Michael Olver & Christopher Lee Join Helsell Fetterman as Of Counsel


Helsell Fetterman LLP announced that its Estate Planning & Probate Practice Group has been significantly strengthened through the additions of two new attorneys, Michael L. Olver and Christopher C. Lee, as Of Counsel.

“We’re thrilled to welcome these highly experienced and talented attorneys to Helsell Fetterman,” said Scott Collins, managing partner. “Michael’s solid reputation as a successful trial attorney and Christopher’s broad litigation background are true assets to our firm. Their TEDRA litigation experience provides a valued complement to the firm’s estate planning and family law departments—allowing us to provide a more robust and comprehensive offering than ever before.”

Michael Olver, Of Counsel

206.292.1144 | molver@helsell.com

In his new role as Of Counsel, Olver will draw upon more than 30 years’ experience as a successful trial attorney to guide Helsell Fetterman clients in matters including trusts and estates, transaction work and guardianship. Olver also brings a strong existing guardianship practice to Helsell Fetterman, including some of the largest guardianship and fiduciary companies in the region.

Formerly a private practice attorney, Olver most recently served as shareholder at Seattle-based Betts, Patterson & Mines, where his experience included special emphasis on probate and litigation surrounding the Washington Trust & Estate Dispute Resolution Act (TEDRA). As part of a winning litigation team that included Lee, Olver is also joining Helsell Fetterman with his existing paralegal and legal assistant team. Prior to that, Olver held his own private practice, Merrick & Olver, for more than 25 years.

Olver’s extensive list of successful trial work includes Olver v. Fowler, a landmark case addressing how to divide assets between unmarried couples in probate. He also successfully litigated a Class Action lawsuit benefiting thousands of senior citizens and their families. He has prosecuted ten appeals and won eight, including six that are published.

Named one of the “Top 100 Trial Attorneys in the State of Washington” in 2008 and 2009 by American Trial Lawyers Association, Olver is also a “Super Lawyer” in Washington Law & Politics (2001-present) and was named a “Top Lawyer” in Seattle Magazine (2007). He is a prominent speaker and published author, with more than 30 lectures and publications under his belt.

Olver is on the Board of Directors for the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, where he served as past president (2002). He is also member of the Washington State Bar Association and Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. A graduate of California Western School of Law, Olver earned his bachelor’s in English from the University of Washington.

Christopher Lee, Of Counsel

206.689.2123 | clee@helsell.com

As Of Counsel, Lee will utilize his broad litigation experience focusing on trust and estate litigation to support attorneys in Helsell Fetterman’s Estate Planning & Probate Practice.

Lee has more than 14 years of diverse litigation experience and a business education from the Wharton School of Business. Prior to joining Helsell Fetterman, he held senior positions at several prestigious law firms in Seattle and Los Angeles including Rohde & Van Kampen, PLLC and Stone & Hiles, LLP. Most recently, he served as director at Seattle-based Betts, Patterson & Mines P.S., where he worked closely with Olver.

A member of numerous professional organizations including Washington State Bar Association, King County Bar Association, Asian Bar Association of Washington and Q-Law, Le has co-authored several publications and presentations including Fiduciary Liability and Why Trustees of Special Needs Trust Get Sued (2008) with Olver.

Lee received his J.D. cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School and earned dual degrees cum laude including a Bachelor of Science in Economics in Public Policy & Management from the Wharton School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in International Relations from the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. He has also been recognized by Washington Law and Politics as a “Rising Star” for several years (2007-2010).