Legal Services & Lawyers

Jamie founded Phinney Estate Law in 2007 as a way of addressing a need she saw in the community for affordable, values-based estate planning and as a way to develop a legal practice that was consistent with her own values and legal philosophy. Before founding Phinney Estate Law Jamie worked as a litigation associate at Cozen O'Connor, as an attorney advisor for the U.S. Department of Justice, and as legal intern for Northwest Immigration Rights Project and Northwest Justice Project.

Jamie began her work in estate law in 2005 as a pro bono attorney with King County Volunteer Attorneys for Persons with HIV/AIDS (VAPWA). She found that she enjoyed the opportunity to help clients with the planning process and and the chance to think creatively with these clients to address the unique needs of their situations. She also appreciated the opportunity to work with clients to avoid conflicts. In addition to her work with VAPWA, Jamie also did pro bono work and/or worked for non-profits providing clients with assistance with immigration petitions, naturalization, applications for public benefits, and family law cases. She continues to devote 30% of her practice to pro bono work and free community education. As part of that service, Jamie serves as a volunteer attorney facilitator for the ex-party probate and guardianship calendar in King County.

Since founding Phinney Estate Law, Jamie has had the opportunity to work with individual or families in a variety of situations. She has worked with newlyweds, young families, single business owners, blending families, the terminally ill, and non-married clients. It is her experience that each family, no matter how traditional or non-traditional, is truly unique and, once you get to know them, have unique needs.

When she is not working, Jamie volunteers her time to a number of local community groups including the Seattle Milk Fund, Phinney EcoVillage, Phinney-Greenwoood Climate Change Action Now, and the Greenwood Arts Council and is the elected Democratic PCO for her neighborhood. She is a practicing Quaker with the Salmon Bay Friends Circle. She also enjoys spending time with her family and friends and loves spending a much time as possible enjoying the outdoors. She is in three book clubs and is always looking for a good book. She also carves and prints block prints which can occasionally be seen in shops and coffee house in the Phinney-Greenwood neighborhood.

Jamie is a member of the Washington State Bar Association sections on Probate and Elder Law. She is also a member of the King County Bar Association sections on Probate and Elder Law. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the King County Bar Association Collaborative Law Section and Liaison to the KCBA Elder Law Section. She is also a member of the International Holistic Lawyerâs Association.

A brief bit about me...

I am the first person in my family to attend college and went into the Army right out of high school to see the world and figure out some way to pay for college. I was an intelligence analyst and viewed as one of the best in the world at my particular are of specialty. At age 22, I was delivering presentations in the Pentagon regarding the intelligence planning for major military exercises.

I left the military to attend college. I did my undergrad at Seattle University where I majored in Finance. As I contemplated which path to take for grad school, I chose law school, viewing law school as a unique skill set that would benefit me in the corporate world.

During my second year of law school, I was hired by a large Canadian corporation that had purchased a business in Seattle and wanted someone to develop a strategic growth plan for the business unit. This led to a permanent job offer and a relocation to Toronto following graduation.

Working in Toronto had its ups and downs. I found myself completely involved with my job and constantly traveling across North America. The traveling eventually took its toll and maybe I became a little homesick for the Pacific Northwest.

I left the company in 2002 and opened my own law practice in Tacoma. From the beginning, I have been committed to providing value to my clients through hard work, reasonable rates and desired results.

The defining principle of my practice is that everyone is entitled to have his or her conduct judged and regulated in accordance with the law, and should not suffer because that conduct fails to accord with someone else's personal opinions, morals, or beliefs.

A client is entitled to straightforward advice expressing the lawyer's honest assessment. Legal advice often involves unpleasant facts and alternatives that a client may be disinclined to confront. That said, in presenting advice, I endeavor to sustain the client's morale and to put advice in as acceptable a form as honesty permits.

My practice is a general practice with a focus on family law, immigration and appellate work in Seattle, Washington. I have a working knowledge of Russian and German, which facilitates my work with members of the Russian community in the areas of family law and immigration.

For the past 16 years, I have concentrated on family law and immigration. In the family law arena, I have argued dozens of cases before a variety of courts and in a variety of counties: from Pacific county in the south to Clallam county in the north.

