Kelso Lawyers

Elizabeth is an experienced litigator and practitioner in the areas of juvenile law, family law, business law and criminal defense. Within the area of family law, she has represented clients in parenting and child support, parentage, nonparental custody, dissolution, modification, and adoption cases. Within juvenile law, Elizabeth has experience with Becca Bill cases (Truancy, At Risk Youth, and Children In Need of Services), representation of youth in juvenile dependency proceedings, and juvenile offender matters. She has successfully resolved many criminal matters including domestic violence cases, assault, DUI, MIP (minor in possession), violations of the Vancouver Municipal Code, unlawful camping, trespass,...

For more than 40 years Steve Thayer has dedicated his practice to defending people who have been persecuted by the police and prosecuted by the government.  He has successfully defended clients throughout Southwest Washington in virtually every kind of criminal case including murder, manslaughter, assault, DUI, vehicular homicide, marijuana grow/manufacture cases, sexual assault including date rape, child molestation and child pornography, domestic violence, and drug possession and delivery cases.   Attorney Thayer is a founding member and former Vice President of the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.  He has been AV Preeminent rated by the Martindale-Hubbell peer review process for...

Erica has dedicated her practice exclusively to the area of family law, handling divorce, separation, support, custody, and relocation matters with sincerity and confidence. Erica is knowledgeable and professional in her advocacy and she is passionate about helping individuals and parents through difficult times.

Erica graduated from Rhodes College in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and a minor in English. Prior to earning her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2012, Erica spent a year in private practice litigating employment disputes and ERISA matters on behalf of employers, plan fiduciaries, and...

With over a decade of experience in corporate law, regulatory compliance, and expansion strategy, I am committed to providing practical, results-oriented legal solutions for small businesses and individuals. As the Managing Attorney at Heritage Legal Advisors, I focus on helping clients navigate the complexities of business formation, contracts, and estate planning to safeguard their assets and achieve their goals. Having managed multi-million-dollar commercial agreements and advised on mergers, acquisitions, and market expansions, I bring big-business expertise to small business clients. My career includes saving clients significant costs through meticulous risk management, efficient contract negotiation, and regulatory compliance strategies. In estate planning, I...

Roger Priest is a former prosecutor and Vancouver, Washington attorney helping clients with DUI, Criminal Defense, Car Accident, and other Personal Injury cases.

For six years I've helped clients in the Pacific Northwest deal with debt collectors. While I can help clients who have any type of consumer debt whether it's credit card, utility bill, micro-loans, etc., I have particular expertise in defending medical bills. People often do not know that they have very specific and powerful rights when dealing with a collection agency. If you have been contacted by a debt collector I can likely help.

I was one of the founders of my firm, Navigate Law Group. A core value of our firm is to try to expand access to the...

Attorney McAleer has primarily devoted his practice to criminal defense with a focus on defending those accused of sex crimes and other major felony crimes. Attorney McAleer’s approach to these cases and attention to detail has earned him a local, state and national reputation which was achieved by passionately representing hundreds of clients charged with essentially every type of criminal offense.

Ben Melnick joined Schauermann Thayer in 2018, and he became a partner in 2020. He graduated with a BA from Washington State University in 2010, and he earned his JD from Gonzaga University School of Law. His practice focuses on personal injury, auto, motorcycle, and biking accidents, wrongful death, and insurance disputes. He is licensed to practice in all Washington and Oregon state and federal courts. Ben is active in the legal community. He is an Eagle Member of the Washington State Association for Justice, and has chaired the WSAJ Clark County Round Table since 2017. Ben...

I was born in an army hospital in Fort Knox, Kentucky. My father was in the army, and before I was a year old and my older brother two years old, my father had died in Vietnam. A widow at 24 years of age with two babies in diapers, my mother felt that the best education she could give my brother and me was real world experience. So for a year, when I was a junior in high school, we backpacked around the world. I traveled through numerous countries and regions (China, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia,...

