Patterson, Thomas R.

Jim has been in private practice with the firm since 1978. Jim was born in 1952 and raised in Shelton, Washington. His family first settled in the Olympia area in 1870.

Jim's practice emphasizes bankruptcy (Chapters 7, 11, 12, and 13), and probate. He is also involved in civil litigation, including collections, and represents individuals and businesses regarding incorporation, limited liability companies and other related matters.

Active in the Bar Association, both at the State and local level, Jim serves on the Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection Committee of the Washington State Bar, and previously was a member of the Inter-professional Committee and the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee. At the local Bar level, Jim has served on the Board of the Thurston County Bar Association and was President in 1999-2000.

Jim has participated on several local boards, including South Puget Sound Community College Paralegal Program Advisory Committee, and TAMARC (Thurston and Mason Addictions Recovery Council) (Chair 1992-94), and St. Michael's School Commission (Chair 1981). Jim has been an instructor in the South Puget Sound Community College Paralegal Program, teaching the Bankruptcy and Collections Course.

A broad legal perspective in many areas of law is the result of appearing before Superior Courts in almost all western Washington counties and several in eastern Washington. Jim has successfully argued cases before two of the three divisions of the Court of Appeals, the Washington State Supreme Court, the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, and the Ninth Circuit.