Welcome to CSD Attorneys at Law

We are excited to announce that we are rebranding with a new name as part of our firm’s ongoing growth. While our firm name has changed from Chmelik Sitkin & Davis to CSD Attorneys at Law, our highest priority remains our commitment to our clients.

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HomeCSD Attorneys at Law2023-06-19T10:30:18-07:00

Welcome to CSD Attorneys at Law

We Work With Those Who Make A Difference.

Established in 1984, CSD Attorneys at Law has a statewide practice based in Bellingham, Washington. We principally represent municipal governments, businesses, and the people who own and manage them. Our team of experienced attorneys quickly and efficiently provide our clients with high quality advice.

Our Office

1500 Railroad Avenue,
Bellingham, Washington 98225

Office: 360.671.1796

Our Attorneys

Jon Sitkin, Principal

Jon Sitkin’s practice concentrates on public utilities, land use, water rights, State Environmental Policy Act compliance, and shoreline regulation. Jon is senior counsel with the firm and is the former chair of the Firm’s land use group, now chaired by Tim Schermetzler. Jon is also part of the firm’s Water Law group with Sara Frase and Renee Larson and is active in the WRIA 1 (Nooksack River Basin) Adjudication, representing municipal governments, water associations, agricultural uses, water associations, and individual homeowners. As land use, real estate, and municipal issues in Northwest Washington become increasingly complex and challenging, clients willingly turn to Jon’s solution-oriented practice...

Practice Areas:
Land Use, Municipal Governments, Ports, Real Estate, Water Law

Richard A. Davis

Richard A. Davis III, Principal

Richard represents Fire Districts, Regional Fire Authorities, Port Districts as well as community associations and businesses.

As a municipal lawyer with over 30 years of experience, Richard advises on topics ranging from public contracting, employment and labor issues, open government issues, and interlocal agreements. He coordinates the Legal Committee for the Washington Fire Commissioners Association and is a frequent presenter on Open Government and other issues affecting public agencies.

Practice Areas:
Business Law, Condominium and Homeowners’ Associations, Construction Law, Employment and Labor Law, Fire and EMS, Litigation , Municipal Governments, and Ports

Katherine D. Deets

Katherine D. Deets, Principal

Katherine Deets represents individuals, businesses and governments in a variety of business, real estate, and estate matters. Her business practice includes assisting clients with entity selection and formation, contract review, preparation of shareholder, partnership and limited liability company agreements, and all aspects of business transactions including licensing, financing, mergers, acquisitions and sales. Katherine’s business and estate clients range from local to state wide to international clients. She frequently presents on corporate matters, estate matters, and government compliance with our state’s open government laws.

Practice Areas:
Business Law, Estate Planning and Probate, Ports, Real Estate

Seth A. Woolson

Seth A. Woolson, Principal

Seth Woolson represents individuals, businesses, insurance companies, and governments in a variety of construction, contractual, real estate, and litigation matters. During his sixteen plus years of practice, Seth has developed significant experience representing construction contractors, realtors, community associations, property owners, and port districts in a wide variety of circumstances, including contract negotiations, claims management, real estate transactions, general governance, and litigation.

Practice Areas:
Condominium and Homeowners' Associations, Construction Law, Land Use, Landlord Tenant Law, Litigation, Municipal Governments, Ports, Real Estate

Holly M. Stafford

Holly M. Stafford, Principal

Holly Stafford’s practice focuses on environmental law, ranging from the Model Toxics Control Act, to the Clean Water Act, to other federal and state environmental laws. She represents individuals, businesses, and governments throughout Washington. Holly’s success triggering historical insurance policies for cleanups and work on cost recovery actions naturally progressed into other areas of insurance coverage and insurance defense practice. She is a Whatcom County native who returned to Bellingham and joined the firm in 2008 after working in municipal defense in Southern California.

Practice Areas:
Environmental Law, Ports, Stormwater

Peter M. Ruffatto

Peter M. Ruffatto, Principal

Peter’s practice focuses on municipal governments. He practices in multiple areas of municipal law, including governance, employment, public-private partnerships, procurement and contracting, open government, land use, intergovernmental transactions, criminal justice systems, and risk management. He advises a variety of government entities, including cities, port districts, utility districts, and hospital districts.

Peter joined the firm after 23 years of public service, most recently serving as the appointed City Attorney for the City of Bellingham.

Practice Areas:
Employment and Labor Law, Ports, Municipal Governments

T. Todd Egland, Principal

Todd Egland has nearly two decades of litigation experience in federal and state courts, with broad-based experience in complex business, employment, environmental, and bankruptcy matters. He has also helped businesses with environmental regulatory issues before state and federal agencies.

At the firm, Todd’s practice includes business, construction, and real property litigation, bankruptcy, and collections on behalf of creditors, and representation of condominium and homeowner’s associations.

Practice Areas:
Bankruptcy and Creditor's Rights, Condominium and Homeowners' Associations, Litigation

Tim Schermetzler

Tim Schermetzler, Principal

Tim Schermetzler’s practice focuses on municipal law, ports, land use, real estate, landlord tenant and litigation. He is an alumnus of Gonzaga University School of law, where he was the recipient of the Morey-Maurice Award for Service & Leadership, the Dean’s Pro Bono Award of Distinction, and was a member of the Moot Court Honors Council. Prior to law school, Tim managed non-profit organizations that collaborated with city and local governments to address community health and public safety concerns. He joined the firm in 2015. When not practicing law, Tim enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, hiking, biking, skiing, boating, and camping.

