Bar Number: 34627
I’ve been a construction lawyer since 2004. This year I’m chair of the WSBA Construction Law Section.
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Q. Did you end up practicing in the area of law you expected?
No. I knew nothing about construction law other than building a bookshelf once. It sagged, then collapsed. The shelved books weren’t to blame—I was. I’d have to be plaintiff and defendant if I decided to litigate. Hiring two attorneys sounded expensive, so I let that one go (the bookshelf and the lawsuit).
Q. What is your biggest success?
Working for myself.
Q. How you would you be earning a living if you weren’t a lawyer?
I wouldn’t. I’d be a broke fiction writer who hated fiction as a result. Having a day job helps to make fiction writing more entertaining. I don’t have to worry about “getting rejected” every time I submit something, wondering what I’m doing wrong when the rejection letters pile up in a heap. That would be painful. Your entire self-worth (and paycheck) hanging in the balance of something completely out of your control would be brutal—not that being a construction lawyer means everything is “in” my control. But in contrast to being a fiction writer it is, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.
Q. What is one way you like to spend your time outside of work?
I try to spend at least six weeks a year traveling internationally. Lately it’s been mostly to Southeast Asia, especially for scuba diving. My last trip there was to Indonesia. I went to Sulawesi, then Raja Ampat, off the coast of Papua. I’d go anywhere in Southeast Asia though. The food, the culture, and the people are incredible. I tend to travel solo, without an itinerary (other than the flight in and out). At least twice while traveling I’ve been taken in by a community (who probably took pity on a wandering soul speaking not a word of the language), and each time I’ve found myself introduced to an extended family of sorts, who I stay in touch with to this day, more than a decade later. My goal is to work part-time in 10 years. The rest of the year I hope to hang out in the places where I’ve developed some incredible connections, like Krui (on Sumatra) in the winter and Georgia (country) (northern Caucasus Mountains) in the summer. When this issue publishes, I’ll be fresh back from Belize (diving in and hopefully out of a cenote called the Blue Hole).
LIGHTNING ROUND
If you had to give a 10-minute presentation on one topic other than the law, what would it be and why? I’d show a few of my travel photos, with stories behind them. Years ago, I posted a few random photos on my firm’s website just for kicks: https://pillar-law.com/resources/travel-photos/.
How do you unwind or recharge after a difficult day? Biking.
What is one thing your colleagues may not know about you? I’m not a vegetarian—entirely.
What is the most unusual job you’ve ever had? During college I was a rent-a-cop for two summers. I gave out parking tickets and I directed traffic (very, very poorly).
Who is your favorite writer? Living—Kevin Barry, an Irish author. Dead—Herman Melville (for Moby Dick).
What’s your go-to karaoke song? Celluloid Heroes (The Kinks). I love the song Africa by Toto, but I’ve never tried to sing it, and that won’t change. It’s perfect the way it is!
What’s the best place you’ve ever traveled to? Impossible. Top three countries: Myanmar, Georgia, and Indonesia—a country with at least 14,000 islands; I could spend my life exploring and barely scratch the surface.
What is the best movie you’ve ever seen? Caché (2005; Michael Haneke).
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