Listed below are some areas of law in which our firm practices and general descriptions of those areas of practice. Our attorneys are experienced in other legal matters also. This website is intended to provide general information about the firm’s practice. You should not rely upon the general information you find in this website without discussing your legal concerns with an experienced attorney. Please either click the link below to request a consultation with an attorney or call the office today. Always fully discuss your legal questions with an attorney before making decisions that may affect your legal rights. Do not delay because your rights may be lost due to the passage of time.
Employment Law
Employment issues affect individuals and business every day. Both individuals and businesses need to know what their rights and obligations are in the employment relationship. Whether you are an employee trying to determine your rights or you are an employer trying to understand your legal obligations to your employees, Winkelman Law Firm can assist you. Our attorneys have the resources, tools, and experience to effectively counsel you and advise you of your legal rights. Our attorneys are experienced in pursuing and defending employment claims of many types, including employment contracts, discrimination claims, retaliation claims, overtime claims and claims related to non-compete, non-solicit and non-disclosure/confidentiality agreements. In addition to our litigation work, we also counsel and assist employers in taking actions to prevent employment lawsuits. We counsel individuals on how to work through employment issues to avoid litigation and protect and preserve their rights.
Our attorneys are experienced in the following areas:
Employment Discrimination;
Drafting employment policies and handbooks;
Overtime and Equal Pay Claims;
Drafting and reviewing Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation, Non-Disclosure/Confidentiality Agreements.
Personal Injury – Wrongful Death
If you or a loved one has been the victim of an injury caused by the negligence of another person or company, we may be able to help. Winkelman Law Firm handles personal injury matters and represents innocent victims and their families against the responsible parties. If you are deciding on whether or not to accept the insurance company’s settlement offer or sue for higher damages, our personal injury lawyers can help. We handle cases on a contingent fee basis, which means you pay nothing (other than out-of-pocket expenses) unless we successfully recover money on your behalf. Call our office now for a free consultation.
Personal Injury Cases We Handle
Our law office handles all types of personal injury matters in Western Washington. If your case involves a specialized area of law, medicine or science we may associate other lawyers or law firms with practice emphasis in your type of case. Our practice areas include:
- Dog Bites & Animal Attacks
- Watercraft & Boating Accidents
- Head and Spine Injuries
- Burn Injuries
- Bicycle Accidents
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Automobile Accidents
- Trucking Accidents
- Serious Injuries
- Medical Malpractice
- Premises Liability (Slip + Fall Accidents)
- Wrongful Death
Family Law
The attorneys of Winkelman Law Firm confidently handle any type of proceeding for dissolution of marriage (divorce) from an uncomplicated divorce with no children and little property to complex cases involving significant assets and contested child custody issues. Our firm strives to provide clients with a realistic perspective of their case and the potential outcomes. We work diligently to achieve our clients’ goals, within the bounds of professional and ethical representation. The lawyers have helped hundreds of people in all types of cases. We start by listening to your needs and then ensure you fully understand how each of your decisions will impact your family. We believe mediation and negotiated settlements are often a preferable alternative to litigation, but we will fight aggressively for your rights if settlement is not attainable.
Divorce – including dissolution of marriage and domestic partnership dissolution
Legal separation – including legal separation agreements
Child custody and visitation – including legal and physical custody and parenting plans
Child and spousal support – including calculating child support according to the current child support guidelines
Prenuptial and post nuptial agreements – including domestic partnership agreements-Parentage suits – including determining child support obligations
Division of marital property – including valuation issues
Domestic partnerships – including assistance with adoptions, pre and post domestic partnership agreements
Post-divorce modifications – including child support modifications, child custody modifications, and child visitation modifications
Adoptions – including step-parent adoptions-Guardianships – involves appointing a guardianship over the person or estate or both
Relocation – Including out of state or country relocations for moving or non-moving parents
Mediation – Arbitration
Alternative dispute resolution methods such as arbitration and mediation sometimes give disputing parties a more cost-effective and time-saving approach to resolving their conflicts. Arbitrations are different from trials in that instead of a judge or jury, a third-party neutral mediator or arbitrator presides over a conflict. Arbitrations usually are binding and the arbitrator acts like a judge, ruling on evidence and issuing a decision on the outcome of the conflict.
Our attorneys are experienced in mediation and arbitration in both representing our clients in the process and offering mediation or arbitration services to third parties. Winkelman Law Firm, Inc. hosts more than 20 offices and conference spaces at the firm to accommodate our larger corporate clients as well as hosting or providing mediation and arbitration services to multiple party disputes.
Corporate Business Law
Winkelman Law Firm has experience in many areas of business law including business formation, preparation of contracts and agreements, sale and purchase of businesses, financing and funding for business operations, business litigation and dissolution of a business. Our attorneys advise clients on creating closely held businesses, limited liability companies, partnerships and corporations.
General Civil Practice
Winkelman Law Firm provides comprehensive legal counsel to a broad spectrum of businesses and individuals. Our firm has experience in many types of disputes, including construction, real estate and business litigation. The list of clients we have represented as either plaintiffs or defendants includes start-up ventures, family owned businesses, privately held companies, publicly held corporations, insurance companies and individuals in the civic and business world. Mr. Winkelman has earned a reputation for aggressive, efficient and successful representation of our clients. Our lawyers have substantial trial experience and have litigated civil cases at all levels of the courts in Washington state. Although we have great pride in our litigation expertise, we recognize that litigation is not always the best choice for our clients. In some cases, mediation, arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution techniques present the best possibilities for our clients’ success. In those instances, our lawyers are able to utilize their comprehensive experience in all facets of alternative dispute resolution to successfully resolve our clients’ disputes. In deciding between litigation and alternative dispute resolution, we do not recommend a path of action without carefully evaluating both the merits of the case and all the extenuating circumstances that exist in our clients’ day-to-day business environment.
Banking – Credit Union Law
Our attorneys represent credit unions, banks, individuals, and businesses in breach of contract claims, check fraud, forgery, misrepresentation, collections, and various banking disputes. We will work to defend you, recover any financial losses, and restore your rights. Mr. Winkelman has successfully represented credit unions, banks, and businesses in litigation and other disputes involving UCC, banking, and credit union law. If you are a representative of a credit union, bank, or business, our attorneys can thoroughly investigate and litigate your case and protect your institution or business’ rights and interests
Estate Planning and Litigation
Winkelman Law Firm represents clients in all matters related to their estate planning needs including:
Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Directives: We can help you draft your will and draft a power of attorney for your finances, health care, and other areas of your life. We can also help you outline your wishes for medical care—in the event that you become incapacitated—with a Health Care Directive (Living Will).
Trusts: Whether your trust is a basic trust or a complex trust, our lawyers will simplify the process for you so that your assets are protected and transferred to your beneficiaries when the time comes. We will work closely with your accountant, life insurance agent and stockbroker or investment advisors to assure your needs are met.
Estate Litigation: Our firm can assist if you are in need of an attorney to represent you in disputes involving estates, wills, beneficiaries, heirs, trusts, trustees and guardianships.
