Clallam County Bar

August 16, 2018

The Platt Irwin Law Firm, Clallam County’s largest private law firm, has dissolved. The firm was founded nearly 100 years ago and has undergone several name changes as members of the firm have changed.

The firm had offices in Port Angeles and Port Townsend. The Port Angeles office, at 403 South Peabody Street is now occupied by former firm partner Stephen Moriarty, and Olympic Peninsula Title Company.

The final partners of the firm were Stephen Moriarty, Simon Barnhart, and Patrick Irwin who was the son of Bart Irwin a former and now retired member of the firm. Stephen Moriarty and Patrick Irwin have opened their own private law firms, and Simon Barnhart is currently working for the Port of Port Angeles.

Former members of the firm included Frank Platt (deceased, 2009), Bart Irwin, Gary Colley, Steve Oliver, S. Brooke Taylor (former president of the Washington State Bar Association), George Wood, David Neupert, David Berger, Allison Mahaney, and Christopher Riffle. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Wood resigned from the firm to serve as Clallam County Superior Court Judges (both retired from the bench). Mr. Neupert retired from the firm in 2015 and is currently running for Clallam County District Court judge (district 1).

Among the firm’s many notable accomplishments, Mr. Colley was involved with the initial creation and operation of the North Olympic Land Trust.  Mr. Oliver was involved with the creation of John Wayne Marina in 1969.

The firm had a long history of community involvement, dedicating time and financial resources to groups such as Rotary International, Kiwanis, Chamber of Commerce, Education Foundation, United Way, YMCA, YMCA Youth in Government, Pro Bono Lawyers, North Olympic Land Trust, Clallam County Parks Board, Port Angeles Citizens for Education, Northwest Maritime Center, Wooden Boat Foundation, Olympic Medical Center Foundation, Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Education Foundation, Boys and Girls Club,Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics, and the Clallam County Bar Association.

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Stephen Moriarty, WSBA #18810, opened his own firm after his former firm, the Platt Irwin Law Firm, dissolved. Mr. Moriarty’s new law firm is Stephen C. Moriarty Law Office, his law practice covers the areas of estate planning, probate, wills, guardianships, and personal injury. Mr. Moriarty is the only attorney from the former Platt Irwin Law Firm still located at the old Platt Irwin building on Peabody street, across from the court house, and he shares the building with Olympic Peninsula Title Company.

Mr. Moriarty has served as legal counsel for a number of non-profit organizations, including Port Angeles Waterfront Center, Boys and Girls Club, and Sequim Community Foundation, has served as President of Clallam County United Way and the Clallam County Bar Association, and is a current board member of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center and is a member of the Port Angeles Rotary Club.

 

Mr. Moriarty’s contact information is:

403 S Peabody St
Port Angeles, WA 98362-3210

Email:        [email protected]

Phone:        (360) 457-3327

Patrick Irwin, WSBA # 30397, has moved. Formerly a partner at the Platt Irwin Law firm, he is now a member of his own firm, the Patrick Irwin Law Firm, PLLC. The Platt Irwin Law Firm dissolved…. Mr. Irwin is practicing law in the areas of business/ commercial, civil litigation, construction, contracts, corporate, estate planning, probate, wills, intellectual property, land use, landlord/tenant, litigation, non-profit/tax exempt, real property, real property/land use, torts and personal injury. Patrick Irwin is the son of Bart Irwin, who is a retired attorney and was also a former member of the Platt Irwin Law Firm.

Patrick has served on the board of the Clallam County Family YMCA. He was also President of the Clallam County Bar Association for the year 2008.

Mr. Irwin’s contact information is:

Patrick Irwin Law Firm, PLLC

106 N Laurel St

Port Angeles, WA 98362-2611

Email:        [email protected]

Phone:        (360) 928-7117

Simon Barnhart, WSBA #34207, has moved. Mr. Barnhart was formerly a partner at the Platt Irwin Law Firm, and is now working as Port Counsel for the Port of Port Angeles and also as their deputy Executive Director.

Simon is a past President of the Clallam County Bar Association, the Board of Directors of the United Way of Clallam County, has served on the Board of Directors of Clallam-Jefferson County Pro Bono Lawyers Association and the Board of Directors of the North Olympic Land Trust. Simon currently serves on the boards of the Clallam County Bar Association and Clallam Public Defender.

His contact information is:

Port of Port Angeles

PO Box 1350

Port Angeles, WA 98362-0251

Email:        [email protected]

Phone:        (360) 457-8527

David Berger, WSBA #48480, formerly an associate attorney for the Plat Irwin Law Firm, has  moved to Kelso, Washington. He is working for the Cowlitz County prosecutor’s office. His contact information is:

312 SW 1st Ave
Kelso, WA 98626-1739

Email:        [email protected]

Phone:        (360) 577-3080

Fax:        (360) 414-9121