Rhys Farren is an experienced attorney in the areas of litigation, credit recovery and bankruptcy, and finance and commercial law. He serves as lead counsel on a broad spectrum of litigation in state and federal court, including litigation in multimillion-dollar secured loans, real property disputes, and trust, estate and probate disputes.
Rhys' clients include financial institutions, finance companies, real estate developers, property owners, and local business owners. He serves as the primary contact for several national lenders, financial institutions and finance companies, real estate developers, property owners, retail business landlords, contractors and local business owners.
Representative Experience
Real Estate Litigation
Terry Terrace Condominium Owners Ass’n v. Terry Terrace Apts., LLC & Verizon Wireless (VAW), LLC
Represented national wireless company in new issue under Washington Condominium Act, impacting wireless carrier’s antenna site. Prevailed on summary judgment. Judgment upheld on appeal. 159 Wn. App. 1018, 2011 WL 135232 (2010)
Nickum v. Verizon Wireless (VAW), LLC
Represented wireless carrier in various legal challenges to antenna site. Obtained dismissal of all claims in summary judgment. (Kitsap Cnty. (Wash.) Super. Ct. 2010)
Saugen v. Elliot Group Ltd. Partnership
Represented partners-interveners in partnership dispute, obtaining favorable settlement at less than 10% of original claim. (King Cnty. (Wash.) Super. Ct. 2010)
S & S Construction, Inc. v. ADC Properties, LLC
Represented owners of medical clinic at full arbitration trial after state court litigation involving commercial construction contract, lien foreclosure, and counterclaim for construction defects. Decision in client’s favor. Upheld on appeal. 51 Wn. App. 247, 211 P.3d 415 (2009); review denied, 168 Wn.2d 1002 (2010)
Olympic Real Estate Development v. Red Apple, Inc.
Obtained favorable settlement at start of trial. (Snohomish Cty. (Wash.) Super. Ct. 2011)
Equilon Enterprises, LLC v. McLean Enterprises, LLC
Represented joint venture of national oil company in unlawful detainer bench trial. Verdict in favor of client. (King Cnty. (Wash.) Super. Ct. 2009)
Saybrook Condominium Ass’n v. FSC Realty, et al.
Represented owner-buyer of large apartment complex in title dispute. Defeated summary judgment and obtained favorable settlement. (King Cnty. (Wash.) Super. Ct. 2009)
Commercial, Bankruptcy, and General Business Litigation
GE Comm’l Fin. Bus. Prop. Corp. v. Huey & Fong; In re Huey & Fong Trust; In re Kenneth Huey Family Trust, In re Huey & Fong
Defended servicing company of national finance company in bankruptcy dispute and related adversary proceedings and lawsuits. Obtained dismissal of bankruptcy cases within two months of filing; defended client in multiple litigation and adversary proceedings; negotiated recovery of all collateral and proceeds. (Bankr. W.D. Wash. 2009-2012)
Xinyuan Zhejiang Bamboo Products, Ltd. v. Teragren, Inc.
Represented China-based manufacturer/distributor of bamboo flooring products. Obtained injunction in receivership proceeding. Settled on terms under which client obtained control of company. (Kitsap Cnty. (Wash.) Super. Ct. 2011)
Doyon Gov’t Contracting v. Meisner
Represent national Alaska Native Corporation subsidiary contractor in litigation against former company president of national construction company. (Pierce Cnty. (Wash.) Super. Ct. Ongoing)
Wells Fargo v. Kirkland Totem Lake, LLC
Represented mortgage trust servicer in big-box retail foreclosure. Obtained general receivership in contested proceeding. (King Cnty. (Wash.) Super. Ct. 2011)
Umpqua Bank v. White Oak Partners
Represented bank in commercial property litigation over proceeds. Obtained summary judgment. (Pierce Cnty. (Wash.) Super. Ct. 2009)
In re Columbia Mega Storage
Represented City National Bank in contested hearings to recover commercial warehouse facilities and subsequent foreclosure. (Bankr. W.D. Wash. 2011)
McCusker v. Baseball Club of Seattle, Inc., et al.
Defended Safeco field concessionaire MLB club in defending tort action. Obtained favorable settlement. (King Cnty. (Wash.) Super. Ct. 2008)
Trust and Estate Litigation
In re Estate of Nelson; In re Estate of Macbride; In re Estate of Parsons; In re Estate of Green-Eldridge
Representing five high-end estates in litigation against the Washington Department of Revenue regarding more than $13 million in Washington state estate taxes. (In re Estate of Nelson, Wash.; In re Estate of Macbride Wash. App. Div. 1; In re Estate of Parsons, King Cnty. (Wash.) Super. Ct; In re Estate of Green-Eldridge, Thurston Cnty. (Wash.) Super. Ct. Ongoing)
In re Estate of Hemphill
Represented 12 estates against class action plaintiff’s counsel regarding attorneys’ fee award, and obtain ruling in clients’ favor reducing attorneys’ fees on class by $8 million. (Thurston Cnty. (Wash.) Super Ct.)
In re Estate of Bettie Wilkins Howie
Obtained civil contempt order against trustee and sanctions in excess of $250,000 against personal representative and trustee. Also prevailed on novel issue of ademption doctrine in will. (King Cnty. (Wash.) Super. Ct. 2010)
In re Hoyle Trust
Represented trustee in defense of breach of fiduciary duty and removal actions in bench trial in Grays Harbor superior court involving seven figure trust. Court upheld client’s authority and accepted trustee’s recommendations for trust administration. (Grays Harbor Cnty. (Wash.) Super. Ct. 2001)
Other
Pro Bono
Regular pro bono representation of victims in domestic violence cases and low income clients. (Ongoing)