Lisa E. Martin feels rewarded when she has helped her clients recover their peace of mind.

“I am moved when clients who felt hopeless come out of the divorce process feeling like life isn’t so bad. It’s an overall feeling of ‘I’m going to be okay, and I’m going to land on my feet.’”

Lisa has twenty years of family law experience, and has litigated countless divorce cases in both Washington and Oregon. Her clients regard her as approachable and easy to talk to.

“I owe it to my clients to educate them and help them make the best choices, so that everyone...

Jakob graduated cum laude from Gonzaga University in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a minor in Philosophy. He then attended Gonzaga University School of Law, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He excelled academically, earning CALI awards in several courses including Constitutional Law, Professional Responsibility, and Real Estate Law. He also excelled in Moot Court competition, competing in the National Appellate Advocacy Competition twice, and winning the Gonzaga University Clarke Cup oral advocacy competition in 2012. During law school, Jakob volunteered for several organizations such as the Washington Moderate Means Program, the Center for Justice,...

Deanna Rusch is a highly respected family law and divorce attorney in Vancouver, WA known for her intellect, humor, and straightforward yet kind approach to solving her clients’ challenges. Her practice includes all areas of family law, with an emphasis on complex divorce, relocation, inter-state, and UCCJEA issues. She is particularly skilled in assisting divorce clients who own businesses or other complex financial assets. She has been ranked a Rising Star by Washington Super Lawyers every year since 2010 and has been named a “Washington Outstanding Young Lawyer” by Seattle Met magazine. While the legal complexities of family law can...

Sean M. Downs is a criminal defense attorney serving those accused of crimes in the states of Washington and Oregon. Sean started his law career at a small private firm in Spokane, Washington learning the ins and outs of criminal defense, traffic offenses, and driver's license hearings. He then moved on to work at the Spokane County Public Defender Office where he represented people accused of misdemeanor and felony offenses, as well as working on appellate cases. In 2013, after over twenty-one years of combined private and public practice, Sean joined together with attorney Diane Grecco to found the law...

As a family law practitioner, I am motivated by helping people through complex and emotionally difficult legal situations. I work with each client to define their goals and then provide an effective strategy well supported in the law to achieve those objectives. I focus my practice on family law issues, including divorce, child custody, child support, modifications, and relocation. I also handle collaborative divorce, de facto parentage and non-parental custody, step-parent adoption, and LGBT family law. Before becoming an attorney, I worked for the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office as a legal advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual...

Christopher D. Ramsay effectively represents and defends the criminally accused. In addition to being a highly experienced criminal defense attorney, he has served as an adjunct professor at Washington State University Vancouver, lecturing on the topic of criminal procedure and criminal law. From 1990 to 2003, Christopher D. Ramsay worked as criminal prosecutor in Denver Colorado.

Matthew Philbrook is a graduate of Clark College, Washington State University, and Gonzaga University School of Law. He has been a member in good standing of the Washington State Bar Association since 2001, and Oregon State Bar Association since 2005.

Matthew entered a career in law with a passion for protecting the legal rights of those in our community, with a competitive approach. He formed Philbrook Law Office, located in Vancouver and Battle Ground, Washington, in 2005, with the goal of championing the rights of people wrongfully injured or in legal jeopardy. Matthew’s years of dedicated service to his clients has...

I decided to become a lawyer after many years in education in Los Angeles. I was everything from a substitute teacher with a Kindergarten class to teaching English and P.E. to students just out of juvenile hall or on probation. After my time teaching, I knew that I wanted to continue to help others, but in a different way. I attended school to become a lawyer, attending Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. I enjoyed law school incredibly, and also excelled at it. Being a lawyer continues that good feeling for me. I get to do something I am passionate about...

