The old adage found in history books remains true in the way we practice business today, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."The focus of my legal practice is best described as the duality of risk avoidance and risk management. That is, the first half is advising and assisting business and professional clientele on strategies for risk avoidance to prevent negative outcomes from ever occurring. This includes anything from conducting risk management seminars for medical students or new residents, policy review for hospitals and clinics, contract drafting, and preparing residential leases and commercial agreements. The second half of the "duality" of my legal practice is to minimize the client's exposure when a negative outcome has unfortunately and often unavoidably occurred. In the practice of civil litigation, particularly in defending commercial and professional liability actions, a calculated, measured approach is required. This necessitates not only demonstrating a willingness to go to trial if necessary to force the opposition to meet their burden of proof, but also patience, diligence, and an understanding that there are a variety of strategies and options that can be deployed to resolve a dispute. I have been fortunate enough to be trained by and work on a daily basis with the area's best business and legal minds. Through civil litigation I have gained the experience and insight to help educate and advise my clients on how best to avoid, or at least minimize, negative outcomes. Experience gained in the courtroom has equipped me to teach my clients hard lessons of the past so that they don't have to experience those lessons themselves. In addition to the practice of law, I spend my time training my Chesapeake Bay retriever Arney, fishing on Hayden Lake, and working on restoring my old craftsman on Spokane's South Hill.