Emeritus

Scott Easter retired in 2023 after nearly 45 years at Montgomery Purdue, during which he principally litigated a wide range of business disputes in areas of real estate construction and development, corporate and commercial law and insurance coverage law, as well as health law and disputes arising out of trusts and estates.  He also actively participated in Alternate Dispute Resolution, both in actively representing clients in mediation and arbitration practice and serving for decades as an arbitrator on the American Arbitration Association Commercial Disputes Panel.

After graduating from Stanford Law School, he was recognized by his peers as a lawyer of preeminent ability by the Martindale Hubbell Directory of attorneys for four decades, as a “Top Lawyer” by Seattle Magazine and continuously from 2001 onwards as a “Super Lawyer” by Washington Law and Politics Magazine.  He described his greatest satisfaction in practicing law was establishing personal relationships with clients while assisting them either in minimizing liability threats to their businesses or in efficiently and successfully resolving such threats through litigation.

Camille Taylor Ralston retired at the end of 2020 after 40 years at Montgomery Purdue. She was the first female partner at the firm and a rare example at the time of practicing law at the highest level while balancing the demands of motherhood. Many female attorneys in the firm have since followed the trail she blazed. Camille’s practice focused on the purchase, sale, financing, and leasing of virtually all types of commercial real estate including apartments, hotels, golf courses, medical and high-rise office buildings, shopping centers, manufacturing and storage facilities, marine properties, and agricultural and vacant land. In addition to her transactions practice, Camille served in a general counsel role to her long-time clients.

A graduate of Whitman College and the University of Washington School of Law, Camille was a well-known real estate attorney in the Pacific Northwest. She received numerous accolades and was included by Washington Law & Politics in the Top 40 Real Estate Law Attorneys and Top 50 Women Attorneys. Camille is a past Board Member of YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish. Since her retirement, Camille has been enjoying time with family and friends, volunteer work, skiing, travel, knitting, and trying out new things like choir and tai chi.

Bill Goodwin retired after nearly 50 years at Montgomery Purdue, during which he principally handled complex business transactions in the areas of corporate, commercial and real estate law. He has been known by his clients and peers as a lawyer not only able to deal effectively with the nuanced complexities of legal issues but also able to craft practical solutions to difficult problems. He described his greatest satisfaction in practicing law was to observe first-hand the successes and growing prosperity of his clients, knowing that from time-to-time he had contributed to their progress, in however small a way.

During his tenure at Montgomery Purdue, Bill also devoted many years to firm management, first as its managing partner, later as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Bill was recognized as a lawyer of preeminent ability by the Martindale Hubbell Directory of Attorneys for four decades, as a “Top Lawyer” by Seattle Magazine, and as a “Super Lawyer” by Washington Law and Politics Magazine. Bill received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Stanford University in 1966, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in 1969. He was admitted to practice in the states of California and Washington. He is a past President of the Stanford University Alumni Association for Western Washington.

Jeff Péwé retired from Montgomery Purdue during early 2018 after more than 45 years of serving the firm’s business clients in connection with a wide range of diverse commercial and real estate transactions in addition to matters involving corporate governance and ownership succession.  He expresses particular satisfaction that many of his relationships as a counselor to clients on matters large and small, and whether involving their businesses or personal matters, have endured and strengthened over many years of representation. Continuing through his date of retirement, Jeff annually received the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards from the peer review system sponsored by the Martindale Hubbell Directory of Attorneys.  He was also designated as a “Super Lawyer” by Washington Law and Politics Magazine. Jeff received a Bachelor of Arts degree, Summa Cum Laude, in Economics from Washington State University in 1971, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of  Washington School of Law in 1974.

George Akers retired in 2019 after nearly 50 years of practice. His vast experience covers construction and commercial litigation, business planning, banking, real estate and estate planning. This broad experience, along with his Juris Doctor from the University of Washington School of Law and an advanced degree in taxation from New York University, has earned him high regard for exceptional effectiveness while representing clients.

Peggy Hughes retired from Montgomery Purdue Blankinship & Austin after over 36 years of serving her business and individual clients, her firm and the community as a nationally recognized franchise and product distribution attorney. Her extensive experience in dispute resolution and commercial business transactions helped her focus on preserving and enhancing the value of her clients’ businesses during operation and upon transfer or sale. Peggy’s clients and peers regard her as tremendously creative, capable and tenacious in finding solutions to business problems and litigation. She is particularly proud of the many long-term relationships she developed with her clients and their business entities over the decades, as well as providing unwavering support to her clients through transitions in ownership, family dynamics and business.

During her tenure at MPBA, Peggy was an active member of the ABA Forum on Franchising, Washington State Bar Association and Washington Women Lawyers. She was also involved in pro bono and other volunteer work in the legal and greater community. She started volunteering at the King County Prosecutor’s office in the early days; she continued her involvement in the Washington State Bar Association with the committee drafting the State Mandatory Arbitration Rules, and as a member of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. She was also active in community affairs and organizations and sat on the board of COCA (Center on Contemporary Art) in Seattle. Peggy also devoted many years as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, as Hiring Partner, and on the Art Committee, supporting the distinctive culture of MPBA.

Peggy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Business Administration from Western Washington University and her Juris Doctor degree from University of Puget Sound School of Law (now Seattle University), cum laude.