Welcome to CSD Attorneys at Law

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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.

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Our Office

1500 Railroad Avenue,
Bellingham, Washington 98225

Office: 360.671.1796

Our Attorneys

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, Employment and Labor Law, Fire and EMS, Municipal Governments, Ports, and Real Estate View Profile 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 View Profile Seth A. Woolson, Principal Seth Woolson represents individuals, businesses, insurance companies, and governments in a variety of construction, contractual, and real estate matters. During his nineteen plus years of practice, Seth has developed significant experience representing construction contractors, realtors, community associations, property owners, port districts, and conservation districts in a wide variety of circumstances, including contract negotiations, claims management, real estate transactions, and general governance. Practice Areas:
Condominium and Homeowners' Associations, Construction Law, Land Use, Landlord Tenant Law, Municipal Governments, Ports, Real Estate View Profile Holly M. Stafford, Principal Holly Stafford’s practice splits time between environmental law, ranging from the Model Toxics Control Act, to the Clean Water Act, to other federal and state environmental laws, and representing port districts throughout Washington, typically with some overlap between the two. Holly’s port counsel work touches on a wide variety of non-environmental remediation issues, as well, including the Open Public Meetings Act, general governance, and permit compliance. Her 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... Practice Areas:
Environmental Law, Ports, Stormwater View Profile 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 View Profile 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 View Profile 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 View Profile Shane P. Brady, Principal Shane’s practice focuses on litigation and municipal law. He has extensive experience defending government entities and litigating tort, civil rights, discrimination, and personal injury claims. He previously worked at a busy insurance defense firm representing entities and individuals throughout the state. Prior to entering private practice, Shane worked in the City of Bellingham City Attorney’s office as the lead litigator, risk manager, and police legal advisor. At the beginning of his career, Shane served as the lead prosecutor for the City of Bellingham. Practice Areas:
Litigation, Municipal Governments, Ports View Profile Aaron T. Haynes, Principal Aaron represents businesses, community associations, and municipal corporations, including fire districts, regional fire authorities, and other special purpose districts. He frequently serves in a general counsel role, advising on matters of labor and employment, contracts, litigation, and governance.

In labor and employment, Aaron advises on areas of employment law compliance (ADA, EPOA, FLSA, WLAD, etc.), and he defends and advocates for employers... Practice Areas:
Condominium and Homeowners’ Associations, Employment and Labor Law, Fire and EMS, Litigation View Profile Allison M. Beard, Senior 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, Fire and EMS, Municipal Governments, Ports, and Real Estate View Profile Sara B. Frase, Senior 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, and Litigation View Profile Alex J. Hamilton, Associate Alex's practice focuses on land use, environmental law, municipal law, ports, and water law. He is experienced in counseling policymakers through complex, cross-jurisdictional legal issues.

Before joining the firm in April 2026, Alex was Associate General Counsel for the Pueblo of Isleta in New Mexico, where he advised Tribal leadership on environmental law, water rights, land use, contracting, and legislative drafting. Alex also served as Attorney-Advisor in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of General Counsel, advising USDA agencies... Practice Areas:
Environmental Law, Land Use, Municipal Governments, Ports, Water Law
 View Profile 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, and Real Estate View Profile Jesslin E. Ochoa, Associate Jesslin joined the firm in September 2025 shortly after graduating from Gonzaga University School of Law in May 2025. Jesslin’s practice areas include litigation, municipal law, and landlord tenant matters. During law school, Jesslin served as a teaching assistant for constitutional law, was a member of the Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court team, externed with the Washington State Bar Association's Office of Disciplinary Counsel and volunteered for the Moderate Means Program. Jesslin also served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Michelle D. Szambelan. Practice Areas:
Landlord Tenant Law, Litigation, Municipal Governments, and Real Estate View Profile 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 View Profile