Families have always been my focus; from child custody litigation, child support, modifications, divorce, processing immigrant fiance' and marriage petitions to arranging foreign adoptions. Whenever a child is involved, great care must be taken to protect that child from being exposed to the legal problems, which often place the parents at odds with one another

Bruce S. Davis was born in Bellevue and raised in Seattle and Burien, Washington. He enlisted in the United States Navy in April 1986 as a Seaman Recruit (E-1), completed Boot Camp at Great Lakes Recruit Training Center near Chicago, Illinois, and completed Seaman Apprentice School at Naval Training Center San Diego, California. Seaman Apprentice Davis' first assignment was on board USS McKee (AS 41) at Submarine Base Point Loma, California, followed by duty on board USS Mahlon S. Tisdale (FFG 27) at Naval Station San Diego, California. In 1988, Seaman Davis was selected to attend the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island as a Midshipman Candidate. He left active duty in 1989.

In 1990, Davis joined the Washington Army National Guard as a Private First Class in B Company, 1-803rd Armor, was trained and awarded the 19E MOS (M60 Armor Crewman), and advanced to Specialist. He later transitioned with the battalion to the 19K MOS (M1 Armor Crewman) and upon deactivation of the 1-803rd, Davis was assigned to 1-303rd Armor and the 81st Brigade. In 1996, Specialist Davis transferred to 3-161st Infantry (Mechanized) as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle crewman (11M MOS). Specialist Davis was awarded the Washington Commendation Medal for service with the Joint Forces Headquarters tactical operations center during the Makah whaling protest state active duty call up in Neah Bay, Washington. He served briefly as a Cadet (MS-3) with the ROTC Simultaneous Membership Program at the University of Washington in 1998, remaining with 3-161st Infantry in that capacity until the expiration of his term of service in the Guard in 1999, followed by drills as a Cadet with the 6th JAG Detachment (Legal Support Organization), 70th Reserve Readiness Command, Fort Lawton.

Between 1996 and 2004, Davis completed his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of Washington, completed his Master of Public Administration at Seattle University's Institute of Public Service, engaged in graduate studies abroad at Uppsala Universitet, Sweden, and completed his Juris Doctorate at the College of William & Mary. After law school and sitting for the Washington State bar exam, Davis returned to the United States Navy, joining the Navy Reserve as a Petty Officer Third Class (E-4), rated Yeoman, on board USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) at Naval Station Everett, Washington. While awaiting the results of his bar exam, Petty Officer Davis was ordered to active duty and deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans on board USS Rodney M. Davis in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. FFG 60 conducted VBSS (vessel boarding, search and seizure), vessel escort, and resupply missions for land forces engaged in Global War On Terrorism operations. Petty Officer Davis was advanced meritoriously to Petty Officer Second Class (E-5) during this deployment. Upon his return from deployment in 2005, Petty Officer Davis was sworn in as a member of the Washington State Bar, accepted a position as a corporate attorney in Beijing, China, and was selected for advancement to Petty Officer First Class (E-6) before leaving the Navy.

Davis returned to the Washington National Guard in January 2008, receiving his commission as a First Lieutenant, Judge Advocate and was assigned as Command Trial Counsel for the 66th Theater Aviation Command, Fort Lewis. He attended the Judge Advocate Officer Basic Course at the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, VA, completing the course with distinction in May 2008 on the Commandant's List. Lieutenant Davis completed his Direct Commissioned Officer and Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in June 2008. Upon returning to Washington, Lieutenant Davis volunteered for transfer to the 81st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, then preparing for deployment to Iraq, and was placed on active duty for special work at Camp Murray supporting the brigade's mobilization, serving as a Legal Assistance Attorney at the Office of the State Judge Advocate, Joint Forces Headquarters, Washington National Guard, Camp Murray, providing legal advice and assistance to deploying members of the 81st Brigade and their families.

Lieutenant Davis deployed with the 81st Brigade in August 2008 as Brigade Trial Counsel. Following post-mobilization training and certification at Fort McCoy, WI and the Brigade's transition into U.S. Army Central Command's Area of Operations via Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Lieutenant Davis was positioned with 1st Battalion, 161 Infantry (CAB) at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. While there, he assumed duties with 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)'s Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (Consolidated Legal Center) as Brigade Trial Counsel for the 304th Sustainment Brigade and Trial Counsel for 3d ESC, while continuing to serve as Brigade Trial Counsel for the 81st Brigade. He was promoted to Captain with a date of rank of 31 March 2009. Captain Davis currently serves as prosecutor for military justice actions arising both at Joint Base Balad and within the 81st Brigade at Ramadi, Iraq.

Captain Davis' awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Washington Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (2 awards), Naval Reserve Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2 awards), Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M Device, Army Service Ribbon, Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy Reserve Sea Service Ribbon, National Guard Service Ribbon (10 years), and Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation (w/Katrina device).

Captain Davis is married to Ms Moyan Wang, an international business consultant from Beijing. They make their home in Washington State.