Six Graham & Dunn Attorneys Named “Rising Stars” for 2007 by Washington Law & Politics
12.06.2006
What do mothers, math teachers and work colleagues have in common? They are all considered favored mentors—or “stars”—by the seven Graham & Dunn attorneys named as 2007 Rising Stars by Washington Law & Politics.
To help you get to know our Rising Stars better, we asked each one to share a story about the person (or in some cases, people) whose wisdom made a significant impact on their life. From there, our questions varied, but the conversation was always insightful…and often refreshing.
Michael G. Atkins
206.340.9614, matkins@grahamdunn.com
Instead of pinpointing one mentor, Mike prefers to thank a long list of people, who have provided advice at key junctures in his life. “Pairing this valuable guidance with my curiosity to learn has proved to be a winning combination for me,” he says.
In fact, Mike says his motivation to learn actually makes his job fascinating. “Being a litigator in trademark law is a liberal arts education. Everyday I learn about the ideas that spawn a new product, the science behind it and the economics of why it sells.”
Not surprisingly, Mike’s quest for learning prompted him to start teaching at the University of Washington School of Law. “It is incredible to connect with smart students, who are hungry to understand how trademark law works in the real world,” he says.
He is also connecting via the Web on a personal blog about developments in trademark law. “Analyzing and reporting on the latest cases and statutes at Seattle Trademark Lawyer (http://www.seattletrademarklawyer.com/) keeps me on top of the ever-changing landscape of trademarks and unfair competition.”
Kumi Yamamoto Baruffi
206.340-9676, kbaruffi@grahamdunn.com
Kumi credits her parents for instilling in her the important lessons about life. “My dad focused on education, business and intellectual pursuits; my mom on the arts, diplomacy and people. Along the way, I came to appreciate that there is a surprising amount of overlap in the two,” she says.
Parenting soon will be central to Kumi’s life, too. She and husband Tony are expecting their first child in late December 2006. “Now I will get to experience the balancing act that working mothers everywhere undergo on a daily basis.”
Kumi already successfully balances her client commitments with her role on the board of directors at Graham & Dunn. “I joined the firm 11 years ago fresh out of law school. Now I’m helping manage our business and our future. Being a board member reminds me how far I’ve come and how many people have helped me reach this point,” she says.
Of course, Kumi’s career progression is also due to her many positive attributes, including her ability to be tactful in almost any situation. “It’s really a constant state of mind for me—knowing when and how to rephrase certain statements, allowing cooler heads to prevail and strategically hitting the mute button.”
Bernadette M. Bulacan
206.340.8782, bbulacan@grahamdunn.com
Since she started practicing law, Bernadette says she has provided legal counsel to some highly sophisticated entrepreneurs and business owners. “But what might surprise them is where I got my business savvy. It was from my Filipino-immigrant mom Arsenia,” she says.
Arsenia successfully pursued the American Dream through several business ventures: peddling cleaning supplies, selling insurance and developing real estate. “Today I find myself drawn to work with clients who are like my mom—visionary and willing to put in the sweat equity to achieve success.”
Bernadette also seeks these qualities in new associates in her role as head of the summer associate program and as a member of the hiring committee. “I’m impressed with the amount of energy and enthusiasm in our associate ranks. I know the future of the firm is in good hands," she says.
Even as she prepares for the future, Bernadette likes to take it one day at a time. “This year marks the first full year I have been in remission since being diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2005,” she says. “Right now I’m focused on living a healthy, productive life.”
David M. Byers
206.340.9649, dbyers@grahamdunn.com
At an early age, David learned from his mother Alice that doing a good job is itself a reward. “When I was two, my family moved into a place that had been a boarding house for at least a decade,” David recalls. But the disrepair did not deter Alice. By the time he entered kindergarten, she had significantly upgraded the home—for the sake of the family and the satisfaction of doing it right.
Her positive example still resonates with David, and he applies it in a number of ways at Graham & Dunn. Recently, for example, he assumed the role as chair of the hiring committee. “It has been a big responsibility but I’m proud of the changes we have made to the hiring process that benefit everyone involved,” he says.
Plus the role on the hiring committee has given him a unique perspective: “I’m a new shareholder but I have to think long-term for the good of the firm. When I evaluate potential hires, I ask myself: Do I want to work with this person for the next 30 years? Being able to apply that long-term view to hiring is a great luxury."
David C. Lundsgaard
206.340.9691, dlundsgaard@grahamdunn.com
David says his University of Washington college professor, Paul Heyne, was a major influence in his career. “Professor Heyne taught me a passion for economic theory that has been very useful in working on complex litigation, especially the antitrust cases.”
David brought this zeal to Graham & Dunn and currently pursues it by chairing the firm’s litigation department. “It’s a challenging role but an incredible opportunity for me to get involved in all aspects of the firm,” he says. The bonus for David is that he has gotten to know and appreciate his partners and their respective practice areas, as well as the associates and staff. “We've got some great talent here at Graham & Dunn,” he says.
This is high praise since David lists a healthy dose of skepticism as the personality trait that is most beneficial to his job. “I’m just not satisfied until I’m sure I know the answer. This makes for some long evenings working through challenging issues, but it produces better results for my clients in the long run.”
Steven A. Miller
206.903.4806, smiller@grahamdunn.com
Steve was in the 8th grade when he received a piece of advice that has guided him to this day. “I was preparing for a statewide math team competition and my math teacher, Bill Okubo, calmed my nerves with one word: breathe.”
It worked like a charm. “I’ve focused on breathing ever since—whether to help me graduate at the top of my class in law school, handle a tough client situation or continue my reign (with teammate JJ Leary) as the Graham & Dunn pickle ball champs,” he says.
Along with deep breathing, Steve credits instinct and a sense of humor as the traits that help him excel. “I can’t imagine a day here where I can’t find something to laugh about—and most often it’s about me.”
Steve also brings these characteristics to the mentoring relationships he strikes up with new associates. “It’s rewarding to share my experiences and help people through challenges that I also encountered,” he says.
