western District and made sweeping recommendations to the District’s judges.
He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Northern Michigan University in 1996 and an honorary Doctor of Science degree from that same institution in 2005.
Dennis taught business law and contract negotiations to many international students at the University of Washington Professional & Continuing Education Program over the years and was a mentor to many young lawyers, imparting to them what was most important about the practice of law – discipline, integrity and decency in dealings with clients, parties and the courts.
A sense of Dennis’s personality can be gleaned by
Thomas J. “Jerry” Greenan (1933-2013)
-
Thomas J. “Jerry” Greenan (1933-2013)
-
A skilled trial lawyer, consummate professional, good friend and one of the original members of this Roundtable, we shall miss Jerry. Born in Great Falls MT, Jerry spent his entire legal career trying cases in many courtrooms in Washington and neighboring states. He began his practice with the Washington State Attorney General's office (1957-1963), moving then to Ferguson & Burdell (1963-1995) and later to Gordon Thomas Honeywell, where he tried increasingly complex business cases, including representing both plaintiffs and defendants in antitrust litigation. Jerry was listed in the Litigation section of "The Best Lawyers in America" for 22 years. Jerry's trial talents were also well recognized when in 1979, he was inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, where he later served as State Chair and Regent, and was an active member of the National Trial Competition. Another ACTL Fellow, commenting on Jerry's passing, put it aptly: "Jerry was a great lawyer, very perceptive, and best of all a great guy. I had cases with him and against him. His dry sense of humor surfaced frequently. Jerry was a class act which set a high bar for all of us. I am a better person and lawyer for having known and worked with Jerry." There are some whose light continues to shine even after they are gone; Jerry was one of those.
Richard C. Siefert (1947-2017)
-
Richard C. Siefert (1947-2017)
-
Dick Siefert, a valued member of the Roundtable for many years and a great friend to many, passed away on February 17, 2017. Dick graduated from DePauw University and Northwestern Law School, and spent five years with the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. before he joined Lane Powell in 1977, where he practiced for 27 years, specializing in antitrust, intellectual property, and commercial litigation, before leaving to conclude his career at two other firms.
David E. Wagoner (1928-2014)
-
David E. Wagoner (1928-2014)
-
Dave Wagoner, one of the original members of the Roundtable, a valued friend and internationally known arbitrator, will be sorely missed. Dave had a long and successful practice as a trial lawyer with Perkins Coie before - in "retirement" - embarking on a new career as an international arbitrator and mediator. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the College of Commercial Arbitrators, he also had a strong commitment to his community, serving as an elected member and President of the Seattle School Board and as Governor of The Evergreen State College, in addition to coaching students at the University of Washington Law School in international arbitration competitions in Vienna and Hong Kong. A passionate fan of baseball, football and the arts, Dave discovered a talent for painting which gave him - and his friends and family - much joy. A gentleman's gentleman, Dave's light will also continue to shine even though he is no longer physically with us.