I
focus my law practice exclusively on defending DUIs and other
driving-related criminal charges. This is often a multifaceted area of
law that requires a fundamental understanding of all unique consequences
of a conviction. For this reason, I devote my entire practice solely to
this single subset of criminal law because it is important for a client
to have someone in their corner who understands every complexity and
nuance of a DUI, not just the general aspects of “criminal defense.” To
this end, I am a co-author of "Defending DUIs in Washington (Third
Edition)," which is a comprehensive practice manual published by
LexisNexis and utilized by attorneys throughout the state.
In addition to handling criminal DUI matters in SW Washington
courts, a large portion of my practice is devoted to navigating the
collateral licensing issues that are often associated with those
charges, including Department of Licensing administrative hearings. I
have argued over 600 hundred DOL hearings, successfully obtained over
250 dismissals, and I frequently litigate post-adjudication appeals in
Clark County Superior Court (including commercial licensing cases).
These hearings are separate from the criminal proceedings on a matter
and they present an entirely different set of laws and regulations. In
this regard, it is often important for a driver to address not only
their criminal charge, but the administrative licensing ramifications
that may arise as well.
Beyond criminal and administrative litigation, I have also worked
closely with the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
(WACDL) to draft statutory amendments and law changes relating to DUI
licensing issues. In 2019, I testified in front of the state senate in
support of these positive legislative changes, which have now simplified
many aspects of the licensing process for drivers convicted of
DUI-related offenses. Additionally, I was selected by the Washington
Foundation for Criminal Justice (WFCJ) as a conference presenter on
licensing topics at the statewide DUI Defense Seminar in 2019, 2020,
2021, and 2022. I continue to work closely with the statewide defense
community to assist drivers in this complex and often overwhelming area
of law. As a result of my work in both the local and statewide criminal
defense community, I was awarded the “Rising Star” award by the Clark
County Bar Association in 2020. In 2025, I was awarded the "Anthony
Savage Award" by WACDL, which recognizes exceptional performance for a
lawyer in their first ten years of practice.