ATTORNEYS AT LAW
While the WALSTEAD LAW FIRM offers a broad spectrum of legal services, each of the attorneys at WALSTEAD MERTSCHING PS limits his or her individual practice to specific areas of law. The result is a true general practice law firm, capable of serving the vast majority of our clients’ legal needs.
To read an attorney’s biography, please click on his or her name. |
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MATTHEW J. ANDERSEN joined the firm in 2000. He became a Shareholder in 2004.
Mr. Andersen’s practice emphasizes general civil litigation, real estate litigation, construction litigation and insurance defense. He is licensed to practice in both Washington and Oregon. While attending Willamette University School of Law, Mr. Andersen received a certificate in dispute resolution, served as an editor for the Willamette Law Review and played varsity football.
Mr. Andersen is on the Board of Directors for the Lewis River Life Hope Pregnancy Center, a member of the Woodland Rotary and member of Grace Community Church in Woodland, Washington.
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Admitted to:
Washington State Bar and Oregon State Bar, 2000.
Education:
Willamette University, B.A. (History/Religous Studies), 1996;
Willamette University, College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1999.
Affiliations:
Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Bar Association, Member.
Areas of Practice:
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CHELSEA C. BALDWIN joined the firm in 2006. She became a Shareholder in 2009.
Ms. Baldwin’s practice emphasizes family law, landlord/tenant and general civil litigation.
She is involved in Cowltiz County CERT (Civilian Emergency Response Team), Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Task Force, AWANA (youth program), Calvary Community Church and Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Legal Aid, Board Member.
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Admitted to:
Washington State Bar, 2005.
Education:
University of Washington, B.S. (Sociology/Society/Justice), 2002;
Gonzaga University, School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2005.
Affiliations:
Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Bar Association, Member and Board Member.
Areas of Practice:
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JOHN A. BARLOW joined the firm in 1970, then became a Shareholder in 1971.
Mr. Barlow represents injured persons in matters ranging from auto accidents and wrongful death to defective products. He has been a frequent speaker at seminars on trial and insurance law, and he was a contributing editor of the national book published by Callaghan titled “Handling Motor Vehicle Accident Cases.” Mr. Barlow has been selected by the “Washington Law & Politics” magazine as a personal injury “Washington Superlawyer” for every year that the award has been in existance.
Mr. Barlow has been a Past President of Longview Kiwanis; Past Member, Board of Directors of the Longview Chamber of Commerce; and Member of Board of Directors for the Longview Country Club.
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Admitted to:
Ohio State Bar and Washington State Bar, 1969;
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, 1969;
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington, 1994.
Education:
Ohio State University, B.S. (Education), 1963;
Ohio State University, College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1968, Law Review Member.
Affiliations:
Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Bar Association, Member and Past President;
Washington State Association of Justice, Past Chair of the Insurance Law Section, Board of Directors, Past Vice President-West;
Advocate for American Board of Trial Advocates;
Ohio State Law Review, Member and Editorial Staff;
American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow.
Areas of Practice:
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MARK S. BRUMBAUGH joined the firm in 1992. He became a Shareholder in 1996.
Mr. Brumbaugh primarily represents individuals injured as a result of another’s negligence. His areas of focus include: automobile, motorcycle and trucking collisions; medical and nursing home malpractice; defective product claims; and automobile insurance claims. He also represents workers who have not been paid earned wages or who have been the victims of discrimination, sexual harassment or wrongful termination.
Mr. Brumbaugh is a Past Board Member, Vice-President and Director of Legal Affairs for the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts. He previously served as Managing Editor of the Journal of Environmental Law and Litigation for the University of Oregon, School of Law.
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Admitted to:
Washington State Bar, 1992;
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, 1995.
Education:
University of Washington, B.A. (Psychology), 1988;
University of Oregon School of Law, J.D., 1991.
Affiliations:
Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Bar Association, Member;
Washington State Associations for Justice (Eagle);
American Associations for Justice.
