Rebecca Lanctot, chair
Rebecca Lanctot is on Amazon’s Legal team since 2017, in roles supporting research and development for Amazon Web Services and Prime Video. She previously worked as in-house counsel focused on content licensing at Insight Editions, a boutique book publisher in the San Francisco Bay area. While in California, she was an active member of California Lawyers for the Arts. She fancies herself a creative soul and a maker, dabbling in several artistic mediums, including most recently writing children’s books and baking. She graduated from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in 2008 after earning a MBA from the University of North Dakota (UND). She also has two bachelor’s degrees from UND, in Marketing and Mass Communication (Advertising).
Luis Adan Jimenez, Board Member
Luis Adan Jimenez is an attorney in Washington, specializing in managing copyrights for artists. He previously worked at Amazon with the licensing compliance team charged with identifying Amazon's compliance with local, state, and national laws for the sale of its merchandise. While attending the University of Idaho College of Law, Adan interned at Artists Rights Society and volunteered as a personal representative for an artist's estate. Having grown up in a family of artists, Adan hopes to continue to give back to the community and help increase the presence of the arts in Washington.
Leron Vandsburger, Treasurer
Leron is a patent prosecution associate at Kilpatrick Townsend. He previously worked as a research associate in natural sciences at the University of Washington and in Montreal, where he studied science, French, and life. His interest in the arts centers on music, which he has been actively involved in since childhood.
James Barker, Secretary
James is deputy general counsel at Bungie, Inc. In his previous careers, he worked as a patent attorney with the firm Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton and as a researcher in the field of renewable energy. He completed both his JD and an MS in mechanical engineering at the University of Washington and his BS from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. His interest in the arts stems from a childhood immersed in music, which he still does (badly); but in recent years he studies storytelling and game design.
Ben hodges, board member
Ben Hodges is a Principal at Foster Garvey PC in Seattle. He is a registered patent attorney and focuses on complex litigation and technology counseling. His litigation experience includes managing complex civil litigation cases of all types, including post grant IP matters, patent, unfair competition, trademark and trade dress, copyright, property disputes, and breach of contract cases. His practice also involves counseling small and large companies, as well as artists, on all types transactions, including intellectual property deals. He has counseled individuals and companies in entertainment, services industries, manufacturing, telecommunications, software, food and consumables, internet and media, and transportation. Ben also maintains an active pro bono practice including counseling and litigation for veterans denied disability benefits, home associations, artists, and is part of the pro bono counsel for the Rare Genomics Institute.
Ben’s artistic talents are limited, but he enjoys cooking and photography. His interest in the arts also arises from family involved in the film, television, and theater industries.
Melinda Raebyne, Board Member
Great art doesn't just capture the moment, it allows you to feel it. This is foundation for Melinda’s work; “When the audience feels the story you are telling, they become a part of it, vested in it, and even motivated to take action.”
After almost ten years of acting in other people’s films, Melinda decided to make her own films; films spoken from her heart, told in her own voice. Melinda is interested in making films that examine important social issues while giving a voice for those who are suffering from the pain of social injustices. She understands what it feels like to hide in a veil of façade in hopes to just fit in.
In March 2016 Melinda Raebyne received the Right Now Today Humanitarian Award for her work on Asylum. Asylum was Melinda's first film. A narrative short that looks at mental trauma brought on by domestic violence. She served as the Event Director with the Seattle Latino Film Festival in 2013 and 2014. During the Summer of 2016, she was asked to be a filmmaker mentor for Tacoma’s Grand Cinema Film Camp. Currently, Melinda is working on two projects; “Stories of Us” and “For Sale”. “Stories of Us” is a collection of stories from people who make up the landscape of America. The hope is to build a bridge of compassion to show how we connected to one another through like experiences. “For Sale” will be an exhibit that invites viewers into the life of a person who’s a victim of human trafficking with the goal of bring to light of this issue that has infested the US and other countries all over the world.
DAVID jaquette, BOARD MEMBER
David Jaquette is a Senior Corporate Counsel at Microsoft. He currently supports the Azure Marketing team and counsels on topics such as advertising, IP, and privacy. Before that, he served in a variety of other roles at Microsoft, including as a Trademark Attorney for four years. David began his legal career in Washington, DC, where he worked in Trademark and Advertising litigation at two international law firms. David played saxophone and acted in plays when he was younger, and is trying his hand at the acoustic guitar today. He is excited to contribute to an organization that sits at the intersection of his professional and personal interests.