I grew up in Portland, Oregon. I graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School and Portland State University. I left the Northwest to continue my education at Texas Tech University. There I obtained both a Master of Business Administration ("MBA") and a Juris Doctorate (Law) degrees. After graduating I returned to Portland, Oregon. I joined the Oregon State Bar Association in 1999 and the Washington State Bar Association in 2006. For almost 10 years my practice has focused on representing Oregon and Washington employees against their current or former employers and individuals against harassing debt collectors. I have represented my...

Brad Thayer joined Schauermann Thayer in 2015 and became a partner in 2018. He was presented the 2018 Rising Star Award by the Clark County Bar Association. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in Sociology from Western Washington University and a Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, from Willamette University College of Law. His practice focuses on personal injury, auto accident, dog bite, and wrongful death cases. Brad speaks Spanish at an intermediate level. He has studied it at various levels over the years in school and lived in Spain from 2009 to 2011 teaching English. In...

The Law Office of Nicholas Wood, P.S. is a premiere criminal defense, military law, and civil litigation firm located in beautiful downtown Vancouver, Washington. Attorney Nicholas A. Wood has vast experience dealing with the police, prosecutors and other law firms in litigation matters. As a result, Nick has achieved sensational results for his clients on a consistent basis. As a former prosecutor in Clark County WA (Rule Nine Intern), the United States Air Force (Trial Counsel and Assistant Trial Counsel) and U.S. Attorney's Office (Special Assistant U.S Attorney), Nick understands the methods, strategies and tactics commonly used by...

Angus Lee is a life long resident of Washington, except when he was serving in the USMC. He has twice been elected as a county prosecutor and now focuses his practice on criminal defense in South West Washington.

I represent clients in all aspects of Social Security disability law. I assist clients with initial filing of claims, all levels of appeal, and hearings before administrative law judges. For clients that I have represented at the administrative level, I also litigate federal court claims.

Zach Walsh’s background spans the globe, from litigating criminal and family law cases in the Pacific Northwest’s smallest jurisdictions to fighting piracy in Moscow. Prior to joining McKean Smith to practice criminal and family law, Zach honed his courtroom skills as a prosecutor, and as an attorney at one of Portland’s largest family law firms.

Zach has the experience to manage complex criminal and family law cases; he also knows how to help clients protect their liberties and navigate the complicated intersection of family and criminal law. He doggedly pursues just and expedient resolutions on complicated legal matters for his clients....

Jeff’s practice is primarily family law and criminal defense. He enjoys complex family law cases, involving businesses and other complicated scenarios. He has also done work in construction defect cases. Jeff especially enjoys helping people to clean up their criminal record through vacations/expungements and restoring rights to buy firearms.
In addition to helping establish compliance procedures for highly regulated industries, he is also certified in Collaborative Law. Jeff is an avid believer in alternative dispute resolution, due to its low-conflict approach to settling a dispute outside of the courtroom, and the benefits it serves to all parties involved.

Gideon Caron was born in London England. His family immigrated to Portland when he was a young child and he has lived in the Northwest since. He attended Oregon State University and Northwest School of Law of Lewis and Clark College. He has practiced in Vancouver since 1989, emphasizing civil litigation, including personal injury, car crashes, trip and fall, dog bites, sexual harassment, product liability, real estate and probate disputes. Mr. Caron has been involved in many significant settlements and verdicts, defending them both at trial and appeal.

With years of experience advocating for personal injury victims in Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon, I have the skills necessary to maximize your compensation and get you back on the road to recovery.

Teresa Foster is Partner in Charge at McKinley Irvin's Vancouver office. A former social worker, she is now regarded as one of the most skilled family law attorneys in Vancouver. Teresa is a knowledgeable and formidable advocate with exceptional courtroom skills who focuses her practice on complex divorce cases, especially those involving high net worth property division, complex child custody issues, international family law, relocation, third party custody, and unmarried couples. She has successfully litigated cases in both Washington and Oregon. Teresa believes in providing her clients with personalized and responsive service, keeping her clients informed on the status of...

