Peter Ruffatto is joining the Bellingham law firm, Chmelik Sitkin & Davis P.S., as a principal. Peter is a well-known municipal lawyer having worked as the Bellingham City Attorney since July 2012. Peter joined the City Attorney’s Office in 2003, where he worked in the areas of Labor and Employment; Public Works and Contracting; Municipal Finance; Fire/Emergency Medical Service; and Public Records. As the City Attorney, Peter served as the legal advisor to the City Council, the Mayor’s Office, and all City Departments, and held a variety of management responsibilities. Prior to joining the Bellingham City Attorney’s Office, Peter worked in the Civil Division of the King County Prosecutor’s Office and in private practice at the Reed McClure law firm in Seattle.

Peter will join the firm’s port district and municipal law practice groups where he will focus on working with the firm’s municipal and port district clients located throughout the state. Peter has extensive experience in the areas of Municipal law, Labor and Employment, Litigation, Risk Management, Intergovernmental Transactions, Legislation, Criminal Justice Programs, and Human Resources. After a personally rewarding career with the City, he looks forward to continuing his problem-solving approach to legal matters in service to the firm’s clients.

Peter graduated from the University of Washington School of Law in 1994. Peter has participated extensively in local and legal communities, including the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission Against Sexual & Domestic Violence, the Bellingham City Club Board of Directors, Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys, Whatcom County Bar Judicial Candidate Evaluation Committee, and Leadership Whatcom.

Principal Seth Woolson said, “On a personal level, several of our firm members have been friends with Peter for a number of years. He is a very well-respected lawyer and a great leader. He will focus on our growing public port district and municipal entity practice. We recently completed an expansion of our offices to accommodate growth. Peter will be a great asset to our firm as we continue to manage that growth.”

Chmelik Sitkin & Davis P.S. is a Bellingham based law firm which provides legal advice to municipal governments and business clients throughout Washington state. www.chmelik.com

For more information contact Jon Sitkin @ 360-671-1796.