Attorneys
Our office remains open, and in response to COVID-19 we have expanded our options for remote consultations and virtual meetings. Please contact our office to discuss what meeting option best fits your situation.
Lynnwood Lawyers
Since 1959, Riach Gese Jacobs PLLC has helped our clients in a wide variety of practice areas, including estate planning, business law and much more. Our firm’s talent spans 132 cumulative years in law.
Our firm is led by attorneys Michael P. Jacobs and Courtney Whitmore Wyckoff, with support from the staff members profiled below.
Attorneys
Michael P. Jacobs graduated from the University of Washington in 1988 and obtained his law degree from the University of Puget Sound in 1993. While at the University of Puget Sound, Mike was on the Board of Directors of the U.P.S. Law Review and he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He is also a member of the Washington State Trial Lawyers’ Association, the King County and Snohomish County Bar Associations.
Mike began his career as a litigator prosecuting for the City of Lynnwood. While prosecuting for the City he participated in and conducted all manner of trials and hearings. He also handled the administrative hearings for the drug asset forfeitures in South Snohomish County. This early experience provided an exceptional legal foundation and opportunity to participate in numerous trials, court hearings and administrative hearings. Mike has parlayed the solid foundation into a thriving and successful civil litigation practice emphasizing Probate and Trust administration and litigation, Estate Planning, Real Estate transactions, Contract creation, review and litigation, and Construction Litigation.
Courtney Whitmore Wyckoff
Courtney Whitmore Wyckoff graduated with a BA in English from Whitman College in 1997. She then obtained her law degree from the University of Oregon in 2002. While at U of O, she was an editor on the Law Review, a participant in moot court, and a national competitor in the National Appellate Advocacy Competition in San Francisco. Before law school and during the summers, Courtney worked as a paralegal for a mid-sized firm in Seattle helping with all facets of complex litigation in class action lawsuits.
After graduating from law school, Courtney began worked for five years for a small firm in Washington for doing primarily insurance defense litigation. She now handles all facets of general litigation.
Vern J. Seather (Retired)
Staff
Louise Williams, Paralegal
Louise has been a paralegal with our firm since 2006 and has experience in estate planning, probate, guardianship, corporate and LLC formation, real estate matters and personal injury.
She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and completed her advanced paralegal certificate at Edmonds Community College.
Louise is an active volunteer at her local food bank and enjoys running, kayaking and hiking with her family.
Valerie Ruhaak, Paralegal
Valerie joined our team in 2012. She began her career in the legal field in 2004 working with a public defender’s office. Since transitioning to private practice she has handled a variety of case types including family law, litigation, real estate, estate planning, probate, and guardianship.
Valerie enjoys spending her free time with her family on their jet ski or 4×4 and working with individuals with disabilities, primarily those with different forms of dementia.
Judy Knickerbocker, Paralegal
Judy joined our firm in 2014 and specializes in trust and probate administration and also has experience with guardianship, estate planning, and real estate legal matters.
Judy has worked as a paralegal since 2007. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2005 and received her Advanced Paralegal Certificate from Edmonds Community College in 2007.
She is active in her church and enjoys spending time with her two children, gardening, sewing, and making quilts for foster children.
