About
After building an extensive international career spanning more than a dozen countries—first as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer and later as a program manager for an international non-profit organization—I embarked on a meaningful transition in my forties by pursuing a Juris Doctor at the University of Idaho College of Law. Between my international service and legal education, I studied winemaking and viticulture in Walla Walla, eventually establishing and operating my own winery. This diverse professional background has proved invaluable in my legal practice, providing practical insights that enhance my ability to serve clients effectively.
My legal education offered opportunities to explore various practice areas through several distinguished positions: a federal district court judicial internship, work at a general practice firm, service in an Entrepreneurship Clinic assisting business owners, and an externship in criminal defense with public defenders. Through these experiences, I discovered my true calling in Elder Law and Estate Planning, areas that deeply resonated with my professional aspirations and personal experiences.
My dedication to Elder Law and Estate Planning stems from firsthand experience with the challenges families face when dealing with cognitive decline, having witnessed both my grandfather and mother navigate the complexities of Alzheimer’s and dementia. I am committed to helping both senior clients and younger families create comprehensive estate plans that address the challenges of aging while ensuring their wishes are clearly documented and executable. As a pet owner myself, I also recognize the importance of including provisions for beloved animals in estate planning, ensuring they receive proper care after their owner’s passing.
Law school let me try different areas of the law to see what interested me and, more importantly, what I didn’t enjoy. I interned for a federal district judge, worked at a general practice firm, assisted business owners in an Entrepreneurship Clinic, and externed for criminal law public defenders. After all that exploration, I realized that my Elder Law and Estate Planning classes energized me the most and were the area of law I wanted to practice.
I am committed to assisting elders and younger families deal with the issues of aging because I saw my grandfather and mother struggle with Alzheimer’s and dementia. I want to help individuals and families plan for the future and wade through the legalese to understand how their estate plan actually functions. As a pet owner, I also prioritize planning for your pets after you are gone.
