News & Events

The Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (WDTL) association released a statement addressing Juneteenth and providing resources for members to learn more, as well as donate to local nonprofits that support the African American community. This statement was written by Diversity Committee Co-Chairs Gauri Shrotriya Locker and L. William Locke, and NBF associate Shantrice Anderson. The statement is available on the WDTL website at https://www.wdtl.org/blog_home.asp?Display=47.

All of us at Nicoll Black & Feig are saddened by the death of George Floyd, another in a too-long list of senseless and violent deaths at the hands of police. Nicoll Black & Feig was founded on the principles of equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation and we stand by and strive to live those values every day. This death and the calls for action that followed have caused us, individually and collectively, to reexamine our commitment to these values. 

Through this examination, we have concluded that we have not done enough. It is time for change because without justice for all, there can be no peace.  It is simply insufficient for us to treat our employees fairly, equally, and with dignity and compassion.  Rather than being content with mere inward-facing attitudes and values, we now recognize that outward-facing action is necessary for us to fulfill our obligations to ourselves,  our profession,  the  communities where we live and work, and in particular to our brothers and sisters of color.  We hear you and we support you. We must do more to end the systemic, pervasive, and implicit discriminatory biases that are part of the fabric of this country.  To that end, Nicoll Black & Feig is taking concrete steps, both financially and personally, to encourage, support, and empower all of our employees to take direct action, as they are able and see fit, to discern, confront and address these biases in our community. It does not diminish the value of any life for us to emphatically declare that black lives matter.

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NBF attorney Larry Altenbrun will officiate the wedding of his niece in July in Montana in his newly minted capacity as an ordained minister in the Universal Life Church. Larry joins the likes of Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) and the Rock (Dwayne Johnson) in achieving this divine status.

NBF attorney Shantrice Anderson was elected to the Board of Directors for the Loren Miller Bar Association. She will be a Member at Large for the 2020-2021 year. See attached link: https://www.lmba.net/post/announcing-the-2020-21-lmba-board-of-directors. Congrats Shantrice!!

NBF attorney Pegeen Mulhern has joined the Board of Downstreet Housing & Community Development in Barre, VT.  Downstreet’s goal is to create equity in the housing opportunities available to Vermont citizens through a number of programs including providing affordable rental housing, a home down-payment assistance program, neighborhood housing  program lending financial assistance for home revitalization, developing residences for recovery, and creating tiny homes pilot project to provide homes for individuals struggling with mental illness. Downstreet also orchestrates a support and services at home program to connect elderly and disabled Vermonters with the resources and services they need to continue to live in their own homes.  Pegeen is thrilled to have this opportunity to help Downstreet in its mission to strengthen communities of Central Vermont by engaging with people, providing affordable homes, and connecting people to the resources and services they need to thrive.

NBF attorneys and staff are operating remotely in accordance with State of Washington COVID-19 protocols. Our intent is to offer our clients undiminished legal support to the extent possible during this crisis. While we hope to be back in the office soon, we can work remotely for the indefinite future. We have phone conferencing and video conferencing capabilities for client meetings. If you need to get in touch with us, please use e-mail or our phone numbers on our  website contact page: http://nicollblack.com/contact/.

On February 19, 2020 the American Bar Association published the second edition of Damages Recoverable in Maritime Matters (https://www.americanbar.org/products/inv/book/393853362/).This new and expanded edition reflects changes in the law of maritime damages over the past 35 years. The chapter discussing the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act was co-authored by NBF attorney Nina Mitchell.

NBF hosted its annual Mardi Gras party amidst MIAS conference festivities at the Fado Restaurant. A good time was had by all. If you have not attended one of these parties, you really should consider coming to our next one. Look for your invitation next January.

On December 17, 2019, NBF attorney Chris Nicoll was a presenter in a continuing education WEBEX seminar for members of the Institutes CPCU Society. The presentation was entitled “At the Corner of Marine Insurance and Stock Throughput,” and was part of a program entitled “Understanding Stock Throughput.”