News & Highlights

We are excited to welcome two Senior Associates to our Estate Planning team. Returning to the firm is Amanda Nathan. Her practice focuses on a blend of estate planning, probate and real estate. She enjoys exploring the often complex connections among these practice areas. New to the firm is Emma Luton. With solid estate planning experience and an LL.M in Taxation, she particularly enjoys helping families navigate the state and federal tax and non-tax considerations at play when preparing their estate plans.

Congratulations to Washington Super Lawyers:

Margaret Y. Archer (Land Use/Zoning – Top 50 Women Lawyers in Washington)

Stephanie L. Bloomfield (Business Litigation – Top 50 Women Lawyers in Washington)

Donald S. Cohen (Utilities, Regulatory & Administrative Law)

Dianne K. Conway (Environmental Litigation)

Maggie E. Diefenbach (Personal Injury Defense)

Mark G. Honeywell (Mediation & Arbitration)

Bradley B. Jones (Environmental Litigation)

Diane J. Kero (Defense Litigation)

William T. Lynn (Land Use/Zoning)

Alan D. Macpherson (Estate Planning)

Warren E. Martin (Labor & Employment)

Andrea H. McNeely (Business Litigation)

Salvador A. Mungia (PI; Med Mal – Plaintiff)

Eileen S. Peterson (Estate Planning/Elder Law)

Michael E. Ricketts (Insurance Coverage)

Congratulations to Washington Rising Stars:

Reuben Schutz (Land Use/Zoning)

Washington’s Supreme Court recently acknowledged that the legal profession bears responsibility for systemic racism against black Americans. At Gordon Thomas Honeywell, we agree, and we embrace the Court’s challenge to combat this ongoing injustice both individually and collectively. We honor our employees, clients, and neighbors who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. We believe that white people have a duty to educate themselves on anti-racist work and to embrace the discomfort of dismantling oppressive systems. We say, “Black Lives Matter” without reservation, and we recognize that statement is just a beginning – not an end – to the journey toward true equity to which we must all be dedicated.

Tacoma – The Association of Washington Spirits & Wine Distributors (AWSWD) today announced the appointment of Andrea McNeely as the organization’s new executive director, effective May 15. She will succeed current ED John Guadnola, who will continue to act as a senior advisor to the Association.

AWSWD represents Washington State’s spirits distributors at the state and local levels, as well as advocating for responsible laws and regulations relating to the distribution, sales and consumption of spirits and wines. McNeely succeeds retiring Executive Director John Guadnola, who has led the organization since its founding on January 1, 2013, after Initiative 1183 privatized the distribution and sale of spirits in Washington State. 

“Under John Guadnola’s stewardship, AWSWD has become one of the important advocates for Washington State’s three-tier system for the distribution of alcohol, which remains a critically important safeguard in ensuring that alcoholic beverages are produced and consumed responsibly. AWSWD has been committed to working closely and cooperatively with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board and other regulators to ensure the integrity of the alcohol distribution system, and I look forward to carrying on AWSWD’s advocacy for fair and responsible practices,” McNeely said. 

The three-tier system creates clear distinctions in the roles and responsibilities of producers, distributors, and retailers, thus ensuring that alcohol sales are carefully tracked and regulated and public health and safety is protected. 

“We are fortunate to have Andrea available to step up to fill John Guadnola’s shoes at the Association of Washington Spirits & Wine Distributors,” said AWSWD President John Klein, the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. “Like John, Andrea has substantial experience with and a deep knowledge of the three-tier system, and she is a strong proponent of effective regulation and oversight of spirits sales in Washington State.”

Like Guadnola, McNeely is a partner at Gordon Thomas Honeywell, where she has practiced law since 2005. McNeely is a magna cum laude graduate of Seattle University School of Law, and has extensive experience in business and employment litigation. 

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provides assistance to workers and employers affected by COVID-19. Because it utilizes federal funds and other funds administered through federal programs, a range of federal enforcement statutes will be implicated. These may include civil and criminal remedies that can be invoked when abuse is detected. The enforcement agency will vary depending upon the particular program involved, but the resulting civil litigation and/or criminal prosecution would be handled by the United States Department of Justice and the applicable United States Attorney’s Office. READ MORE…

Any business or individual receiving funds through any of the CARES Act programs should take immediate action if notified of any criminal or civil inquiry or investigation by a federal law enforcement agency.

For assistance in matters related to enforcement please contact Gordon Thomas Honeywell attorneys Kurt Hermanns and/or Steven Fawcett at the earliest possible stage of an investigation.

Keeping your business up-to-date on the various federal and state programs and resources available to employers and employees in responding to the COVID-19 crisis is no small task. The GTH Business and Employment Law group is committed to helping you do just that. Our team of experienced business and employment attorneys have prepared a summary of some of the resources available under the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act…READ MORE

If you or your business has any questions or requires assistance applying for any benefits included in the CARES Act, please contact one of our experienced Bussiness and Employment attorneys:

• Shelly Andrew
• Travis Mahugh
• Steven Fawcett

Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) provides additional economic resources for businesses dealing with the impact of COVID-19 on normal business operations. 

A key provision of the CARES Act is the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides “forgivable” loans through the Small Business Administration…READ MORE

If you or your business has any questions or requires assistance applying for any benefits included in the CARES Act, please contact one of our experienced Bussiness and Employment attorneys:

• Shelly Andrew
• Travis Mahugh
• Steven Fawcett

Gordon Thomas Honeywell is closely monitoring and evaluating the ever-changing status of the coronavirus that is impacting both our local communities and the world at large. We want to assure our clients that we are committed to protecting the health and safety of all members of our Firm and the clients we serve, while remaining available to assist our clients in this challenging time.

We had already implemented significant steps to protect our Firm members and clients. Our attorneys and staff are working remotely from home. In compliance with Governor Inslee’s Stay Home – Stay Healthy Order, our physical offices in Tacoma and Seattle are only minimally staffed as necessary to ensure that we can continue our remote business operations. There is no general access by the public to either office. Our attorneys nonetheless remain committed and available, by phone and email communication, to address client needs, including assisting clients to develop their own response to this pandemic. We will revise our operations as necessary and communicate changes to you promptly.

As the situation develops, we will continue to evaluate and adjust to implement additional measures to protect our GTH family, meet the needs of our clients and do our part to assist the larger community in combatting the spread of the virus. Please contact us if you have any questions or if we can help you in any way. Thank you.

Margaret Archer,
GTH Managing Partner

The measures being implemented by federal, state and local authorities to address the Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency are developing and changing rapidly. Just yesterday, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) into law. This broad-ranging statute imposes a number of new obligations on employers.

The Business and Employment Practice Group at Gordon Thomas Honeywell has prepared a summary for employers to help you navigate these difficult times. The complete summary can be viewed here: Summary of Families First Coronavirus Response Act