The First Annual Lawyerpalooza Seattle Law Firm Battle of the Bands
(Seattle, January 29, 2003) -- The First Annual Lawyerpalooza Seattle Law Firm Battle of the Bands is now less than two weeks away. On Monday, February 10, 2003, six bands, comprised of legal professionals from 10 Seattle law firms, will rock and roll to raise money for elementary school music programs in the Seattle Schools. The Four Seasons Olympic Hotel has donated the use of its Spanish Ballroom for the event.
KOMO-TV weather anchor Steve Pool will be the master of ceremonies for the evening as each band plays a 20-minute set. Four local celebrities have volunteered to be judges: Spike O'Neill of KZOK's "Twisted Radio" morning team; Penny LeGate, anchor/reporter from KIRO-TV; Anne Bremner, noted local litigator; and Mark Lindquist, attorney and author of several novels, including Never Mind Nirvana. The judges will offer comments about the bands' performances and, factoring in audience response, decide on the winner of the Golden Palooza Award.
"The idea behind the event is to raise money for elementary school music programs, while at the same time showcasing the musical talents of legal professionals in Seattle and having fun," says Mike Nesteroff, a partner at Lane Powell Spears Lubersky, the firm that is organizing Lawyerpalooza. "There is no question that the schools today have a critical need for funding just to keep their music programs alive," says Nesteroff.
Lawyerpalooza has targeted two Seattle schools for assistance. One is Olympic Hills Elementary in north Seattle, where 60% of its families are below the federal poverty line, yet almost 100% its 4th and 5th grade students participate in a music program. Olympic Hills' funding, however, has been cut from $17,000 last year to $2,500 this school year and zero for next year. The second school is Pathfinder Alternative in West Seattle, which offers instrumental music to its students in 4th through 8th grades. Pathfinder needs funding so it can have a music teacher for at least a full day and would like to have a second full day funded so it can increase the number of students in the instrumental program. Pathfinder also needs funding to start up a school chorus.
"We know how important music has been to us and to our own children," says Nesteroff, "and we want to use Lawyerpalooza to help make it possible for kids at these schools to have opportunities in music."
Lawyerpalooza has partnered with the Alliance for Education, which is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering higher academic achievement in the Seattle Public Schools. The Alliance helps channel community resources towards programs in the schools. Funds raised by Lawyerpalooza events will go to accounts set up by the Alliance for Education for each of the targeted schools.
Bands and law firms that will appear at Lawyerpalooza are:
· The Big Lubersky -- Lane Powell Spears Lubersky LLP and Law Office of David Huber
· Fall City - Preston Gates & Ellis LLP and Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
· Wonderdogs - Karr Tuttle Campbell and Groff Murphy Trachtenberg & Everard PLLC
· Morris Can Fly - Riddell Williams P.S. and McNaul Ebel Nawrot Helgren & Vance PLLC
· Perkins Coie Band - Perkins Coie LLP.
Firms with bands participating in Lawyerpalooza have made donations and several local businesses and individuals are sponsors, including:
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ABC Legal Messengers
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Brasa
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Buell Realtime Reporting
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IKON
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FindLaw
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Four Seasons Cleaners
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Four Seasons Olympic Hotel
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James Sanderson & Lowers Court Reporters
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Judicial Dispute Resolution
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Live Sound
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Marshall Group
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M.C. Lile Color Printing
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Brian & Carol Meenaghan
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Naf Productions
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Navigant Travel
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Platt Electric Supply
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Sir Speedy/Digital Quickcolor
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Tsongas Litigation Services.
The event runs from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets can be reserved through the Lawyerpalooza web site, www.lawyerpalooza.com. Suggested donations are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. For more information contact: Mike Nesteroff, Lane Powell Spears Lubersky, 1420 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4100, Seattle, WA 98101-2338; Tel: (206) 223-6242; e-mail: nesteroffm@lanepowell.com.