Barbara J. Gorham Email & Phone Number

Seattle, Wa, Us

Seattle, Washington

Work for a variety of government, nonprofit, and law firm clients, including the City of Seattle, SEIU 1199NW, Consumers Union, and the Washington State Hospital Association. Research the law and write legal briefs. Develop new policy initiatives. Write articles for publication, reports, and Op-Eds. Draft legislation and testify before elected officials. Work with the media to advance policy initiatives. Work has included: Organizing community members to fight the conversion of nonprofit hospitals to for-profit status. Private legal work in the areas of civil rights and criminal defense. Advocating for access to health care, including Medicaid coverage for perinatal mental health. Advancing maternal-infant health in Washington State. Advocating for nonprofit health care assets to be preserved for community health foundations. Assessing the California community health foundations. Interviewing community stakeholders for Seattle's Link Light Rail.

Seattle, Wa

As Policy Director, advocated for access to health care in the state of Washington. Advanced our policy agenda by: developing policy initiatives, working with the media, drafting legislation, and testifying before the state legislature. Wrote issue briefs, reports, Op-Eds, and legal memoranda. Lobbied the legislature and state agencies. Responsible for statewide outreach to maximize enrollment in the new health insurance opportunities created by the Affordable Care Act. Frequent presenter on public policy and legal topics. As Attorney, provided general legal assistance to various departments of nonprofit association. Drafted legal briefs and policy proposals, researched the law, and provided legal advice.

San Francisco, Ca

Worked on the Community Health Assets Project -- a national effort to protect the public interest when non-profit hospitals and health insurers convert to for-profit corporations. Successfully argued that nonprofit health care assets should go to community health foundations, instead of remaining in the pockets of the for-profit hospitals and health plans. Worked with the media. Wrote amicus briefs, letters to regulators, opinion-editorials, and community training materials. Drafted legislation requiring nonprofit assets remain with the community. Made presentations to community groups about their legal rights. Testified before attorneys general, insurance commissioners, and legislative committees. Analyzed complex regulatory documents to ensure community interests were protected.

Olympia, Washington

Developed new programs to support low-income families during the early days of welfare reform. Received the 1999 Outstanding Employee Award for outreach work to help more families receive the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.

Seattle, Washington

Practiced in the areas of civil rights, criminal defense, employment discrimination, and immigration in the years before and after 1996-97 judicial clerkship.

Olympia, Washington

Drafted majority and dissenting opinions for Justice James Dolliver and the court. Researched the law and wrote legal memoranda to nine-member court recommending how the court should rule.

Washington, D.C.

Congressional aide to Washington representatives Jim McDermott and Mike Lowry. Responsible for a variety of issues, including low-income housing, child welfare, reproductive rights, banking, and foreign affairs. Accomplishments included enactment of legislation to provide housing for people with AIDS and development of legislation to reform U.S. policy in El Salvador. Traveled to El Salvador to investigate the assassination of six Jesuit priests in 1989. Toured Latin America to report to the Speaker of the House on AIDS in the region.

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Activities and Societies: Associate Editor-in-Chief, Washington Law Review; Judicial Extern to U.S. District Court Judge Thelton E..

Master Of Arts (M.A.) In Psychology

Activities and Societies: University Scholar Award

Bachelor Of Arts In English And Bachelor Of Arts In Political Science

Activities and Societies: WSU Student Body President; WSU Honors Program; Outstanding Senior Award; Mortar Board National Honor Society