Foster Garvey is a distinguished institution well-regarded for its longstanding legacy in the Pacific Northwest. The firm has deep roots in the region and has been dedicated to serving local, state, and regional municipal entities, as well as innovative companies, individuals, and visionaries that have been instrumental in driving sustainable growth in the area.
Founded in 1904 during Seattle's boom era at the dawn of the 20th century, Foster Pepper's growth has been intrinsically linked to that of the region. Likewise, Garvey Schubert Barer was established in 1966 by three law graduates who were driven by entrepreneurial spirit and went on to create their own successful businesses.
In 2019, Foster Garvey was formed through a "merger of equals" of Foster Pepper and Garvey Schubert Barer, solidifying their strong Pacific Northwest roots and commemorating nearly 170 years of combined history. Both firms have played a vital role in shaping the region and Foster Garvey is proud to continue working with valued clients while remaining a consistent supporter of our communities in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Explore more of Foster Garvey’s history below:
| Foster Pepper Timeline |
Garvey Schubert Barer Timeline |
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- 1904: Weter & Roberts is founded by James Weter and Fred Roberts.
- 1921: Tanner & Garvin is founded by Vaughn Tanner and John Garvin.
- 1922: Harold Shefelman becomes a partner at Weter & Roberts and the firm changes its name to Weter Roberts & Shefelman.
- 1926: Paul Ashley, a friend of Harold Shefelman, joins Tanner & Garvin.
- 1948: Tom Foster is admitted to the Washington bar and joins Tanner Garvin & Ashley.
- 1952: Lou Pepper joins Tanner Garvin & Ashley.
- 1953: Dan Riviera joins Tanner Garvin & Ashley.
- 1957: Tanner Garvin & Ashley changes its name to Garvin Ashley & Foster.
- 1960: Weter Roberts & Shefelman changes its name to Roberts, Shefelman, Lawrence, Gay & Moch.
- 1968: Lou Pepper and Dan Riviera become partners at Garvin Ashley & Foster. The firm changes its name to Ashley Foster Pepper & Riviera.
- 1974: Paul Ashley becomes Of Counsel and the firm’s name changes to Foster Pepper & Riviera.
- 1982: Roberts, Shefelman, Gay & Moch changes its name to Roberts & Shefelman.
- 1986: Foster Pepper & Riviera merges with Drake & Whitely.
- 1988: Roberts & Shefelman and Foster Pepper & Riviera merge to form Foster Pepper & Shefelman.
- 1998: Foster Pepper & Shefelman opens its Spokane office.
- 2004: Foster Pepper & Shefelman celebrates its 100th anniversary and changes its name to Foster Pepper PLLC.
- 2015: Spokane office triples in size with addition of nine attorneys from now-closed K&L Gates LLP local office
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- 1966: Three young lawyers establish the firm Houger, Garvey & Schubert with 39 files and $800 in the bank, a $12,000 line of credit guaranteed by their parents and unbounded optimism.
- 1972: Garvey Schubert Barer becomes the Pacific Northwest’s first law firm to open a Washington, D.C. office.
- 1973: Garvey Schubert Barer becomes one of the first U.S. law firms to station an attorney with a law firm in Japan, Matsuo & Kosugi.
- 1973: The firm represents the purchasers of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Washington State’s first winery.
- 1974: Stan Barer joins the firm.
- 1979: Stan Barer negotiates the resumption of shipping trade between the U.S. and China after a 30-year hiatus.
- 1982: Garvey Schubert Barer becomes second law firm with offices in both Seattle and Portland.
- 1992: The firm establishes the first permanent endowed professorship at the University of Washington School of Law.
- 1997: Garvey Schubert Barer represents China Ocean Shipping Company in the first securitization financing ever completed in the United States by a Chinese company.
- 2000: Haley Bader & Potts, P.L.C., one of the nation’s oldest telecommunications law firms, joins Garvey Schubert Barer in our Washington, D.C. office.
- 2001: Garvey Schubert Barer opens a New York Office to expand the firm’s sports and entertainment and intellectual property practices.
- 2004: Garvey Schubert Barer opens an office in Beijing, reinforcing our longstanding commitment to Pacific Rim trade.
- 2011: Garvey Schubert Barer launches hospitality, travel, and tourism practice.
- 2014: Garvey Schubert Barer establishes the first full-service law firm Cannabis practice.
- 2016: Garvey Schubert Barer celebrates its 50th anniversary.
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2019: Foster Pepper combines with Garvey Schubert Barer in a “merger of equals” to create Foster Garvey
