Category Archives: Announcement

Bob Michaels Retires

Bob Michaels has retired from the practice of law. His departure from Smith Alling as a Shareholder was effective the end of 2021. Bob was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1984. He has been a Shareholder of this firm since 2000. Bob has been active in the Elder Law Section of the State Bar, as well as in the Real Property, Probate and Trust Section. He has been a respected counselor to many clients on estate planning and other subjects. We have valued him as a colleague and friend, and will miss his presence at the firm.

Andrea Brewer Named Shareholder

Smith Alling and Andrea Brewer are pleased to announce that she has become a shareholder of the firm. Andrea worked as an associate attorney for the firm for the past four years doing general civil litigation and estate planning. She is now focusing her practice primarily on estate planning and administration. She has a bachelor’s degree from Pacific Lutheran University (magna cum laude) and a law degree from the University of Washington Law School. She is a member of the Robert J. Bryan American Inn of Court.

Gabriel Hinman joins the Firm as an Associate attorney

Smith Alling is proud to announce its new Associate Attorney, Gabe Hinman, who began work on October 1. Most recently, Gabe served for two years as a law clerk for Washington State Supreme Court Justice Sheryl Gordon McCloud. Before that, he served as a law clerk to Judge Rich Melnick of the Washington Court of Appeals, Division II. During his time at both courts, Gabe worked on a broad variety of cases that raised complex questions of will interpretation, administrative rulemaking, and class action procedure, among many others. Gabe came to the Pacific Northwest in 2013 to attend Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, where he graduated first in his class and served as an Associate Editor of the Environmental Law Review. Gabe will apply his extensive knowledge of Washington law to aid clients with all their legal problems.Gabe closely analyzes each case and takes a strategic approach to guide his clients to the best outcomes available. When he’s not working, Gabe enjoys wandering the mountains of the Pacific Northwest with his wife and son, and reading about American history.

A. Scott Marlow joins the Firm as Principal

Smith Alling is pleased to announce that A. Scott Marlow has joined the firm as a Principal. For over 16 years, Scott has been practicing law in western Washington, with his primary focus on Family Law. Scott is a passionate, motivated Family Law attorney. He has extensive legal knowledge and experience, including an outstanding record of performance, handling high asset dissolutions, military dissolutions, parenting plan and support cases, adoption and termination of parental rights, and committed intimate relationships. Scott is empathetic about the concerns of his clients and the effects a family law action has on a family. As a former United States Marine, Scott also has a passion for helping and representing our military community. Scott has written and published a number of materials including “What Family Court Judges Want You to Know; Spousal Support, Child Support, and Parenting Plan Determinations.” Scott also has spoken on a number of Family Law events. He is the recipient of numerous professional awards, including the “Top 100” recognition from the Association of American Trial Lawyers. Away from work, Scott enjoys spending quality time with his wife and three active children. He played and coached tennis in college.

Congratulations, Tom Quinlan!

This firm has conflicting emotions on the latest news about Smith Alling shareholder Tom Quinlan: pride and regret.It is with pride that we are pleased to announce that Tom is becoming a Pierce County Superior Court Judge.Yet we regret that he will be leaving us.

$4 million in favor of Smith Alling client William Newcomer.

Following a three-week jury trial, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Philip Sorensen entered a judgment of more than $4 million in favor of Smith Alling client William Newcomer. Mr. Newcomer invested his savings with the developer of Apex Apartments, an apartment complex he built near the Tacoma Mall. Between 2005 and 2009, the developer sought […]

Welcome Matt Niemela!

The firm is pleased to announce that Matt C. Niemela, former Rule 9 Intern at Smith Alling, has been admitted to the Washington State Bar Association, and joins Smith Alling as its newest associate.