Yaamini Sharma, Board Member
Yaamini Sharma is a licensed attorney in Washington state and in India. She received a Master's Degree in Law and Tech from the Berkeley Law. She is currently working as an Associate at Integrity Law Group. Previously, she worked as a Litigation Associate in India, where she appeared before the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court of India. Yaamini has a keen interest in painting since childhood, which she still does in her spare time. She was introduced to Washington Lawyers for the Arts as a volunteer with the WLA Mixer Committee, helping raise funds, and has been a member of the WLA Board since 2020.
Dayane Duarte, Board Member
Dayane Duarte is a licensed attorney in Washington state and in Brazil. She recently received a Master's Degree in Intellectual Property from the University of Washington School of Law. She is currently working as a Legal and Operations Manager at Yourbase. Previously, she clerked for a judge in both trial and appeal courts in Brazil. Dayane is very excited about helping our artistic community with her multicultural background.
diana chaikin, Board Member
Diana Chaikin is an attorney in private practice. She was introduced to Washington Lawyers for the Arts as a student at the Arts Legal Clinic at Seattle University School of Law, where she was article editor for the Seattle Journal for Social Justice. After graduation, she got involved as a volunteer with the WLA Workshops Committee, helping to put together workshops dealing with issues of fair use, and has been a member of the WLA Board since 2018.
Joey M. Robinson, Board Member
Joey M. Robinson is an abstract painter, portrait artist, photographer and storyteller who resides in San Diego and Seattle. He holds a residential design degree from the Art Institute of Seattle.Mr. Robinson’s work is featured on the ABC television dramatic series “Grey’s Anatomy” and on the front pages of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (P-I), the Seattle Times, and the King County Journal. His 2003 show "Movement" at the Pitcairn Scott Gallery caught media attention for its massive canvases and bold tropical colors that captured mood and motion in fresh new ways. His 2005 "Black Maids Tribute" at the Art Institute of Seattle told in simple words and stark, compelling images, the stories of African American women who served as domestic servants.
Frances Dinger, Board Member
Frances Dinger is a writer of fiction and essays, editor and textile artist. Frances has been published in Hobart, Two Serious Ladies, and Vol. 1 Brooklyn, among other places. By day, Frances is a fundraising writer at non-profit focused on creating health equity.
Monica M Romero, Board Member
Monica M Romero is a recent law graduate from the University of Washington School of Law’s Intellectual Property LL.M program. She is from Puerto Rico, where she received her Juris Doctor degree. While studying her JD, she worked at the Ramirez de Arellano’s Art Museum, a non-profit institution, where she helped artists with their exhibitions and fundraisers for the Museum. She was also involved in promoting the arts within the law school she attended. Monica sees the WLA as great opportunity to being of service to the Washington artistic community.
Erin Vivion, Board Member
Erin is an associate with Coates IP, a boutique law firm focusing on intellectual property, domain name, marketing, and entertainment issues. Prior to moving to Seattle, Erin practiced in California focusing on trademark and domain name law. She has experience advocating for the art community in Washington as the former chair of the Mercer Island Arts Council and a committee member of Inspire WA. Erin has a bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and JD from U.C. Hastings. Prior to her academic career, Erin was a professional ballet dancer with the Houston Ballet and Ballet West.
Lucas S. Michels, Board Member
Lucas S. Michels is a U.S. intellectual property and corporate attorney at Ironmark Law Group, PLLC and at AMPACC Law Group, PLLC in Seattle, Washington. He works with clients on a wide range of IP matters, including domestic and foreign trademark clearance and prosecution, trademark and copyright portfolio management, and IP licensing. Lucas also handles IP dispute resolution matters including state and federal litigation, and USPTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy proceedings. He is also a registered copyright agent for several online platforms, and manages online IP enforcement campaigns for multiple brands and rights holders.
Lucas graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law in 2012 following a career in trade policy and international lobbying. He also holds a MA in International Relations from the Brussels School of International Studies (2005) and a BA in Political Science from the University of Kansas (2002). While in law school, Lucas was an author and articles editor on the Gonzaga Journal of International Law. Today, he frequently authors and presents on the topics of online IP and personality rights protection.
In his free time, Lucas enjoys spending time with his family, going to art exhibitions, and watching his beloved Kansas Jayhawks play basketball.