- DivorceDivorce and Family Law issues impact all aspects of your life. Division of personal property and real estate, custody of children, liability for debts, future earnings, and retirement. It is important to have a skilled and knowledgeable attorney representing your interests. Buzzard O’Rourke is able to represent individuals in all stages of family law proceedings.
- Child Custody and Visitation
- Adoption
- Paternity
- Premarital Agreement
- Guardianship
- Legal Separation
- Criminal DefenseShane O’Rourke is a criminal defense attorney and civil litigator who represents clients throughout Western Washington. Prior to entering private practice, Shane was a criminal prosecutor for six years. During that time he prosecuted virtually every type of criminal case and honed his skills in the courtroom and in negotiating with other attorneys. Shane decided to become a defense attorney because he relishes being his clients’ shield against the mighty sword the government carries when they prosecute an individual, and being his clients’ sword to fight on their behalf. These same principles apply to his work for clients as a civil litigator.
- DUI/DWIDUI (Driving Under The Influence) In Washington State, a person may commit DUI if he/she operates a vehicle within Washington and (a) the person has, within two hours after driving, an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher as shown by an analysis of the person’s... read more
- Wrongful Death
- Sex CrimesFacing a criminal charge can have life altering consequences. Criminal Defense attorney Shane M. O’Rourke has handled virtually every type of criminal case and has personally tried cases including DUIs, domestic violence, violent crimes, sex offenses, and homicides. As a former prosecutor, Shane understands the strengths and weaknesses of a prosecution case and uses that knowledge to create every advantage for you in your defense. Shane is extremely well regarded as a criminal defense attorney due to his very aggressive approach to criminal defense, his depth of knowledge in criminal law, and the countless hours he spends meeting the needs of his clients. Often times when a person hires a criminal defense attorney, there is minimal contact with that attorney and many legal options are left unexplored. Not at Buzzard O’Rourke. When you are charged with any criminal offense, we will have immediate and extensive contact with you to develop your best defense strategy, make sure every issue or potential advantage in the case is uncovered, and we will proceed to trial if plea bargaining is not an option, or if plea bargaining is not in your best interest.
- Misdemeanors
- Drug CrimesAs a defense attorney and prosecutor Shane has tried many cases to judges and juries, including homicides, sex crimes, violent crimes, domestic violence crimes, drug crimes and DUIs. As a civil litigator he has represented clients in personal injury matters, civil rights violations including wrongful incarceration and excessive force cases, and numerous other civil cases. Shane has spent countless hours in courtrooms and understands exactly what it takes to aggressively represent his clients’ interests in court. Shane’s entire career is dedicated to being a successful litigator. This involves not only success in the courtroom and in case negotiations, but also requires communicating effectively with clients.
- Business DisputesMarissa is a native of the Pacific Northwest and was born and raised in the greater Pierce County area. After she graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology she moved to the Twin Cities where she received a Juris Doctor from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. While in law school, she made the Dean’s list for four consecutive semesters and received a CALI Award of Excellence (highest grade in course) in bankruptcy and another in legal reasoning. She also worked for various law firms on different issues including family law, employment law, and business law. After finishing law school, Marissa returned to Washington State to begin her legal career.
- Business Transactions
- Limited Liability Companies
- Trade Secrets
- Intellectual PropertyEric Lanza is a lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest, and has practiced law primarily in the south sound region of Pierce, Mason, Thurston, and Lewis Counties. After graduating from Bellarmine Preparatory in Tacoma, Eric received his bachelor’s degree from the Evergreen State College in Olympia. After graduation, Eric moved south to attend law school at the University of Oregon. During law school, Eric held several positions conducting legal research, including a summer conducting research for the Quaker United Nations office based in Geneva, Switzerland. Eric later graduated from Oregon with a Juris Doctorate with a concentration in Intellectual Property Law.
- Employment Litigation
- Real Estate LitigationBuzzard O’Rourke is able to assist and advise property owners, landlords, developers and builders in navigating through the often complex and vast legal maze of real estate law. We provide efficient preparation of necessary deeds and documents, contracts and leases, experience dealing with property line disputes, purchase and sale transactions, adverse possession, code compliance, and constructions issues.
- Construction Litigation
- Real Estate TransactionsAfter law school, Eric began his legal career representing low-income tenants facing eviction in Pierce County Superior Court. A few months later, Eric moved back to Olympia and began practicing with a focus in real estate, estate planning, and general civil litigation. Eric represents landlords/tenants, homeowners associations, small business owners, and other clientele in various real estate, land use, and civil litigation matters, Eric also focuses his legal talents on facilitating and closing real estate transactions. Eric has closed over 100 residential and commercial transactions as an both an attorney and an escrow agent, and is knowledgeable and confident guiding buyers and sellers through even the most complicated transactions.
- Easement
- Land Use and Zoning
- Landlord-Tenant DisputesDan practices in Lewis, Thurston and Pierce counties in the areas of estate planning and probate, business transactions and litigation and real property transactions and litigation. He is well-versed in landlord-tenant law as well and represents several landlords. He enjoys drafting contracts to protect his clients but is equally at home in the courtroom, should they become engaged in litigation. Dan maintains office space in Yelm as well as Chehalis. Prior to joining Buzzard O’Rourke, Dan owned and operated the Crowe Law Office in Yelm.
- Personal InjuryBuzzard O’Rourke represents victims in multiple types of personal injury cases, with a focus on injuries sustained from vehicular accidents. Unrepresented individuals are often not taken seriously by insurance companies and have little likelihood of obtaining maximum compensation for injuries. It is not only important to have an experienced and aggressive attorney working for you, but it is crucial to have a trial attorney working for you. With Buzzard O’Rourke, you will be represented by skilled litigators who are willing to take cases to court and go to trial.
- Auto Accidents
- Medicaid PlanningRyan is a licensed attorney in Washington and California with a broad array of experiences. He particularly enjoys elder law topics such as Medicaid planning, estate planning, probate, and consumer protection. Ryan enjoys helping businesses and organizations develop and get off the ground. He has helped and served alongside local visionaries around kitchen tables and sat around large corporate board room tables. Some of his most rewarding experiences have been working with members of the community looking for help developing practical steps to meet the needs they see around them in their community. Ryan has also negotiated seven-figure personal injury settlements and been involved in legislative affairs and policy work for over 20 years in both the private and public sector.
- Estate PlanningEstate planning is a process by which a person controls and determines what happens to assets, debts, health and medical affairs during life and after death. Buzzard O’Rourke is able to assist with simple and complex estates, and formulate a plan to fit your desires.
- Wills
- Power of Attorney
- Probate
- Bankruptcy