DBS LAW - Key Persons
Claire Rootjes helps businesses throughout Washington's diverse industries enforce contracts and litigate business disputes. Representing the region's financial, real estate, and maritime sectors, her clients range from national financial institutions to small single-owner businesses. Claire has a particular focus on defending lender liability and consumer protection litigation and appeals.
Claire Rootjes graduated from University of Washington School of Law in 2009 and spent the better part of a decade developing her commercial litigation and appellate practice at the Seattle firm Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt. Claire is a responsive, efficient and detail-oriented practitioner who approaches each matter as unique-working collaboratively with clients and interested parties to arrive at a strategy best suited for each client's needs. Whatever the nature of your dispute, Claire will tailor her approach to reach your desired outcome in a cost-efficient manner.
Dan Bugbee began his legal career after graduating from the University of Washington in 2009. After starting at the law firm of Karr Tuttle Campbell, he moved to Garvey Schubert Barer where he continued developing his litigation and bankruptcy practice. In 2015 he changed trajectory and started DBS Law.
Dan has emphasized providing tailored legal services based upon his client's needs, whether that requires drafting a contract or litigating a lawsuit. Dan has first-chaired numerous trials, ranging from one-day bench trials to a federal jury trial. Dan has also represented clients in appeals in both state and federal appellate courts.
Before going to law school, Dan served on active duty with the United States Army. Dan has continued his service in the Army Reserves, currently holding the rank of Colonel. Dan leverages the skills he learned as a leader of infantry soldiers and as a military intelligence officer in his practice of law.
Dominique Scalia obtained her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law in 2013 and began her practice with the law firm of Garvey Schubert Barer in Seattle. Since being admitted to the Washington State Bar, Dominique has focused her practice on bankruptcy, receiverships, and commercial litigation. She represents receivers and creditors in both state and federal courts. Her practice philosophy is focused on working closely with clients to understand their needs and providing the advice they need to make informed decisions, while being prepared to escalate disputes to litigation when required.
Prior to law school, Dominique was a regulatory compliance analyst for multiple public universities. Dominique carries the attention to detail and strategic forethought required to navigate the regulatory framework to her practice of law.
Erin O'Leary's practice includes all aspects of litigation, including defending discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims. Erin also advises employers regarding compliance with state and federal employment laws, employee relations, and policy and handbook drafting.
Erin graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 2013 and has spent her practice representing individuals and businesses in litigation and bankruptcy. Erin works to provide strategies that will minimize economic exposure while aiming to limit disruption to the day to day operations of the business.
When not working, Erin enjoys spending time with her family and running long distances very slowly.
DBS Law is proud to work with TAS Law and its founder, Theresa A. Simpson, to provide clients with sophisticated intellectual property services. Theresa earned her law degree at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where she served on the Board of the Hastings Public Interest Law Foundation and was a member of the Hastings International and Comparative Law Review. She has more than 20 years of legal experience representing artists, athletes, and technology and media companies, and advising clients on copyright, trademark and other intellectual property matters. Before starting her own firm, she practiced in the Seattle office of Garvey Schubert Barer.
Theresa has been an adjunct lecturer in Digital Media Law in the Master of Communication in Digital Media program at the University of Washington, and in the Film & Video Communications Program at Seattle Central Community College. She is active with community organizations, and has served on the Steering Committee of DigitalEve Seattle, a professional organization for women in technology, on the Education Committee of Seattle Arts & Lectures, and as a Board Member of the Seattle Sports Commission.
A California native and happy Seattle transplant, Theresa attended the University of California, Berkeley for her undergraduate education. She worked as a field archaeologist in the US and in France, Holland, and the United Kingdom before starting law school. In her spare time, she is an avid reader, traveler and cinéaste, sometime hiker, and all-time aficionada of live music.