Tom McAvity
Tom McAvity is the managing attorney for Northwest Debt Relief Law Firm. Over the past thirteen years, Tom has helped thousands of Seattle and Tacoma area consumers file for protection under the bankruptcy code. Tom does not restrict his services to bankruptcy alone. He regularly appears on behalf of Washington consumers suing abusive collectors in federal court for violations of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. He also defends consumers in debt and foreclosure related litigation. Tom started out as an associate at a general practice firm in Hillsboro, Oregon before agreeing to serve as a managing attorney for the largest national consumer bankruptcy firm in the country. As managing attorney for the Pacific Northwest, Tom opened and supervised bankruptcy law offices across both Washington and Oregon with locations in Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, Salem and Eugene. After serving as a managing attorney for a national firm, Tom decided to open up the Northwest Debt Relief Law Firm so he could incorporate two elements he did not see other firms offering. First, offering real payment plans to consumers that allow them to quickly file their case and pay most of the fees and costs once they were safely protected from their creditors. Second, a holistic approach to debt relief by offering credit repair counseling and materials free of charge so that getting a “fresh start” would have real meaning. Tom’s core belief regarding his bankruptcy practice is that you succeed by treating others with fairness and respect. As he puts it, “I try to always remember that I am only one emergency room visit away from having to file bankruptcy myself. The fact is that if I had succeeded a few years ago in talking my wife into financing a couple rental houses on interest only loans (it seemed like a great idea at the time and all my friends were doing it), I would be in the middle of my own bankruptcy right now.” When Tom is not practicing law, he lives with his wife, Nikki, four-year-old son, Simon and golden retriever, Mayzie. Prior to the birth of his son, he had all kinds of pastimes and hobbies, now he pretty much just runs errands. BAR ADMISSIONS Washington State Bar, 2004 Oregon State Bar, 2000 Federal Court, 2000 MEMBERSHIPS Washington State Bar (Member, Debtor-Creditor Section) The Oregon State Bar (Member, Debtor-Creditor Section) Federal Bar Association American Bankruptcy Institute National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys National Association of Consumer Advocates Better Business Bureau Hyatt Legal Plans Teamster Legal Plans ARAG Legal Plans EDUCATION Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College, J.D., 1999 University of Arizona, B.A., Double Major: History and Classics,...
read moreMark Ditton
Mark Ditton has over 13 years of experience representing consumers in both federal and state courts and he has been with the Northwest Debt Relief Law Firm since March 2011. Mark practices in all areas of bankruptcy, both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 as well as debt defense. Mark meets with clients every week at our Seattle, Washington Bankruptcy Law office and appears regularly in both Seattle and Tacoma, Washington bankruptcy hearings. He has primary responsibility for resolving both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 matters with Seattle and Tacoma Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustees. At Northwest Debt Relief, Mark focuses much of his talents on debt reorganization with the primary goal of asset protection. Mark handles complicated issues of tax liability, mortgage modification, secured debt transactions and many others on a daily basis. With a strong background in litigation, Mark assists the firm in cases which require court action. Mark is a native Oregonian, attending the University of Oregon both undergraduate and graduate school. He began his law practice at his father’s firm in Hermiston, Oregon. There he represented clients in family law and criminal law, as well as general civil litigation, where he successfully tried civil jury trials. In 2003, Mark joined Harris Law Firm in Hillsboro, Oregon, working on indigent criminal defense as well as bankruptcy cases. There, in addition to bankruptcy cases, Mark tried numerous felony jury trials and represented clients in extradition and habeas corpus cases. In 2007, Mark began a solo practice representing bankruptcy and criminal defense clients. Additionally, Mr. Ditton associated with separate counsel on various federal civil rights cases, including prison mistreatment and police use-of- force cases. Mark is a life-long Oregon Ducks fan, attending games in Eugene on a regular basis. In college he was a member of the Oregon Marching Band, playing the trumpet. In high school, Mr. Ditton won the best solo award at the prestigious Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho. In addition to his musical hobbies, in his off-work hours Mark can be often be found hiking in the Columbia River Gorge with friends. Bar Admission Colorado (inactive) Washington (active) Oregon (active) United States District Court, Oregon United States District Court, Western Washington Member, Oregon State Bar, Debtor-Creditor Section Education University of Oregon School of Law, J.D., 1999 University of Oregon, B.A., cum laude, 1995 Associate Editor, Oregon Law Review, 1998-1999 Law Clerkship, United States Attorney’s Office, Eugene, OR 1997...
read moreSara Ahern Sawyer
Sara Sawyer is Northwest Debt Relief Law Firm’s Legal Assistant and Office Manager. Over the past five years, Sara has helped hundreds of Seattle Washington area families get out of debt and obtain a fresh start on life both through bankruptcy and debt defense cases in Federal and State Courts. Sara helps our Seattle and Tacoma area clients gather the information for their bankruptcy cases and help them in the process of identifying their creditors. When clients come into the office, Sara goes through their income to get their file ready for their meeting with the attorney that day. After their cases are filed, Sara is responsible for making sure the clients gather up and provide the new documents that the Seattle and Tacoma bankruptcy courts require for their hearings which they will attend with one of our bankruptcy attorneys. Sara lives in Washington, with her partner, their kid and a Siamese cat. She enjoys reading mystery novels, being outdoors in the Pacific Northwest, and making arts and crafts. Memberships: Oregon Paralegal Association, Mentor Oregon Paralegal Association, Creditor-Debtor member Clark College, Vancouver Washington Paralegal Club Portland Community College, Intern Supervisor Education: Clark College Paralegal Certificate with Merit, Vancouver, Washington 2009 Clark College Paralegal Tutor 2007-2009 Marylhurst University, Bachelor of Arts, West Linn, Oregon...
read moreAaron Varhola
Aaron R. Varhola has 11 years of experience in debtor-side bankruptcy practice, and is responsible for much of the work required for confirmation of the firm’s Chapter 13 plans and post-confirmation work in Chapter 13 matters Aaron’s practice focuses on resolving disputes with the Chapter 13 trustee on provisions of debtor’s plans, securing car purchases for debtors, rehabilitating debtors who miss plan payments and incur a motion to dismiss, modifying debtors’ plans for changed situations, and filing motions to remove unsecured liens from debtors’ properties. Aaron also represents debtors at Chapter 7 and 13 meetings of creditors, and enables debtors to recover preferentially-garnished funds from creditors. In his previous practice, Mr. Varhola has won the 2005 Arthur H. Bryant Public Justice Award for his contribution to a favorable settlement of a police brutality case against the City of Portland for a police attack on protesters. Aaron believes strongly in public service. To that end, he has served for years as a participating attorney in Legal Aid Services pro bono clinic. Moreover, he has been represented Chapter 7 clients since 2006. Aaron has lived in the Pacific Northwest for years but remains a rabid and unyielding fan of his hometown Pittsburgh teams. BAR ADMISSIONS Admitted: Oregon, 1997; U.S. District Court, Oregon, 2002; Florida, 1995 (retired). MEMBERSHIPS The Oregon Bar (Member, Debtor-Creditor Section); Multnomah County Bar Association; Oregon Consumer Bankruptcy Association. EDUCATION University of Miami, J.D., 1995; Res Ipsa Loquitur, Associate Editor; Phi Alpha Delta. University of Chicago, A.B., 1992 with general...
read more
