University of Washington, B.A., Economics (1971), J.D. (1974)

Washington State and King County Bar;
Federal District Court, Western District of Washington (1975)
Federal Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (1978)

A native of Seattle, Ken studied Arabic Language and Islamic law at the University of Washington and in Tunisia, taking a position as corporate counsel to the Arabian American Oil Company, first in Houston and then in Saudi Arabia. While with Aramco Ken concentrated on drafting and negotiating commercial and construction contracts of values up to one billion dollars, and in assisting Aramco contractors in understanding both Saudi and US laws relating to business and commerce in the Middle East. On returning to the US, he entered private practice in 1978, continuing his construction related activities and using his commercial background to develop an active practice in business contracts, transactions and litigation. Ken also developed a specialty in administrative laws relating to aquatic lands and the shellfish industry.

Ken joined Simburg, Ketter, Sheppard & Purdy as a founding partner in 1984, where he continued his business practice, developing additional expertise in trademark and copyright law to assist his emerging technology clients.

He is an accomplished litigator with an ability to quickly understand and distill complex and technical issues for presentation to the court or jury. His extensive business and construction background has given him a feel for dealing efficiently and effectively with business contracts and transactions, including numerous mergers and acquisitions representing both the acquiring and acquired parties. Ken has Martindale-Hubbell's highest individual rating - "AV".

Ken is the author of Construction Liens, published by the King County Bar Association in 1996. He has presented seminar topics on International Joint Ventures for the Seattle-King County Bar Association, and on International Arbitration for the Northwest Litigation Conference in Vancouver, B.C.

Ken has a wide array of outside interests and activities. He is an expert woodworker and an avid rose grower and exhibitor, a past President of the Seattle Rose Society , and an American Rose Society Judge.   Ken is also a major worldwide dealer in antique lithographs of Egypt and the Middle East by the nineteenth century Scottish artist David Roberts, using his art and conservation skills to restore and color these prints. He has worked with the Tate Gallery, National Geographic Magazine, and other institutions worldwide in exhibitions, television programs, and publications involving these prints. At right is a David Roberts lithograph as restored and colored by Ken. For a view of more of his work, visit the web site for his print business at www.medinaarts.com. Ken designed, constructed and maintains both that web site and this one.