Rafel Law Group joins VF Law, Adds Seattle Office

SEATTLE, WA., August 20, 2024 – VF Law, a full-service law firm headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, is pleased to announce that Rafel Law Group, including Managing Partner Anthony L. Rafel, Partner Timothy S. Feth, and their talented staff, has joined VF Law, opening VF Law’s new office in Seattle. Rafel Law Group is a Seattle-based law firm founded in 2005 focusing on real estate law and litigation, with special emphasis on representing condominium and homeowner associations.

Rafel is a seasoned trial lawyer who has been practicing in the Pacific Northwest for over 40 years. His legal background includes construction defect claims, commercial real estate litigation, insurance recovery actions, contract enforcement, product liability litigation, business torts, and more. Rafel also brings extensive experience counseling and representing HOAs and condominium associations on association governance, governing documents, enforcement, and dispute resolution.

Rafel earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Rochester. He obtained his Juris Doctor from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, where he served as an editor of the Law Review. Rafel is a past President of the Washington State Community Associations Institute (WSCAI), where he founded the ADR Committee and launched the CAI National award-winning Chapter Mediation Program, and currently serves on its Legislative Action Committee. Rafel is also an esteemed fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL), an exclusive fraternity of community association attorneys dedicated to promoting the highest standards of professional and ethical responsibility in the practice of community association law. Rafel is a co-chair of CCAL’s Law Seminar Planning Committee and a member of CAI’s Amicus Curiae Review Committee. Rafel is a past President of the Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington and served as a court-appointed Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference.

Feth began his legal career in 2016 with Rafel Law Group and has represented community associations in nearly all aspects of general counsel and litigation, including governing document interpretation and amendment, covenant and rule enforcement, special assessment advice and documentation, uninsured expense allocation issues, contract review, and construction defect litigation. Feth earned his undergraduate degree from Central Washington University summa cum laude, and later obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Washington. Feth is a top-notch legal analyst and writer highly valued by his clients for the timely, practical, and direct advice he gives.

With the move, VF Law is excited to announce the opening of its newest office, in Seattle, Washington, where the Rafel Law Group team will commence operations with their new firm starting September 1. With offices in five states across the western United States, VF Law provides community association counsel, litigation, real estate and land use, construction law, insurance defense, corporate law, and estate planning services. The new VF Law office is located at One Union Square, 600 University Street, Suite 2520 in downtown Seattle, and will be overseen by VF Law Managing Partner, T. Beau Ellis.
“It continues to be an exciting time for our firm as we grow. This new office in Seattle will allow us to work in closer proximity to our clients in Washington, as well as expand our high-quality services to new clients,” said Ellis. “My partners and I are delighted with the addition of the Rafel Law Group team to VF Law and look forward to our new relationship and opportunity to serve the clients they have been working with for years.”
Rafel, along with Feth, will join existing VF Law team members in providing top-tier legal service in the new location. Rafel’s extensive experience and commitment to excellence will be a tremendous asset to the firm and its clients.
“Tim Feth and I are thrilled to join an outstanding group of lawyers and support staff at VF Law in the new Seattle office and to have the additional resources of a top-notch regional law firm at our disposal. We look forward to continuing to deliver the exceptional service our clients have come to expect,” noted Rafel. “VF Law has a well-earned reputation for excellence that draws clients and opportunities. This office in Seattle is a result of the firm’s reputation and demand from a growing client base. Our decision to join VF Law is based upon my own personal commitment to provide existing clients with the best possible service. The breadth of expertise, bench strength and resources at VF Law puts us in an ideal position to do that, and I couldn’t be more excited.”
With the new location, VF Law continues its steady expansion across the northwestern United States, following the recent addition of its office in Boise, ID, in 2023. VF Law emphasizes a culture that cultivates meaningful client relationships, delivers comprehensive legal services, and engages all team members to dedicate their efforts to providing the best services. The new Seattle office will enable the firm to further develop its growing client base in Washington state.

Our Vision

We believe our clients want three things: first and foremost, astute professional advice; second, responsive and timely performance; and third, good value. We strive to deliver these things, achieve outstanding results and be your Counsel of Choice™.

Proven Experience

Rafel Law Group was founded in 2005 by a team of experienced litigators. The team is led by Tony Rafel, a seasoned trial lawyer who has been practicing in the Pacific Northwest since 1981. Before starting Rafel Law Group, our team worked together for five years at a prominent Seattle firm, where Tony chaired both the Litigation Department and the Condominium Owners’ Rights Enforcement Group (CORE). We combine the skills and sophistication of a large law firm with the lean responsiveness of a small, cohesive group. We are “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell – the highest peer review rating for legal ability and ethical standards. (To view an explanation of Martindale-Hubbell peer review ratings, click here.)

Our Clients and Cases

Rafel Law Group focuses exclusively on advising clients and representing them in litigation and assists clients of all sizes – from individuals to small and medium-sized businesses to Fortune 50 companies. We have enjoyed exceptional success in handling a broad spectrum of complex litigation. Our distinguishing skill is our ability to handle litigation forcefully, efficiently and with our clients’ objectives firmly in mind. We stand ready, willing and able to try any case that cannot be settled on terms satisfactory to our client.

Notable Recent Cases

Surowiecki v. Hat Island Community Association: On February 24, 2022, the Washington Supreme Court issued a decision in Surowiecki v. Hat Island Community Association recognizing that homeowner associations have broad discretion in making financial decisions. In May 2021, CAI’s Amicus Curiae Committee approved and filed an amicus brief authored by Anthony Rafel, Rafel Law Group’s Managing Partner and a fellow in CAI’s College of Community Association Lawyers (CCAL). The issue on appeal was whether equal per-lot assessments proposed by the Board and ratified by the members were “equitable,” as required by the governing documents, where some lots were developed with homes but Surowiecki’s 270 lots were not. The Supreme Court held that “the association’s decision on assessments is entitled to substantial deference.” In language closely mirroring CAI’s arguments, the Court reasoned that, “when a homeowners’ association makes a discretionary decision in a procedurally valid way, courts will not substitute their judgment for that of the association absent a showing of fraud, dishonesty, or incompetence (i.e., failure to exercise proper care, skill, and diligence).” The court said it adopted this rule “in recognition of the respect due to the self-governance of homeowner associations, the importance of finality in budgeting, and the avoidance of interfering with associations’ ability to meet their financial obligations.” This is a major win for associations in Washington State and may be helpful to associations nationwide in resisting challenges to discretionary decisions.
Allenmore Medical Investors v. City of Tacoma: Won $2 million victory at trial against City of Tacoma for wrongful attempts to prevent and delay development of shopping center; also recovered $1 million attorney fee award.
Grand Ridge HOA (Camas, WA): Defeated suit by 3 homeowners claiming HOA had obligation to cut common area trees to preserve views from their homes; obtained judgment in favor of HOA and award of virtually all attorney fees incurred.
Bellora Condominium (Seattle, WA): Defeated individual unit owner’s claim of adverse possession of common element deck and won full recovery of association’s attorney fees.
Fountaincourt v. Legend Homes (Beaverton, OR): Successfully prosecuted claims against developer, general contractor and subcontractors for construction defects; prevailed on separate claims against insurer for primary subcontractor in both the Oregon Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Oregon (360 Or 341).
Hunters Ridge Condominiums (Sherwood, OR): Successfully prosecuted claims for construction defects involving different contractors on each building, achieved fully funded multiple-party settlement. Separately won coverage action against insurance company for sider in Oregon Court of Appeals (285 Or App 416).