In August 2006 the Chamber general membership meeting took place on a Duck, one of the World War II amphibious vehicles that tours Seattle by land and sea. In addition to the expected rabble that normally attends Chamber functions, we welcomed two visitors to Fremont. “It was a blast,” Tamara Layton declared about the wholly unique experience of Fremont that Ride The Ducks provides only to our Chamber.

Tamara, along with her husband, Michael Fancher, paid for this experience at a Campfire charity auction. “When we bid on that, it was the opportunity to meet the neighbors,” that interested them, Tamara explained. “It was fun getting to know some of the business people,” said Michael, who described us as a “lively and fun group.” “It did take a different look at the neighborhood,” Tamara said with Michael adding, “a better inside look.”

Meet Our Visitors

Michael and Tamara have lived in Ballard for 20 of the last 25+ years of their marriage, and their law firm, Seattle Divorce Services (SDS), occupies a converted house on 15th Avenue Northwest, in the Crown Hill area of Ballard. “We’ve been growing steadily,” Michael explained, and he expects to see the firm grow beyond their current space someday. Fremont is “a place we would be comfortable,” he believes. “The open-mindedness of Fremont is appealing,” Tamara reflected. “We’ve always liked the Fremont attitude,” Michael added, plus the number of restaurants and amenities, as well as being on the bike trail, make the area attractive for potential relocation.

“Family law is never dull,” Michael states and Tamara concurs, “It’s always exciting!” Michael’s first job as a lawyer was in family law and he found he enjoyed dealing with people directly, to be “out there solving the problems as opposed to a more esoteric side of the law.” He can help resolve issues. Family law includes divorce, parenting issues and paternity, which Michael described as divorce for couples who aren’t married.

While Michael does go to court, his practice increasingly emphasizes finding resolutions before things get that far. One method is collaborative law, a process where parties involved contract to resolve their issues outside of court. Attorneys in this process act as representatives for their clients as well as co-mediators dedicated to finding a plan that fits, sometimes using counselors, financial planners or other help. An important facet of this process requires attorneys to sign-off, as do clients, that they will not go to court, and if court is required, new attorneys must be hired.

Tamara works with Michael as Business Manager at SDS, and while she doesn’t deal with the clients she is, nonetheless, “totally committed to how we practice divorce law and the collaborative process.” She’s only been working at SDS for 2 ½ years. After working 14 years in Molecular Biological research, she got an MBA from the University of Washington and went to work at AT&T. Michael started SDS 6 years ago but increasingly paperwork and office tasks kept him from clients so Tamara came on board.

Learn How They Do It

Tamara’s duties include marketing the business. Besides small advertisements in the yellow pages and the Ballard News-Tribune, they sponsor community events and participate in their local Chamber of Commerce. They’ve found radio ads an effective way to get their name out. They do community giving from the heart, but it also increases word-of-mouth. Their business is dependent upon reputation and word-of-mouth and being seen as part of the community. Tamara pushes Michael, and the two other attorneys in the firm, to hand out business cards whenever they can.

In his practice Michael wants to find a plan for his clients that fits and “allows them to go on as a family in the best way they can.” Michael accomplishes that goal by listening to clients. “Hire A Lawyer Who Listens” is the firm motto, and a guiding principal.

Part Of Our Community

Until they outgrow their space on Crown Hill and join the merriment here in Fremont, the couple continues to visit Fremont for shopping and dining, as well as tours with the Seattle Ferry Service Sunday Ice Cream Cruise.

When I decided to profile one business that attended the Duck tour, I assumed it would be a near neighbor. However, as Tamara and Michael demonstrated, sometimes you learn more by stepping outside your neighborhood and meeting those beyond our borders. Certainly I learned success and solid principals go hand in hand, and still enjoy Fremont’s trademark fun.