Townsend Legal
Roger M. Townsend, Attorney
Roger Townsend is an experienced trial attorney who has practiced in Seattle since 1995. Townsend is a zealous advocate for his clients in federal and state court, as well as private arbitration and mediation. His practice focuses on representing individuals against companies, protecting and enforcing their rights in employment and business relationships. Townsend co-founded Breskin Johnson & Townsend PLLC in 2007.
Townsend is active in public service. He is the Chair-Elect of the Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representatives Coordinating Committee and a Member of the Ninth Circuit’s Conference Executive Committee. He is a past President of the Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington and has been appointed by the Court as a representative of the Western District of Washington at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference and the Roadways to the Bench Program. Townsend served as a city councilmember, volunteers for a free civil rights legal clinic, co-founded a program introducing students to Constitutional principles, and regularly moderates and coordinates panels for continuing legal education and important issues in the legal profession to Judges and members of the Bar.
Education
- Northwestern University School of Law
- Wesleyan University B.A., Economics
Admissions & Courts
- United States Supreme Court
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- United States District Court, W.Dist.Wa.
- United States District Court, E.Dist.Wa.
- Washington State Courts
Professional Honors and Affiliations
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Advisory Council Member of the Ninth Judicial Circuit Historical Society, 2024
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Member, Workplace Environment Committee, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2024-2027
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Program Chair of the Ninth Circuit’s Conference Executive Committee, 2023-2024
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Chair of the Lawyer Representatives Coordinating Committee, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference, 2023-2024
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Chair-Elect, Lawyer Representatives Coordinating Committee, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference, 2023
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Roadways to the Bench, Appointed by the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington to the bench-bar committee supporting diverse representation on the Federal Bench, 2023
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Member, Conference Executive Committee, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Judicial Conference, 2021-2024
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President, Federal Bar Association, Western District of Washington, 2016-2017
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Co-Chair, Past Presidents Committee, Federal Bar Association, Western District of Washington, 2018-2023
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Faculty Member, Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington Annual Litigation Academy, 2019-2022
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Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative, 2017-2020
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Named “Super Lawyer” by Washington Law & Politics, 2008 to present
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“AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review (highest rating)
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AVVO rating: 10.0 (highest rating)
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Councilmember, Bainbridge Island, Washington City Council, 2013–2017
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Co-Founder, Constitution Day, an educational program in the classroom and courtroom teaching 4th and 5th grade students constitutional principles
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Volunteer, Federal Bar Association, Western District of Washington Civil Rights Legal Clinic, 2006 to present
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Training participant, Postpartum Support International, Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care, 2022
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Law Clerk to the Honorable William L. Dwyer, United States District Judge, Western District of Washington
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Law Clerk to the Honorable Robert R. Beezer, United States Circuit Judge, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Lily Ramseyer, Attorney
Lily was born and raised in Seattle by a single working mother. She left for college and spent a year living in Dubai before returning to attend the University of Washington School of Law in 2017. She chose law after realizing what a powerful tool it can be and wanting to make a positive impact in the community that she grew up in. After graduating from law school, Lily served as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert J. Bryan, United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington in Tacoma. She then spent three months volunteering on the Greek island of Lesvos where she helped people seeking asylum navigate the Greek asylum system before joining SGB.
Our legal system, like all our systems, is only as strong as people work to make it. Lily knows that access, especially access to good representation, can make all the difference. Lily’s practice focuses on serious personal injury and employment discrimination, and she brings her tenacity, life experiences, and legal skills to fight for her clients.
Outside of work, Lily enjoys playing basketball. She was even captain of the Garfield Girl's Basketball Team once upon a time. She also tries her hand at soccer and tennis and travels whenever she gets the chance.
Education
- J.D., University of Washington, School of Law (2020)
- B.A. in International Relations; French Boston University (2012)
Admissions
- Washington State
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
Civil and Professional Emgagements
- Current Member, Federal Bar Association - Western District of Washington
- Current Member, Washington Association for Justice
Ann Iarossi, Paralegal
Ann Iarossi brings over two decades of paralegal experience to the firm, having begun her career in West Virginia in 2000. Following her relocation to Washington in 2016, she joined our team in 2023 and has since become an integral part of our litigation practice.
Ann has extensive experience in trial preparation and courtroom support, having provided substantive assistance in numerous trials across multiple jurisdictions, including federal and various state courts in both Washington and West Virginia. Her comprehensive understanding of litigation processes and attention to detail make her an invaluable asset to our legal team.
When not in the office, Ann enjoys spending time with her significant other and their two dogs. She is an avid reader and finds relaxation in cooking and crocheting.
Contact Ann Today:
Direct: (206) 761-5597
Email: ann@townsendlegal.com
Sarah Townsend, Paralegal
Sarah Townsend has an MA in counseling psychology from Northwestern University and an MFA in writing from Goddard College. She practiced psychotherapy for more than twenty years. She was previously an instructor of memoir and personal essay for the University of Washington’s Certificate in Writing Program and Hugo House in Seattle. In each of these settings, Sarah has helped people tell their stories. At Townsend Legal, she is inspired to apply these skills to promote social justice. Sarah enjoys yoga, writing, and spending time with her family on an island in Lake Huron.
Contact SARAH Today:
Direct: (206) 761-2706
Email: sarah@townsendlegal.com