Family law attorney Casey Sanders is fiercely committed to his client’s well-being. He understands that his clients are dealing with stress and uncertainty, and is determined to protect what is most important to them. Casey focuses his practice on divorce and custody cases, including parenting plans and parenting plan modifications. He is an active member of the Vancouver community and the Clark County Bar Association.

A personal injury attorney in Vancouver, WA. Over 30 years experience handling claims arising from car and auto accidents, slip and trip and falls, dog attacks, negligence, and wrongful death.

Vancouver Washington attorney handling all crimes including DUI, deferred prosecution, theft, assault, drug crimes and domestic violence. Kris Carrasco also represents clients in personal injury matters. Kris actively practices law throughout Washington and Oregon. He is licensed in Washington, Oregon and California.

Tom D’Amore’s practice emphasizes serious personal injury, wrongful death, product liability and other complex litigation. His law firm, D’Amore Law Group, has been seeking justice for injured people and their families in Oregon, Washington and California since 1994. Tom D’Amore has earned a reputation among insurance companies and corporations as an ethical, experienced and aggressive personal injury attorney. He is often asked to assist other attorneys and law firms with difficult cases throughout the U.S. Tom is deeply committed to both his clients and the legal community. He serves on the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee...

I'm an immigration attorney with a focus on family based immigration. I love seeing the change in my clients - from stressed and worried about being separated from their family members, to confident, successful U.S. residents and citizens.

Priest and Ellis PLLC is a Vancouver WA law firm, whose attorneys practice Divorce and Family Law, Criminal Law, and Guardianship and Estate Planning law. We practice law with a better perspective. We emphasize building strong relationships with clients, based on good communication and using negotiation and litigation skills to achieve favorable results. Our specific areas of practice are diverse and include divorce, collaborative law, child custody, modifications, paternity, child support, criminal defense, DUI, domestic violence, felony charges, guardianships, probate, wills and trust, and much more. Call today to schedule a lawyer consultation in our convenient...

As a resident of the Pacific Northwest for over 20 years, Jack attended the University of Washington and graduated with a degree in Political Science and Economics. Jack received his Juris Doctorate from Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, OR. While in law school, Jack clerked at Vancouver's Blair, Schaefer, Hutchison, and Wolfe law firm where he gained experience in personal injury law, real estate transactions and litigation, and general civil practice. Following his graduation, he was hired as an associate. Jack then became a prosecutor for the City of Vancouver and for the Clark County Domestic Violence Prosecution Center...

Before going of counsel July 1, 2015, Craig advised and advocated for his clients in personal injury and wrongful death cases for nearly 40 years. He continues to work part time with the attorneys at Schauermann Thayer on matters relating to serious personal injuries and wrongful death. He serves frequently as an arbitrator. Craig obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973 from Washington State University and later earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1976 from the University of Puget Sound. He is licensed to practice before all courts in the State of Washington, the Western and Eastern District Federal...

Scott Staples joined Schauermann Thayer in 2006 as a clerk during law school, and joined the firm as an associate attorney in 2007. He was made a partner in the firm in 2010. Scott graduated, cum laude, from Washington State University Vancouver with a BA in English, and obtained his Juris Doctorate from Willamette University College of Law, with cum laude honors there as well. He has successfully represented clients in a variety of different types of injury cases, including auto collisions, premises liability, animal attacks, watercraft accidents, and construction site injuries. He has appeared, and won, before the Washington...

Dedicated criminal defense attorney. Over 10+ years representing clients on a variety of criminal matters including DUI/DWI; Domestic Violence; Felonies and Misdemeanors. My hard work has lead to dismissal of cases pre-trial; not guilty verdicts at trial and no action on cases by conducting pre-charge investigations. I take pride in my work. And i am genuinely honored when a client hires me to represent him/her.

Ryan practices exclusively in the area of consumer bankruptcy. Ryan has represented thousands of debtors in bankruptcy matters in Oregon and SW Washington. Ryan handles chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcy cases.