Our Team

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

More than 30 years of legal experience, primarily in the area of employment law (e.g. discrimination, retaliation, harassment, workplace violence, disability issues), and providing advice and counsel on all aspects of employment.

• Principal, MFR Law Group PLLC
• Experience as an employment attorney with a large national law firm; in-house counsel (The Boeing Company); executive management (Director of Employee Relations for Boeing); private investigator principal; expert witness; and trainer.
  • Experience in labor relations including management of grievances, mid-term negotiations and strike operations.
  • Mediator and hearing officer.
  • Consulting and testifying expert for both plaintiffs and defendants regarding the efficacy of human resource policies, procedures, and practices.
  • More than 400 hours as an executive coach developing leadership skills and facilitating career transitions.

ADMISSIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Licensed to practice law in Washington and Oregon
• Licensed as a Private Investigator by Washington and Oregon
• Certified Senior Professional in HR by the HR Certification Institute and the Society for HR Management
• Certified Mediator by the Washington Mediation Association
• Certified Gallup CliftonStrengths Coach
• Association of Workplace Investigators

EDUCATION

• JD, University of Virginia School of Law
• M.A. and B.A. in Educational Administration and Elementary Education from the University of Iowa

CIVIC ACTIVITIES

• Program Co-Chair, Greater Seattle Chapter of the Links, Inc.
• HR Committee, YMCA of Snohomish County

About Renee Cogdell Lewis

JD, PI

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

More than 20 years of legal experience, including partnering with human resources teams and providing advice/counsel for sensitive employee relation issues in corporate, call center, and distribution warehouse environments.

• MFR Law Group PLLC
  • Attorney
  • Workplace Investigator, Mediator, and Executive Coach
• Experience as in-house counsel and legal consultant principal (lia sophia and EBONY/JET Magazines) providing advice and counsel.
  • Collaborated with HR teams. Advised on employee discipline and termination matters. Negotiated and drafted severance agreements. Reviewed and drafted employee policies and procedures. Oversaw claims and litigation related to terminated employees. Acted as interim HR Director and advised on employee relations matters. Investigated and resolved discrimination claims. Oversaw and participated in sensitive executive leadership and workplace theft investigations. Investigated code of conduct violations. Represented clients and facilitated mediations. Developed and delivered standardized training and education.

ADMISSIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Licensed to practice law in Washington and Illinois
• Coach, Co-Active Training Institute
• Certified Mediator

EDUCATION

• JD, University of Minnesota Law School
• B.S. in Journalism, News and Editorial – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

CIVIC ACTIVITIES

• YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish
  • Co-Chair, People of Color Executive Council (2021 – present)
  • Board of Directors (2020 – present)
  • Member, People of Color Executive Council (2018 – present)
  • Member, STAND Against Racism Sub-Committee (2018 – present)
  • Willows Branch Volunteer (2018)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• MFR Law Group PLLC
  • Licensed private investigator and experienced human resources professional with expertise conducting workplace investigations and assessments for public, private, and nonprofit clients regarding hostile work environment, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, bullying, and disability rights.
• Sixteen years’ experience in management and executive leadership roles advancing human resources, business operations, equity, and other internal initiatives.
  • Served as human resources department head directing strategic initiatives and drafting internal and external policies and practices that center diversity, equity, and inclusion, including recruitment and retention, employee engagement, pay equity, employee relations and support, mentorship, professional development, labor-management relations, and other organizational human resources initiatives.
  • Advised and coached management and leadership team on employee relations, performance management, labor and employment law, difficult conversations, conflict resolution, and other promising practices tailored to improve individual outcomes for staff and the organization.

ADMISSIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Licensed Private Investigator in Washington
• Society of Human Resources Management Certified Professional

EDUCATION

• Master’s in Nonprofit Management from DePaul University
• B.A. in English and Sociology from University of Missouri

PUBLICATIONS

• Examining Unwritten HR Practices to Center Race Equity and Inclusion, MIE Journal (Winter, 2020).
• Best Practices for Race-Based Caucusing in the Workplace. NHRMA Annual Conference, Portland, OR (October 2019).
• Moving Beyond Business as Usual: Antiracist Recruitment and Hiring Practices. MIE Journal (Fall, 2019).
• How to Write a Transition Memo: A Practical Guide. MIE Journal (Winter, 2014).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• MFR Law Group PLLC
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Investigator with specialized expertise in accounting, financial fraud, internal controls, and business transactions.
• More than 20 years’ experience at technology (Microsoft), telecommunications (Nortel Networks), and food products (Mars) companies in a variety of senior level positions, including corporate controller and treasurer.
  • Expertise in strategic and annual planning, budgets and forecasts, cash flow analysis and management, business operations analysis, financial planning and analysis, and accounting and internal controls.
  • Managed software and hardware products turnkey manufacturing operation for Microsoft-North America operations. Scope of work included contract review and negotiation, relationship management, business analysis, budgeting and forecasting, financial and operation measurement and reporting, team building, and staff training and mentoring.
• Nearly 20 years’ experience at Everett Community College (EVCC) as an Accounting faculty member. Experience teaching all levels of accounting courses and introduction to business.
  • Exceptional Faculty Award, EVCC
  • Diversity Award, EVCC
  • Advancing the Dream Award, Central Washington University (this award recognizes the outstanding contribution of business instructors in the twenty-nine (29) community colleges across Washington)

ADMISSIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Certified Public Accountant licensed in Washington and Tennessee (inactive)
• Chartered Global Management Accountant licensed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
• Certified in Financial Forensics by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Certified as Fraud Examiner by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners
• Association of Workplace Investigators
• Licensed as a Private Investigator by Washington and Oregon

EDUCATION

• MBA from Western Washington University
• B.S. in Business Administration from Union University
• Associate of Science in Business Administration from Dyersburg State Community College

CIVIC ACTIVITIES

• Co-founder of the EVCC Students of Color Career Conference, where over 2,000 middle and high school students attend each year
• Founding Program Director of the Snohomish County NAACP and EVCC Youth Development Program
• President’s Award Snohomish County NAACP
• Former Commissioner, Washington State Commission on African American Affairs

About Amy Fleetwood

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Amy has more than 35 years of experience working in the field of law as a legal assistant, executive assistant, legal trainer, and paralegal. She started her work in Manhattan in the 1980s, then worked in Los Angeles, and has been in Seattle since the 1990s. Amy has done extensive work in banking mergers and acquisitions, estate planning, employee benefits, and in more recent years, served as the Washington State legal assistant for SEIU 1199NW.

EDUCATION

• BA in History from University of Michigan
• MFA in Acting from California Institute of the Arts

CIVIC ACTIVITIES

Amy is a professional actor and has worked for local theaters including the Strawberry Theatre Workshop, The Intiman, Book-It Repertory, Seattle Shakespeare, and Wooden-O. She is also a member of The Seagull Project, which explores the works of Anton Chekhov.

About Anne M. Preston

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Nearly 33 years’ experience as a paralegal and executive assistant.

• Paralegal and Executive Assistant for MFR Law Group (2016 – Present)
• Executive Assistant for Westshore Management (2013 – Present)
  • Document manager for more than 17 commercial properties/entities, including tracking of all insurance-related matters
• Between 1988 and 2016, provided professional paralegal and executive assistant services to more than 10 attorneys at several general business law firms. Areas of law included, but were not limited to, civil litigation (for both plaintiffs and defendants), employment, transactions, corporate, securities, intellectual property, real property, land use, and estate planning.
  • Discovery; research and analysis; drafting, preparation, and filing of court documents.
  • Drafting and preparation of other non-court related documents.
  • Other administrative law firm functions, including document management, time and billing management, and in-office IT support.

EDUCATION

• Associates of Technical Arts Degree from Edmonds Community College in 1987
• Associates of Arts/Sciences from Everett Community College in 1986

CIVIC ACTIVITIES

• Marysville Music Boosters (2012 – 2015)
• Northwest Organization for Animal Help (2011 – 2015)
  • Matchmaker, assisting the public in selection and adoption of dogs and cats;
  • Dog walker; cat and dog socializer; general training of dogs

About Anissa Uscocovich

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Twelve years’ experience as Legal Secretary and Executive Assistant
• Paralegal and Executive Assistant for MFR Law Group (2020 – Present; 2005-2008)
• Legal Secretary for international law firm (1998 – 2004)
  • Provided legal secretarial support to three attorneys in the real estate group in preparation of all legal documents: extensive blacklining, drafted general correspondence, maintained chronological files, ensured receipt and delivery of communications, entered and finalized time entry. Answered phones, coordinated travel arrangements, maintained calendars, and scheduled meetings; processed petty cash, check requests, and expense reports as needed.
  • Provided secretarial assistance to five attorneys in the litigation, labor and employment, and IP groups. Prepared pleadings, complaints, discovery, agreements, and other various legal documents. Maintained client and administrative files for all assignments. Coordinated court filings, travel arrangements, and meetings. Drafted correspondence. Processed travel expenses, proofread time entries, apprised assignments of appointments, and organized work products. Took dictation as needed.
• Office Manager and Executive Assistant (1996-1998)
• Twelve years’ experience as Assistant Chief Home Officer (2008 – present)
• Vacation Rental Manager/Owner (2018 – present)

EDUCATION

• Associate Degree from Pensacola Christian College