After growing up near Memphis, Tennessee, James Buckley served two years in the Vietnam War and was awarded various medals for his service, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He then went on to study at Memphis State University and the University of Washington, graduating in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. In 1977 he received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oregon Law School.

Subsequent to graduating from law school, Mr. Buckley worked for three years as a prosecuting attorney in Olympia. Beginning in 1981, he worked as an associate attorney in private practice, and became a partner in a law firm. Mr. Buckley opened Buckley & Associates in Tacoma in 1983.

Today Mr. Buckley continues his legal education by attending seminars and conferences. His emphasis is as a trial lawyer handling serious injuries and wrongful death matters. He is also a hearing examiner with the Washington State Bar Association and serves as an arbitrator for King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.

His proudest accomplishments are being a father of three children and building and maintaining a successful law firm.

Paul Apple is a senior litigation attorney predominantely handling personal injury and wrongful death claims. His current accomplishments include winning an appeal in the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, and serving as an arbitrator for Pierce County and King County Superior Court Cases.

Mr. Apple is from Waukegan, Illinois. He graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science in speech. He attended Thomas M. Cooley Law School, graduated in 1992, and made the Dean's list five terms.

Outside of the office Mr. Apple skis, hikes, climbs, bicycles, and sails. He is proud to have climbed Mt. Rainier and slept on the summit. Mr. Apple is especially pleased with his new role as a husband.

Ed Hemingway is a proud father and husband. Before becoming an attorney, Mr. Hemingway had a 17-year career working for the Port of Seattle in information systems and techincal support.

In 1995 he graduated from the University of Washington and went on to receive his law degree from California Western School of Law. He was awarded a dean scholarship to law school and his law school's service award.

Mr. Hemingway prides himself on his family and on the fact that during his entire life he has tried to help others.

Efrem Krisher is an attorney who emphasizes in insurance coverage and negotiations. Before working for Buckley & Associates, he spent 18 years working for insurance companies and four years in private practice. He is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, Judge Advocate General Corps in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Mr. Krisher is originally from Long Island, New York. He is a graduate of S.U.N.Y. Maritime College and received his Juris Doctorate from Tulane University School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in both Washington and New York.

Derek Radtke serves as a litigation attorney with emphasis in personal injury, emphasizing motor vehicle accidents, pedestrian/motor vehicle accidents, accidents with uninsured motorists, wrongful death claims, claims against insurance companies, maritime--Jones Act claims and medical malpractice. Mr. Radtke is admitted to practice in State of Washington, 1997; 9th Circuit 1998; U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington 1999, United States Supreme Court 2002.

Prior to graduating from Gonzaga Law School in 1997, Mr. Radtke received a Bachelor or Arts in English from the University of Washington and a Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University in 1997. Mr. Radtke was listed in Who's Who in American Law, 2003-2004. Outside of work interests include, running regularly and participating in local races, Husky football, weightlifting and the sport of Schutzhund.

Publication: Whittier L. Rev. 655 Whittier Law Review Spring 1998 Notes and Comments STATE ENCROACHMENT INTO TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY BY MEANS OF THE ASSIMILATIVE CRIMES ACT.

Mr. Unger handles wrongful death and major injury cases for the firm. He was born in Seattle in 1958 and graduated from UCLA with a BA in psychology in 1981. While at UCLA, he tutored inmates at the Mt. Kilpatrick Juvenile Detention Center. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, he worked for 2 years at the City of Beverly Hills Recreation and Parks Department. He then returned to UCLA, where he graduated from their law school in 1986.

While in law school, Mr. Unger earned the American Jurisprudence Book Award in Torts and was a Moot Court honoree. He also taught "Street Law" twice a week for one semester to high school students. In addition, he won first place in the UCLA sponsored writing competition.

Mr. Unger's law review article, entitled "Compulsory Self Incrimination and the Oil Spill Statute - What the EPA Doesn't Know Will Hurt Them," can be found at 4 UCLA Journal of Environmental Law 231 (1985). The article, which criticized a federal statute that operated to discourage individuals from reporting environmental accidents, was brought to the attention of the U.S. Congress. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Congress deleted those provisions to the statute that Mr. Unger had criticized.

Mr. Unger became licensed to practice in Washington in 1987. Since then, he has practiced appellate litigation in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the Western and Eastern divisions of the Federal District Courts and the Washington State Supreme Court. He has also tried numerous personal injury cases in the Washington State Superior Courts. His practice specialty includes insurance coverage litigation.

Mr. Unger lives in Bellevue with his wife and daughter and enjoys skiing and golf.