Practice Areas:
Landlord Tenant Law, Land Use, Litigation, Municipal Governments, Ports, Real Estate

Matt T. Paxton, Principal

Matt Paxton’s practice focuses on employment and labor matters, municipal advice, and construction disputes. His clients are predominately public agencies and private sector employers, contractors, and businesses. Matt represents a variety of employers with employment and labor issues. He advises on all areas of employment law, including employment investigations, discipline/termination, risk management, and legal compliance (such as ADA, FLSA, and FMLA). Matt also advises and represents employers on union issues, including collective bargaining, contract administration, and grievances.

Practice Areas:
Construction Law, Employment and Labor Law, Fire and EMS, Litigation

Allison M. Beard

Allison M. Beard, Associate

Allison’s practice focuses on estate planning, probate, and business transactions. She enjoys walking her clients through the estate planning process and effectuating her clients wishes for protecting assets for future beneficiaries. This includes drafting essential estate planning documents, as well as establishing guardianships for clients when necessary. On the probate side, Allison advises clients with regards to their duties as personal representatives for estates. On contested estates, Allison diligently assists her clients in Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution Act (TEDRA) cases to resolve disputes among beneficiaries, personal representatives, and creditors.

Practice Areas:
Business Law, Estate Planning and Probate, Municipal Governments, and Ports

Sara B. Frase, Associate

Sara’s practice focuses on representing individuals, businesses, and municipal governments throughout Washington State in matters involving the Model Toxics Control Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, as well as other federal and state environmental laws. Sara’s interests in environmental law have also naturally progressed into water systems and water rights matters for individuals, municipal governments, and port districts.

As an active member of the firm’s Port practice group, Sara enjoys having a hand in many of Washington’s port district’s environmental stewardship efforts and economic successes...

Practice Areas:
Environmental Law, Ports, Water Law

Aaron T. Haynes

Aaron T. Haynes, Associate

Aaron Haynes is a graduate of the University of Oregon School of Law, where he was a staff editor for the Journal of Environmental Law and Litigation, a Peer Reference Research Assistant, and a member of the Moot Court Board. He also served as an associate editor for the Oregon State Bar Debtor-Creditor Section Newsletter. Aaron received his undergraduate degree from Willamette University, where he graduated with a cum laude distinction and department honors.

Practice Areas:
Condominium and Homeowners’ Associations, Employment and Labor Law, Fire and EMS, Litigation

Conner A. Sapp, Associate

Conner joined the firm in October 2022. Prior to that, he practiced criminal law in Whatcom County.

Conner is one of the firm’s primary litigators. He specializes in landlord-tenant law, real estate litigation, and commercial litigation more generally. He uses his experience and knowledge to help clients navigate the uncertainties in litigation. His aim is to secure the best business outcome for his clients. He is a strong oral advocate and legal writer with experience litigating in trial and appellate forums.

Practice Areas:
Landlord Tenant Law, Land Use, Litigation, and Municipal Governments

Megan D. Holmes

Megan D. Holmes, Associate

Megan Holmes joined the firm in September 2023. Megan is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law, where she served as an Articles & Symposia Editor of the Stetson Law Review and a member of the Stetson Law Honors Program. During law school, Megan was a SLIP intern at the Department of Justice and a Federal Judicial Extern for the Honorable Anthony E. Porcelli of the Middle District of Florida.

A native of northern Minnesota, Megan is a 2015 graduate of St. Olaf College, where she captained the Cross County and Track & Field teams.

Practice Areas:
Construction Law, Land Use, Litigation, Municipal Governments, Real Estate

Renee K. Larson

Renee K. Larson

Renee joined the firm in March 2024 shortly after graduation from Seattle University School of Law in December 2023. During law school, Renee served as an Auction Logistics Co-Chair for Seattle University’s Public Interest Law Foundation, a Notes & Comment Editor for the Seattle Journal of Technological, Environmental, and Innovation Law, and Vice President of Community Engagement for Seattle University’s Womxn’s Law Caucus chapter. Renee served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Evan P. Jones in the fall of 2023.

Practice Areas:
Environmental Law, Landlord Tenant Law, Litigation, Municipal Governments, Water Law

Brian Snure, Of Counsel

Brian Snure has represented fire protection districts, regional fire authorities and other special purpose districts including water districts, sewer districts, metropolitan park districts and cemetery districts for over 30 years. Brian also maintains a limited general practice emphasizing estate planning, probate, and real estate. He has co-authored numerous handbooks relating to fire districts and departments and has spoken at numerous Continuing Legal Education courses on a wide variety of issues affecting municipal governments.

Practice Areas:
Fire and EMS, Municipal Governments, Real Estate, Estate Planning and Probate

Frank J. Chmelik

Frank J. Chmelik, Principal – Senior Status

Frank Chmelik, one of the founders of our firm, will move to Senior Status at the end of 2024. In Senior Status he continues to work with several long-term clients to conclude on-going matters. He will also be available to lawyers in our firm to consult on matters, bringing to bear over forty years of experience in business, business litigation, and municipal law.

Frank Chmelik started his legal career in 1982 as a U.S. Army JAG Corps officer where he served as a prosecutor and defense counsel at Fort Lewis. He then worked for the Seattle law firm, Karr Tuttle Campbell.

Practice Areas:
Business Law, Environmental Law, Litigation, Ports