Russell J. Speidel
Attorney

Biography: Russell J. Speidel was raised in Wenatchee, Washington. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in History from Stanford University, his law degree from Willamette University and a Master’s Degree in the Laws of Taxation from Boston University.

For over 30 years Mr. Speidel has emphasized estate planning in his law practice. Mr. Speidel is a past president of the Chelan-Douglas County Bar Association. He was the founding president of Chelan-Douglas County Volunteer Attorney Services, which provides pro bono legal services to low income people in Chelan and Douglas Counties. He organized and chaired the first Washington State Bar Association statewide project of Law Week “A Lawyer and Judge in Every School” and received the 2000 WSBA President’s Award for his successful efforts in that endeavor.

Mr. Speidel and the Chelan-Douglas County Bar Association were co-recipients of the 2003 Charles A. Goldmark Distinguished Service Award from the Legal Foundation of Washington. He received the Wenatchee Business Journal 2004 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Lawyer. Mr. Speidel is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

Honors and Awards: Mr. Speidel holds the top rating possible, AV, in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. He was accepted to the 2009 Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. Mr. Speidel has been named a Super Lawyer by Washington Law & Politics Magazine in each of years 2007 through 2009. He was also rated as “superb” in 2009 by Avvo.com, an independent and free legal directory website that profiles and ranks attorneys for consumer use.

Community Involvement: Mr. Speidel is a current Board Member of Chelan- Douglas County Volunteer Attorney Services and The Salvation Army.

Admitted to the Bars of: Massachusetts, 1974; New Hampshire, 1977; U.S. District Court, District of New Hampshire, 1977; U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit, 1980; U.S. Supreme Court, 1981; Washington, 1982; U.S. Tax Court, 1984; U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Washington, 1986.

Education: Stanford University (A.B., 1970); Willamette University (J.D., 1974); Boston University (LL.M in Taxation, 1977)

Memberships: Mr. Speidel is a member of the Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Washington State Bar Associations. He is an elected Fellow of the American College of the Trust and Estate Counsel.

Practice Areas: Trusts and Estates; Wills; Probate; Federal Estate and Gift Taxation; Nonprofit and Charitable Organizations

Email Address: russ.speidel@speidellaw.com

The Supreme Court of Washington does not recognize certification of specialties in the practice of law. A certificate, award, or recognition is not a requirement to practice law in the state of Washington.