Tom often works with closely held businesses advising on business and employment matters, contract matters, and litigation risk analysis. Before joining the firm in 1999, Tom was in private practice with the Seattle firm of Franklin & Olson. He had been a partner with Lerch, Early & Brewer in Bethesda, Maryland (1989-1997). Other experience includes serving as an Assistant Attorney General in the Oregon Department of Justice, concentrating on financial fraud and Civil Racketeering cases, and as a trial attorney with the Metropolitan Public Defender Service in Portland. Tom served as Law Clerk to the Honorable William Hungate, U.S. District Court, St. Louis, Missouri.
CONTACT INFO
206-892-2147
tom.lerner@stokeslaw.com
PRACTICE AREAS
Litigation
Real Estate
Business
Employment
Creditor Rights
EDUCATION
Washington University School of Law, J.D., Order of the Barrister (1980)
Franklin and Marshall College, B.A. in Government (1977)
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
Washington (1997)
Oregon (1980)
Maryland (1990)
Virginia (1991)
District of Columbia (1989)
U.S. Supreme Court (1990)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2002), Fourth Circuit (1991) and Court of Federal Claims (1993)
ASSISTANT
REPRESENTATIVE WORK
Preventive advice on employment law issues, primarily for employers, and employment law advice and negotiation assistance for individuals.
Representation of banks and businesses in commercial litigation, enforcement of promissory notes and guarantees, real estate foreclosures, and on behalf of creditors in bankruptcy matters.
Provide ongoing advice to physicians and other medical providers with regard to business aspects of medical practice management, including employment and shareholder agreements, transactions and medical billing service contracts.
PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Chair, Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection Committee (2010)
Vice Chair, Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection Committee (2009)
Member, Lake Forest Park Planning Commission (2005-2008)
PUBLICATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
"Stark III: Did It Cripple Non-Competition Agreements In An Effort To Save Them?" King County Medical Society Bulletin, Volume 87, Number 10 (November 2008)
"In Your Client's Best Interests - Ethical Considerations," Defending Wrongful Discharge Claims, presentation for National Business Institute (December 10, 2007)
"Rethinking Production Based Compensation Plans," King County Medical Society Bulletin, Volume 85, Number 8 (September 2006)
"Ethics," advanced employment law continuing legal education presentation for National Business Institute (June 26, 2006)
"Physician Employment: Noncompete Agreements, Arbitration Provisions, and Post-employment References," King County Medical Society Bulletin, Volume 84, Number 8 (September 2005)
"Avoiding Employee Termination Lawsuits in Washington," continuing legal education presentation for National Business Institute (September 19, 2005)
"Bankruptcy and the Defalcating Fiduciary," continuing legal education presentation for Washington State Bar (March 2005)
"Preparing and Implementing a Deposition Plan," continuing legal education presentation for Washington State Bar (July 2004)
"Concierge Practices: Pandora or Panacea?" King County Medical Society Bulletin, Volume 82, Number 10 (November 2003)
"Medical Office Management: Planning for Transitions," oral presentation to the Medical Staff of Overlake Hospital, Bellevue, Washington (April 24, 2001)
"Surviving the Shrinking Dollar: The Business Impact of the Squeeze on Physicians," King County Medical Society Bulletin, Volume 80, Number 3 (March/April 2001)
RECOGNITION
AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review
Tom seemed headed towards a career in law since way back in second grade, when the principal of P.S. 203 in Queens, NY said he might as well make productive use of his debate skills by becoming a lawyer.
RECOMMENDED LINKS
www.occ.treas.gov/index.html
www.wsjprimerate.us
www.secstate.wa.gov/corps/search.aspx
http://mlb.mlb.com/index.jsp