Originally from Snohomish, WA, I finished high school in Kalispell, MT, and still return there whenever I can to ski Whitefish Mountain.  I played soccer at Northwest University in Kirkland, WA, and attended law school in Virginia.  

While in law school I studied in France and spent considerable time focused on international law, Islamic law, and foreign affairs, punctuated by an internship at the European Parliament in Brussels working for an EU representative from Ireland.  

Following passage of the Washington State Bar in 2008, I accepted a visiting professor position at Handong International Law School in South Korea.  After a short spell in private practice upon my return to the States, I took a position with the Thurston County Office of Assigned Counsel where I was the Misdemeanor Unit Supervisor.  I returned to private practice in 2015.

I live in Olympia with my lovely wife Kristine (an Olympia native) and our two kids, Ben and Claire.  We love to travel, and I am still very much interested in international issues.