Areas of Practice:
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MICHAEL A. CLAXTON joined the firm in 1995 and has been a Shareholder since 1999.
Mr. Claxton concentrates his practice in the ares of estate planning, probate, guardianships, elder law, business/corporate and landlord/tenant issues. He is licensed to practice in both Washington and Oregon.
Mr. Claxton is on the Board of Directors for the Kelso-Longview Chamber of Commerce, Cowlitz Valley Runners, the Lower Columbia College Foundation and YMCA.
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Admitted to:
Washington State Bar, 1995;
Oregon State Bar, 1996;
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, 1995.
Education:
Indiana University, B.A. (Journalism), 1983;
Portland State University, M.B.A., 1992;
Willamette University, College of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1995.
Affiliations:
Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Bar Association, Member.
Areas of Practice:
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BARRY J. DAHL joined the firm in 1971 and has been a Shareholder since 1973.
Mr. Dahl provides legal representation in family law (dissolutions, custody, property division and support) and also represents the Kelso and Woodland Diking Improvement Districts, North Kelso and Willow Grove Diking and Drainage Districts, as well as the Lexington Flood Control Zone District.
He has been a resident of Longview since 1971. Mr. Dahl has been actively involved in community volunteer work as the Past Board Member and Past President of the Adult Development Center from 1979 to 2008 and present Board Member of Residential Resources; Past President of the Longview Pioneer Lions and Longview Ski Club; Past Board Member of the Longview Jaycees and Cowlitz County Slow Pitch Association. He has also been selected to the Cowlitz County Slow Pitch Hall of Fame.
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Admitted to:
Washington State Bar, 1971;
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, 1975;
U.S. Supreme Court Bar, 1975.
Education:
Centralia College, A.A., 1965;
University of Washington, B.S. (Psychology), 1967;
University of Washington, School of Law, J.D., 1971.
Affiliations:
Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Bar Association, Member and Past President;
Phi Alpha Delta, Member.
Areas of Practice:
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NORMAN C. DICK joined the firm in 1983 and has been a Shareholder since 1987.
Mr. Dick focuses his practices on civil litigation, real estate, commercial collections and insurance defense. He also represents businesses and individuals concerning contracts, liens, real estate transactions, leases and landlord/tenant issues. He is the recipient of a professionalism award from the Washington State Bar Association and the American Jurisprudence Award in Evidence.
He grew up in the Kelso-Longview area. His community services includes Kelso Public Schools Foundation, Board of Directors; a volunteer youth baseball coach, youth basketball volunteer, youth soccer sponsor and Lutheran Church Membership.
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Admitted to:
Washington State Bar, 1983;
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, 1984;
United States Supreme Court, 1987.
Education:
Lewis and Clark College, B.A. (History), 1980;
Lewis and Clark College, Northwestern School of Law, J.D., 1983.
Affiliations:
Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Bar Association, Member and Past President.
Areas of Practice:
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D. L. "DON" DONALDSON retired from the firm in 2007.
His practice emphasized professional malpractice and insurance defense, as well as representing many local corporations in civil litigation cases. He also acted as counsel for the Port of Longview.
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Admitted to:
Washington State Bar, 1962.
Education:
University of Idaho, B.S., Business Administration/Pre-Law, 1956;
Gonzaga University School of Law, LL.B., 1962.
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ADAM C. GUENTHER joined the firm in 2009 with five years combined experience assisting workers in their efforts to form labor unions and negotiate agreements. He has represented both labor and management at arbitrations concerning issues regarding an existing collective bargaining agreement.
Guenther's practice at WALSTEAD MERTSCHING PS consists of general civil litigation including personal injury, labor law, employment law, and contract disputes.
Guenther is a graduate of Eastern Oregon University (magna cum laude) and he received his J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law in 2008. Prior to law school Guenther taught English as part of a State Department work study program through the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico, and is fluent in Spanish.
