Helsell Fetterman Appoints Four New Partners
Helsell Fetterman LLP, a Seattle-based law firm providing exceptional legal solutions for businesses, organizations and individuals in the Pacific Northwest, today announced that it has expanded its partnership by adding four outstanding attorneys: Natalie Beckmann, Michael Harman, Connie Haslam and Laura Hoexter.
“Natalie, Michael, Connie and Laura are exceptionally talented and experienced attorneys who share a true commitment to excellence and to their thriving practices,” said Scott Collins, managing partner of Helsell Fetterman.
“These attorneys provide an extraordinary complement to our existing partnership team, which expands by nearly a third as a result of their appointment,” continued Collins. “We anticipate that our firm will be strengthened even further through their contributions.”
At Helsell Fetterman, Beckmann, Harman, Haslam and Hoexter all have integral roles in their respective practice groups, covering a broad range of legal services including Estate Planning & Probate, Business & Real Estate Transactions, Taxation, Commercial Disputes, Public Interest & Civil Rights, Trials & Appeals and Divorce & Family Law.
Together, the new partners bring an extensive depth and breadth of experience to the firm and will significantly strengthen the partnership team.
Natalie M. Beckmann
As a third generation woman lawyer, Beckmann has a critical role within the firm’s divorce and family law practice where she guides and supports clients through complex and difficult decisions involving divorce, legal separation, matters involving children, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, non-marital arrangements, restraining orders, alternate dispute resolution, post decree matters and issues regarding domestic violence.
Previously named a Washington Law & Politics “Rising Star,” Beckmann has contributed to published works in the Washington Family Law Deskbook and she has spoken about children?s adoption and records law at continuing legal education seminars presented to attorneys.
Demonstrating a sincere commitment to community service, Beckmann serves as Volunteer Attorney at the King County Domestic Violence Clinic and the King County Bar Association Pro Bono Advice. She volunteers for PONCHO (Patrons of Northwest Civic, Cultural & Charitable Organizations) and is a member of the Women’s University Club.
Beckmann received her B.A. in environmental science from the University of Virginia and graduated cum laude from Seattle University’s School of Law. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association, King County Bar Association and Washington Women Lawyers.
Michael C. Harman
At Helsell Fetterman, Harman’s extensive background in estate planning, taxation, business and real estate transactions proves invaluable to his role within the firm as he guides clients through issues relating to trusts and estates, business succession, and serves as corporate counsel to closely held businesses.
Harman is a member of the University of Washington Estate & Gift Planning Council, providing legal advice to the University?s planned giving department. Licensed to practice law in both Washington and Oregon, Harman was selected as a “Super Lawyer” by Washington Law & Politics Magazine in 2007.
After receiving his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, Harman graduated cum laude from Gonzaga University School of Law and subsequently earned his LL.M in taxation from the University of Washington.
Connie Haslam
With nearly two decades of experience in civil litigation, Haslam has had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of matters. She emphasizes contract and real property disputes in her practice and is also heavily involved in class action litigation and actions against municipalities. Along with her litigation work, Haslam performs real property transactional work.
In addition to her trial court experience, Haslam has participated in appellate cases before the Washington Court of Appeals, Washington Supreme Court, Louisiana and Mississippi Appellate Courts, U.S. Court of Appeals (Fifth & Ninth Circuits), and U.S. Supreme Court.
Haslam is a member of the King County Bar Association’s (KCBA) and Washington State Bar Association’s Real Property and Probate Sections and a past member of the KCBA’s Joint Bench Bar Judicial Conferencing Committee.
An award-winning volunteer, Haslam’s extensive community involvement includes service as an attorney coordinator and volunteer for the KCBA?s Downtown Seattle Neighborhood Legal Clinic for the past 17 years. She also serves as a board member of the Downtown Seattle YMCA’s Board of Managers and is a past chair of the Board and of the Downtown Seattle YMCA’s Partners with Youth Annual Giving Campaign. In addition, Haslam is a member of the Rotary Club of Seattle.
A twice-published author, Haslam received a B.A. from the University of Washington’s Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies and a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law, where she served on the editorial board of the Washington Law Review.
Laura E. Hoexter
With over 15 years of experience, Hoexter plays an integral role in the firm’s Estate Planning and Probate Department, where she helps high net worth clients preserve their wealth and plan for its effective succession to the next generation.
Hoexter assists clients with all areas of trust and estate planning, including the minimization of federal and state estate, gift, and generation skipping taxes; the administration of a decedent’s trust or probate estate; planning for the succession of family businesses; and the establishment and maintenance of charitable organizations.
Hoexter is past president of the East King County Estate Planning Council and was recently selected as a “Super Lawyer” by Washington Law & Politics Magazine. She is a member of the Seattle Estate Planning Council, Washington Women in Tax, Q-LAW, Greater Seattle Business Association and many other local estate planning and charitable organizations. Hoexter can be frequently found lecturing on basic and complex estate and business planning topics in the Puget Sound area.
Hoexter received her B.A. in economics and political science from McGill University in Montreal, and her J.D. from the University of Washington’s School of Law, where she served as associate editor-in-chief of the Washington Law Review. She continued on with the University after graduating to earn her LL.M in taxation.