About kathleen

I was born and raised in Spokane in the St. Al’s/Gonzaga neighborhood. I grew up in a tight knit Irish-Catholic family, the middle of seven children. My mother was a nurse. My father was a lawyer in private practice during my early years, and later a judge, as well as an adjunct professor at Gonzaga University School of Law. 

As kids we were entertained and intrigued at the dinner table by our father’s great courtroom stories and recaps of criminal happenings around town. We loved to visit him in his courtroom and chambers. My siblings and I grew up with a respect for and interest in the law. Two of my brothers, Phil and Dennis, became lawyers. 

I am a proud alumni of both Gonzaga University and Gonzaga University School of Law.

I began my legal career as a criminal prosecutor for the City of Spokane in 1996. This was an interesting and challenging job, and also one of my favorites. I was able to get courtroom and trial experience immediately.  In 1998, I joined a small civil litigation firm in Spokane where I handled bodily injury claims and cases on the defense side. I was fortunate to be working for a very good attorney who took the time to teach me how to take depositions, work up cases for trial, arbitrate, mediate, negotiate settlements, and try cases to a jury. Within a few months I had my first civil court case jury trial, all on my own. Thanks to that particular lawyer, this was the start of my civil litigation trial practice and many more trials to come, all on my own. 

I moved to Seattle in 2000. Since that time, I worked for two different civil litigation firms handling mainly underinsured motorist claims, premises liability claims and bodily injury claims arising out of car accidents, slip/trip and falls, construction site accidents, and asbestos exposure. In addition to trial work, I represented clients in countless mediations and arbitrations. Over the years I also handled many appellate court cases in Washington State Court of Appeals Division I (Seattle) and Division II (Tacoma). Two of my appellate court cases continued on to the Washington Supreme Court where I had the privilege of arguing before the Washington Supreme Court justices. 

In September of 2022, I travelled to The United Kingdom to earn my certification of training as an accredited mediator at the London School of Mediation.

I enjoy my daily Lagree Method exercise class; running; and trips to Europe (especially Dublin, Ireland).