Connect with Peers and Practitioners through WSBA's 29 Sections
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Sections members become part of active professional communities and gain access to an array of exclusive section member benefits. Over 10,000 WSBA members currently belong to one or more of the WSBA’s 29 sections. The section membership year begins Jan. 1.
Member Benefits
In the past year, WSBA Sections have sponsored approximately 70 CLE seminars and hosted multiple professional networking events around the state. Various sections offer a plethora of member benefits, including, but not limited to:
- List serve communities
- Newsletters, reports, deskbooks, and sourcebooks
- Free and discounted CLEs
- Opportunities to engage in the Washington state legislative process
...and more! Join a Section Today!
For general sections questions, send an email with your Bar number to sections@wsba.org or call 800-945-9722.
WSBA Sections
Creditor Debtor Rights Section
The Creditor Debtor Rights Section offers its members numerous opportunities to stay current on relevant legal issues, comment on legislation, and participate in pro bono activities.
Section members represent a diverse array of individuals and businesses working as debtors, debtors-in-possession, secured and unsecured creditors, creditors' committees, receivers, trustees, asset purchasers, and examiners in all facets of creditor-debtor law.
On this site you can find links to additional information concerning the Section, including administration and governance; seminars, such as The Annual Northwest Bankruptcy Institute and the Pacific Northwest's premier seminar for insolvency counsel (cosponsored with the Oregon State Bar); Section projects, such as the annual grant award to associations that promote the mission of the Section; and legislative updates and news.
Annual Report | Budget | Bylaws | Resources
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Open Position - Section Newsletter Editor
The Creditor Debtor Rights Section is seeking to fill this nonvoting position on the executive committee. See links below for more information and a sample issue.
Any and all interested volunteers are encouraged to submit a brief statement articulating their interest and the reasons why they believe they would be a good candidate for the job.
These statements of interest are due no later than March 15, 2021 and should be emailed to William Malaier (wmalaier@omwlaw.com), copying Todd (todd@thetracylawgroup.com),
Comments Request: Proposed Receivership Act Revisions
The current Washington Receivership Act was enacted in 2004. After 15 years of practice under the Act, the Creditor Debtor Section convened a Receivership Task Force to review the current Washington Receivership Act and to propose possible amendments to the Act based upon practice experience.
The Receivership Task Force represented all constituencies in the receivership process and was comprised of Aimee Willig (Seattle), Barry Davidson (Spokane), Dominique Scalia (Seattle), Douglas Cameron (Seattle), Jennifer Faubion (Seattle), Kevin Hanchett (Seattle) and Shelly Ripley (Spokane), Steven Reilly (Seattle).
After several meetings, the Task Force has drafted proposed amendments to the Washington Receivership Act.
Proposed Amendment to RCW 61.24.030
Proposed Amendment to RCW 7.60.130 (Cannabis Cases)
Proposed Amendment to RCW 7.60 Receivers
If you have any comments on the proposed amendments, please forward them to Todd Tracy at todd@thetracylawgroup.com or 1601 Fifth Ave., Suite 610, Seattle, WA, 98101. Comments should be received by Dec. 31, 2020.
Grants Program
Historically, the CD Section has allocated a meaningful portion of its net revenue (derived primarily from its CLE sponsorship and production efforts) to fund grants to non-profits operating in the arena of consumer protection and insolvency law. The amount of money offered each year varies with the budget cycle.
Congratulations to the following 2019–2020 grant recipients:
- Chelan-Douglas County Volunteer Attorney Services
- Lavender Rights Project
Executive Committee
Officers serve two-year terms.
Chair: William Malaier, Jr. Chair-Elect: Bruce Medeiros Secretary/Treasurer: Todd Tracy Immediate Past Chair: Kevin O'Rourke Young Lawyer Liaison*: vacant Board of Governors Liaison*: Matthew Dresden Pos. 1 Eastern District Pos. 2 Eastern District Pos. 3 Northern Division of Western District |
Pos. 4 King County Pos. 5 King County Pos. 6 Southern Division of Western District Pos. 7 Southern Division of Western District Pos. 8 Eastern Division At-Large Pos. 9 Western District At-Large Newsletter Editor* *Nonvoting member |
Please contact subcommittee member for details on their upcoming meeting dates and locations.
Join Our List Serve
To join the Section list serve and for general questions, please contact sections@wsba.org. For questions about the Section and to get involved, please contact Section Chair William Malaier, Jr.
Questions?
Feel free to contact any member of the current Section Executive Committee or email sections@wsba.org.