How I got here after 40 years of practice

I have spent the better part of my 40 year legal career focused on finding creative ways to resolve disputes. I have long been a proponent of the use of mediation for early and effective resolution of civil cases. During my 26 years of private practice in both Alaska and Washington, I was fortunate to litigate and find resolutions for a wide range of civil cases, including personal injury and wrongful death, aviation, professional negligence, commercial and insurance disputes,  and employment matters.﻿I entered public service with the Alaska Attorney General's office in late 2011, and joined the Torts Division of the Washington Office of the Attorney General in September 2014. Here in Washington, I began by defending cases involving harm to children and vulnerable adults. I joined Torts Division’s Early Resolution Program in April 2017 and managed the program from September 2017 until my retirement from the AGO in June 2025. During that time, I mentored trial attorneys, assisted them in finding paths toward settlement, and frequently presented at trainings and CLEs on topics related to dispute resolution. ﻿During my eight years in the Torts Division's Early Resolution Program, I spent a great deal of time speaking directly with plaintiffs about their cases, and the damages they claimed. Having this direct contact opened new perspectives on the various ways resolutions could be achieved for their cases. This collaborative process provided a solid basis for a transition to work as a mediator. I have always thrived on the challenges surrounding dispute resolution and look forward to assisting litigants find cost effective and creative ways to bring their cases to a fair conclusion. 

Public Practice:﻿Washington Office of the Attorney General, Torts DivisionSep 2014 - June 2025﻿Sep 2017- Jun 2025 - Managing attorney for the Torts Division Early Resolution ProgramSep 2017 to Jul 2021, Managing attorney for the Torts Division Early Resolution Program and Torts Investigations Section.Apr 2017 to Sep 2017, Assistant attorney general in the Early Resolution Program.Sep 2014 to Apr 2017, Assistant attorney general defending cases brought against the Washington Department of Social and Health Services.﻿State of Alaska Department of Law, Commercial & Fair Business SectionNov 2011 - Sep 2014 ﻿Assistant attorney general prosecuting civil enforcement actions against all licensed occupations. Assisted other divisions with litigated matters, including trials.﻿Private Practice:﻿Guess & Rudd, P.C., Anchorage, Alaska  1993-2004, 2005-2011﻿Wide-ranging insurance coverage and defense practice, including coverage analysis, trials and appeals.  Defense of employment claims, personal injury and commercial disputes, insurance bad faith defense, and first and third party coverage work, product liability, professional negligence, as well as general commercial work and creditor representation in bankruptcy matters.  Shareholder of firm for twelve years.
Reed McClure, Seattle, Washington2004-2005   Principal of the firm, with a similar practice in insurance defense, employment and insurance coverage matters.   ﻿Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh, Anchorage, Alaska1985-1992﻿Attorney, involved in a variety of insurance defense and coverage matters that included aviation, municipal liability, product liability, and professional malpractice, as well as bankruptcy, commercial litigation, and ERISA litigation.  
Education and Training:
Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Mediating the Litigated Case - 2025﻿Alhadeff & Forbes, Advanced Mediator Training - 2008﻿Willamette University College of Law,  J.D. - 1985
University of Puget Sound, B.A. - 1982	

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