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Admitted to:
Washington State Bar, 2008;
Education:
Eastern Oregon University, B.A. (Economics), 2003;
University of Oregon School of Law, J.D., 2008.
Affiliations:
Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Bar Association, Member;
Washington State Association for Justice, Member;
National Employment Lawyers Association.
Areas of Practice:
Employment - Discrimination, Wage Claims, Wrongful Termination;
Insurance Claims;
Personal Injury/Wrongful Death;
Alternative Dispute Resolution;
Labor Relations.
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LUKE HANSEN joined the firm in 2009.
Hansen is a 2003 graduate of St. Norbert College (Wisconsin) and graduated in 2006 from the University of North Dakota School of Law. After law school Hansen spent a year as a law clerk for the North Dakota Supreme Court. He then spent two years as a law clerk for the United Stated District Court for the District of North Dakota.
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Admitted to:
Washington State Bar, 2007;
Education:
St. Norbert College, B.A. (Political Science/Business), 2003;
University of North Dakota School of Law (with distinction), 2006.
Affiliations:
Washington State Bar, Young Lawyers Division
Areas of Practice:
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ODINE H. HUSEMOEN joined the firm in 1964 after serving a year as a law clerk for the Washington Supreme Court. He became a Shareholder in 1966.
Mr. Husemoen is primarily a trial lawyer, devoting his practice to cases involving real estate, contract and construction litigation, as well as insurance defense cases and representing employers in employment disputes.
His community service involves: FISH, Board of Directors; Longview Committee for an activies/senior center, Chairman; Legal Aid volunteer; and Strategic Christian Services (international organization), Board Member.
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Admitted to:
Washington State Bar, 1963;
Washington State Supreme Court, 1963;
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, 1964;
U.S. Supreme Court, 1992.
Education:
University of Washington, B.A. (Political Science) 1960;
University of Washington, School of Law, J.D., 1963.
Affiliations:
Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Bar Association, Member;
Washington Association of Defense Attorneys.
Areas of Practice:
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CHARLES T. MERTSCHING retired from the firm in 2006.
He provided representation in the areas of business/corportion law, real estate transactions, probate adminstration and estate planning.
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Admitted to:
Washington State Bar, 1958
Education:
Whitman College, B.A., Political Science, 1955;
University of Washington School of Law, J.D., 1958
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FRANK F. RANDOLPH joined the firm in 2002 and has been a Shareholder since 2005.
Mr. Randolph focuses on real estate, corporate/business law, land use, construction litigation, homeowners associations and general litigation.
He retired from the Navy as a Commander having served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. He is a member of the Executive Board of the Lower Columbia Contractor’s Association and is a member of the Mark Morris High School Foundation.
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Admitted to:
Virginia State Bar and Louisiana State Bar, 1980;
Washington State Bar, 2002.
Education:
University of North Carolina, B.A., 1977 (Peace, War & Defense);
University of Virginia Law School, J.D., 1980;
Naval Postgraduate School, M.A. (Strategic Planning, with honors), 1988.
Affiliations:
Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Bar Association, Member and Past President;
Phi Beta Kappa, Member.
Areas of Practice:
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STEPHEN L. WANDERER joined the firm in 1973 and become a Shareholder in 1976.
Mr. Wanderer’s practice emphasizes estate planning, estate and trust administration and business/corporate law. He is one of the few attorneys in Southwest Washington admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court.
He is a member of Longview Rotary and the Estate Planning Council of Southwest Washington.
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Admitted to:
Washington State Bar, 1972;
United States Tax Court, 1980.
Education:
University of Washington, B.A. (Mathematics), 1967;
Gonzaga University, School of Law, J.D., 1972;
New York University, LL.M (Taxation), 1980.
Affiliations:
Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Bar Associations, Member;
Former Law Clerk to Hon. Morell E. Sharp, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington;
Gonzaga Law Review, Editor-in-Chief.
Areas of Practice:
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