Jeff was born in Evanston, Illinois and raised in Kansas City. Jeff truly likes to help people and he has the drive and talent to do that.
Jeff moved to Washington to help his father, but once he saw the mountains he decided never to return to the Great Plains. After working his way through the University of Washington receiving a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science, Jeff attended the University of Puget Sound Law School, receiving his Juris Doctor degree in 1987.
Jeff is a resident of Gig Harbor, Washington with his wife Cheri. They are active in the breeding and showing of dogs. They own five dogs – three Doberman Pinschers (including their new puppy, Sizzle), two of whom they bred, a Pointer and a Whippet. They also own an Abyssinian cat, Sydney, and three Black Star Chickens who, unlike the other animals, actually put food on the table. Jeff has served as the Delegate to the American Kennel Club from the Doberman Pinscher Club of America (DPCA), as well as Legislative Director, Corresponding Secretary and Board Member for the DPCA.
In 2009, the Doberman Pinscher Club of America awarded Jeff the DPCA Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest and most prestigious honor that may be bestowed on any person by the DPCA.
Jeff has been active in his Parish, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Gig Harbor, Washington. He has served as the Senior Warden, Vestryman, and as a Delegate to the Diocesan Convention of the Olympia Diocese of the Episcopal Church of the United States. He is currently Vice Chancellor of the Diocese.
Jeff and Cheri’s daughter Darcie is married to Mr. Anthony Cantor. Darcie and Anthony announced in August, 2010 that Jeff and Cheri will be grandparents for the first time. The baby – a boy who his parents have named Aiden Paul is due on March 10, 2011 – two days before Jeff’s birthday. Jeff and Cheri are also very proud of their son, Jason, who will soon be graduating from Gonzaga University in May, 2011 with a double major in accounting and finance.
Jeff is committed to precision in his law practice. Jeff practices in the areas of business transactions and litigation (including business reorganizations and business bankruptcies), complex partnership and limited liability company formations and partnership tax, real estate transactions and land use issues, real estate and land use litigation, and has been a Qualified Intermediary for investment property exchanges under § 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code for over 20 years. He is well-respected and is called upon to accommodate many complex, large 1031 exchange transactions throughout the United States. He was the first Certified Exchange Specialist® in the south Puget Sound.
Admitted to Washington Bar 1987; U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington and U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Education: University of Washington, (B.A. 1984); University of Puget Sound School of Law (now Seattle University School of Law, (J.D. 1987).
Member: American Bar Association (Business Section, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section and Tax Section); American Bankruptcy Institute, Federation of Exchange Accommodators; Washington State Bar Association (Business Section, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section and Tax Section); Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association.
Reported Cases: Jeff has argued numerous cases before the Washington State Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. He was lead counsel on the landmark case Tri-State Development, Ltd. v. Johnston, 160 F.3d 528 (9th Cir. 1998) which he argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in which the 9th Circuit Court held that the Washington pre-judgment attachment statute, allowing attachment of real property without prior notice to the owner, was unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Jeff will be arguing before the Washington Supreme Court In Re: the Recall of Dale Washam, Pierce County Assessor-Treasurer. Oral arguments have not yet been scheduled.
