Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Tuesday, March 19, 2002

 

Page 3

 

Local Healthcare Attorney Elected Firmwide Managing Partner of Davis Wright Tremaine

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

Los Angeles healthcare attorney Richard D. Ellingsen has been elected firmwide managing partner of the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine.

Ellingsen’s election signals the first time in its 94-year existence Davis Wright elected a managing partner outside of its downtown Seattle headquarters.

Ellingsen replaces Bradley C. Diggs, who served as managing partner since 1994, the longest tenure ever for a Davis Wright chief executive officer. Under the direction of Diggs, the firm doubled in revenue and grew from 251 attorneys to over 400.

As the firm’s chief executive officer, Ellingsen will be responsible for strategic planning, lawyer satisfaction and practice development, and client service and development.

Ellingsen, in a statement, expressed a desire to get input from partners before deciding which direction to take the firm in.

“DWT has grown dramatically over the past few years, and earned a reputation for responding to the marketplace by listening to its clients,” Ellingsen remarked. “That takes the talents and contributions of our lawyers across the nation, so I think my first order of business is to get out there and listen to my partners before setting priorities.”

Ellingsen joined Davis Wright’s Los Angeles office as a partner in 1990 when the health law boutique Ellingsen, Christensen & Steinberg merged with Davis Wright. Ellingsen practiced with Ellingsen, Christensen & Steinberg from 1985 until the merger.

He has served as chair of the health law group, as the firmwide associate committee chairman, and on the firm’s share committee.

Ellingsen graduated from University of Washington, magna cum laude, and he received his law degree from Duke University School of Law with distinction.

 

Copyright 2002, Metropolitan News Company