JANUARY 5, 2026 — Ten accomplished attorneys at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP have been selected as members of the 2026 partnership class.
The new partners are:
Zach Allen (Seattle) – Technology. Zach helps established and emerging technology companies develop, sell, and protect their transformational products such as telecommunications platforms, satellite-as-a-service systems, and silicon design software. He began his practice advising on the buildout of leading-edge network infrastructure for all four wireless carriers in transportation systems, sports stadiums, and other large public venues, and he continues to practice in the telecommunications space where it overlaps with technology. Zach has a degree in mechanical engineering from University of Texas at Austin one of the best engineering programs in the country. His engineering background and depth of industry experience make him a valued advisor when clients launch new products, collaborate with strategic partners, and structure unique transactions.
Meg A. Burnham (Seattle) – Employment. As a counselor and litigator, Meg works with clients across multiple industries, including healthcare, technology, banking, maritime, and transportation. She defends employers in single-plaintiff cases and wage and hour class actions and has extensive experience litigating claims of discrimination, retaliation, leave interference, wrongful termination, and wage and hour matters. She frequently represents clients before state and federal agencies including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Washington State Human Rights Commission, as well as in arbitration. She also regularly advises clients on employment issues and conducts investigations.
Lauren A. Dorsett (Seattle) – Litigation. Lauren represents businesses and individuals on a full range of legal issues arising in bankruptcy, including fraudulent and preferential transfer disputes, dischargeability of debt, claim objections, asset sales, and plan confirmation. She also advises and represents her clients in out-of-court workouts and financial restructurings to resolve debt obligations, as well as matters involving real estate disputes and general business-related litigation, such as contract disputes and tort matters. Lauren appears in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts across the country to protect and enforce her client's interests.
Valerie Gallo (Los Angeles) – Employment. Valerie helps businesses of all sizes navigate the challenges associated with running a successful workplace in a variety of industries such as healthcare, tourism, transportation, retail, and media. She has defended numerous clients against claims of discrimination and harassment, with particular focus on claims of disability discrimination and failure to provide a reasonable accommodation. Valerie is also committed to providing advice to clients on how to make modifications that improve the work environment and reduce exposure to litigation. She also is experienced with informal negotiations, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Alan Galloway (Portland) – Communications. Alan's practice centers on building, expanding, and using high-throughput, low-latency networks—whether fiber or wireless—to enable world-changing technologies like cloud-based AI, autonomous drones, and telemedicine, as well as the day-to-day video, data and voice connectivity that keeps the world running. He advises and assists clients to deploy and leverage next-generation network infrastructure to connect customers, datacenters, devices, and drones through land, air and sea. Whether that involves local rights of way, hyperscale datacenters, subsea cables, or 5G wireless technologies, Alan is passionate about meeting clients' objectives, and skilled in navigating regulatory obstacles to achieve great results.
Vandana Kapur (Los Angeles) – Employment. Vandana helps a range of clients navigate difficult situations in the workplace. She has counseled and defended organizations of various sizes in the healthcare, arts, film and entertainment, fitness, banking, manufacturing, technology, produce, and restaurant industries, among others, against a variety of employment law claims. She has extensive experience handling single plaintiff, representative action, and class action claims in both state and federal court, including experience with the Fair Employment Housing Act, Private Attorney General Act of 2004, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, defamation and contract law, and California Labor Code requirements.
Shelly Malik (San Francisco) – Business and Tax. Shelly is a dedicated startup lawyer who represents emerging companies, investors, and strategic acquirors in several industries including, food and beverage, digital health, energy, financial services, and technology. She regularly negotiates complex corporate transactions such as venture financings, mergers and acquisitions, tender offers, and corporate restructurings. Shelly also has extensive experience creating and negotiating capitalization and distribution models for various corporate transactions and often acts as outside counsel to her clients on general corporate governance matters. She is heavily involved in the firm's Food and Beverage JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) leadership committee.
Blake Robinson (Portland) – Real Property. Blake represents owners and contractors in a wide variety of construction matters, ranging from construction defect claims to complex delay claims. He also represents commercial landlords and tenants in complex lease disputes, including eviction trials and collection matters. In addition, Blake handles landlord-tenant matters for manufactured and mobile home park owners and apartment owners, including eviction trials and Fair Housing claims. Blake has prevailed in numerous trials and has successfully argued before the 9th Circuit and Oregon Court of Appeals. He is admitted to practice in both Oregon and Washington.
Adam M. Shapiro (Los Angeles) – Technology. Adam drafts and negotiates complex commercial transactions that implement data- and technology-driven innovations for clients in a variety of industries, including media, advertising, technology, entertainment, sports, esports, consumer products, and transportation. He represents global brands, agencies, and advertising technology companies in the negotiation of media agency services agreements and agreements for use of various ad technology platforms. He has significant experience counseling clients in connection with mobile and digital marketing initiatives, social media campaigns and partnerships, privacy and data optimization, intellectual property, celebrity endorsement deals, brand integration, and net neutrality issues.
Matthew Widmyer (Seattle) – Business and Tax. Matthew is a trusts and estates attorney who also advises clients on tax planning for closely-held businesses. He assists clients in areas of sophisticated estate planning and administration, business succession planning, probate litigation, and multi-generational planning. Matthew also advises tax-exempt organizations and assists clients with charitable trusts and foundations. As a law clerk to the Hon. Ronald L. Buch of the U.S. Tax Court, Matthew gained significant experience on a diverse variety of federal income tax matters
About Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is an AmLaw 100 law firm with more than 600 lawyers representing clients based throughout the United States and around the world. Learn more at www.dwt.com.