BUSINESS BRIEF

WALLA WALLA - Paine Hamblen LLP, which has its headquarters in Spokane, Washington, recently opened a new regional office in Walla Walla, Washington. This new office is in addition to the other Paine Hamblen offices which are currently operating in Coeur d' Alene; Priest River and the Tri-Cities, respectively. In establishing this new office, Paine Hamblen also entered into a mutually cooperative relation- ship with the law firm, Virtual In-House Counsel, PLLC, also of Walla Walla. Paine Hamblen's new Walla Walla office ad- dress is 2225 Isaacs Avenue; Suite B; Walla Walla, Washing- ton 99362. Telephone: 509-525-9020 FAX: 509-838-0007.

The opening of this new regional office in Walla Walla has been prompted by the expanding legal business coming from the Walla Walla valley. This expansion in business has been generated, in part, by the ever increasing numbers of wine producers and winery related services, and other tourist related businesses which have been established as this region's locally produced wines have gained increasing acclaim do- mestically, and internationally.

The law firm, Virtual In-House Counsel, PLLC which was founded in 2001 by attorney, Kristian Hedine, and who is also a Walla Walla native, primarily serves small to medium sized business clients and organizations. This law firm's approach to the delivery of legal services has included the delivery of traditional services, but has further included the delivery of increasingly innovative and responsive legal services to local and regional businesses with the objective of becoming an in- tegral part of the client management team. This approach has allowed for the delivery of cost effective legal services, while simultaneously assisting client businesses avoid future down- stream legal risks. The current cooperative relationship of Virtual In-House Counsel, PLLC with Paine Hamblen, LLP now allows the attorneys, and clients of Virtual In-House Counsel access to the legal resources and the expertise of the more than 50 attorneys, and paralegals which are currently employed by Paine Hamblen, LLP. This also gives Virtual In-House Counsel, PLLC a depth of attorney experience, and other legal resources unrivaled in this region of Washington State. Simultaneously, Paine Hamblen gains the experience of a well respected, and knowledgeable Walla Walla law firm as this new office of Paine Hamblen begins operations.

Paine Hamblen, LLP is a full service law firm which has established itself as one of the premier law firms in the Pa- cific Northwest. Founded in 1893, Paine Hamblen's assorted legal practices offer a wide range of individual and corporate representation from traditional businesses such as insurance, banking, and real estate, to emerging fields such as technol- ogy licensing and management, and securing domestic and foreign patent, trademark, and copyright protection for vari- ous domestic and international clients. Additionally, Paine Hamblen attorneys collaboratively combine their expertise to provide innovative client solutions in the areas of energy, and the environment, water rights, tax, estate planning, and probate, family and other domestic issues, commercial, labor and employment, healthcare, insurance, transportation, and litigation.