Michelle Bomberger
michelle@equinoxbusinesslaw.com

Michelle Bomberger, founder of Equinox Business Law Group is an experienced businesswoman, entrepreneur, and attorney. Her practice focuses on helping companies create the right infrastructure, secure financing, protect assets, and develop and execute exit strategies.

Michelle's desire to work with small businesses and entrepreneurs began at Northwestern University, while she was pursuing dual graduate degrees in law and business. A founding member of the Small Business Opportunity Center at Northwestern University School of Law, Michelle served as president of the organization and provided both legal and business advice to nonprofit and for-profit small businesses.

Before attending graduate school, Michelle was a business operations and technology consultant with Ernst & Young LLP, where she often found her smaller clients most rewarding. Michelle also worked at Cingular Wireless as senior manager of auditing services, where she worked directly with C-level executives to implement process improvements across business functions.

After graduate school, Michelle moved to Seattle to join Venture Law Group, a law firm focused on high tech startups. In 2005, Michelle launched Equinox Business Law to put her legal and business prowess to use for growing businesses. An experienced entrepreneur herself, Michelle knows what it's like to walk in her clients' shoes firsthand. In addition to launching and growing Equinox Business Law Group, she and her husband owned and managed two restaurants in the Seattle area.

Michelle is an active member of the King County Bar Association and the Washington State Bar Association, where speaks regularly about law office management. In 2009, Michelle was voted "Best Lawyer" by the readers of 425 Magazine.

Outside the office, Michelle offers pro-bono legal services to local businesses and non-profits through Seattle University's Community Development and Entrepreneurship Clinic and Washington Attorneys Assisting Community Organizations. She is also the Seattle Chapter Manager for Help a Mother Out, which holds diaper drives for local organizations that support needy families. A current member of Women Business Owners in Seattle, Michelle previously served on the Board of Directors.

In addition to her J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law (cum laude) and M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Michelle also holds a B.S. in Finance and Computer Applications from the University of Notre Dame (cum laude).

Born and raised in Panama, Michelle paddled in the annual Ocean-to-Ocean Cayuco Race through the Panama Canal during her sophomore year in high school, winning the women's category of the race. If you want to know more about the race, check out this video.

When she is not advising small business owners and entrepreneurs, Michelle is the mother of two young children, who keep her very busy, especially on the weekends. She also enjoys cooking, entertaining friends, and playing chess with her 7-year-old, who plays competitively.

"I love learning about what companies are doing and helping them do it right. The ability to give clients another set of metrics and tools to help evaluate opportunities and understand risks is incredibly rewarding."

Lauren Burgon
lauren@equinoxbusinesslaw.com

Lauren Burgon is an associate at Equinox Business Law Group, working closely with business owners to ensure they are minimizing risk and protecting assets by using well-written, comprehensive contracts and agreements; properly maintaining their corporate structures; and responding quickly and effectively to diffuse potential issues with employees, contractors, customers and vendors.

While she especially enjoys working with business owners in planning ahead to avoid litigation, other areas of Lauren's practice include protecting clients' intellectual property rights via trademark and copyright registrations, as well as assisting them in drafting carefully written nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements.

Lauren's prior work experience gives her additional insight into the needs of business owners, having worked for several small businesses, including restaurants, a personal services business, veterinary clinics, and nonprofit organizations. She also advised the Woodland Park Zoo in its transition from an independent 501(c) (3) organization into part of the Woodland Park Zoo Society.

More recently, Lauren's practice has developed in Internet and online issues, advising her clients on their online presence, retail activity, social media, and the ramifications of virtual work with customers worldwide.

Lauren holds a J.D. from the University of Washington Law School and B.A. in English (cum laude) from Middlebury College. Having lived in Seattle since law school, Lauren resides in West Seattle with her two children, with whom she enjoys cooking, playing Farkle, and practicing the Korean martial art form Tang Soo Do, in which the entire family holds 2nd Gup red belt rank. Lauren is also an avid indoor and beach volleyball player, having played the sport for 31 years…and still counting.

"The best part of my job is working with clients to craft solutions that work for their businesses as well as their personal risk tolerances. I particularly enjoy helping clients realize that a 'contract' is not a dirty word, but rather it is protection and clarity for them, their employees, and their customers."

DAWN NELSON
dawn@equinoxbusinesslaw.com

Dawn joined Equinox Business Law Group in June 2010 as the Legal and Administrative Assistant. Dawn spent more than 4 years as Administrator for a nonprofit organization that focuses primarily on resourcing low income families. In this role, Dawn planned large scale community events as well as developed strategic plans to aid in resourcing low income families in Federal Way. Dawn became the Community Director for the organization and led efforts to focus the organization on fund raising and marketing. In 2009 Dawn began work as a Paralegal with the Home Foreclosure Legal Aid clinic helping to give legal support and direction for individuals facing financial crisis. Dawn quickly moved into the position of Litigation Paralegal and was highlighted for her ability to research and analyze critical legal issues.

Dawn earned an Associate of Applied Sciences degree and Paralegal Certificate from Highline Community College in 2010 and is planning to attend Seattle Pacific University to complete her undergraduate degree in Professional Studies.

Other Legal Counselors

As our services emphasize business transactions, we leverage business lawyers and other legal counselors in the Bellevue, Seattle and Western Washington regions, as necessary and appropriate, to ensure our clients receive the highest quality of legal service to meet any needs we elect not to offer within our office. This structure allows us to pick those attorneys who have experience and expertise to serve you in areas we elect not to emphasize our practice such as estate planning, litigation, tax and real estate transactions.