Wendy Elizabeth Retacco - Federal Way, WA

On the surface, it may appear to be a no-brainer that Wendy Retacco would become a lawyer. After all, her father, Vince, founded Retacco Law Offices in 1971 in Federal Way, and her sister Becky preceded her in getting a law degree and joining their father's firm.

But being an attorney was never a foregone conclusion. In fact, Wendy initially pursued a Psychology degree at the University of Oregon. But upon receiving her B.A., she was unsure of her next steps, so she decided to take the law school aptitude test or LSAT.

Instead of becoming a psychologist, Wendy decided to use the valuable skills she learned in a different way and entered law school at Seattle University. Upon receiving her Juris Doctor in 2000, Wendy joined Retacco Law Offices. It was bittersweet as she joined the family firm at the same time her sister was leaving.

Empathy and compassion are two crucial qualities for personal injury lawyers. Something to never lose sight of is that people who turn to her and others in her field for legal help are usually in the midst of or have just gone through a terrible ordeal. Many of their lives will never be the same after suffering potentially catastrophic injuries due to the negligence of others.

These crises can cause tremendous physical, emotional and financial consequences. While Wendy takes pride in providing caring assistance, she understands her primary role is to hold negligent parties accountable and help her injured clients recover compensation. Clients quickly understand that Wendy is a tenacious and effective lawyer. Her mission is to be an aggressive advocate on their behalf to recover economic losses, including medical costs and lost wages, and non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering.

In contrast to larger firms that may utilize multiple attorneys, paralegals and other support staff for one case, the people Wendy represents know that she will be directly involved in every aspect of their claim. That includes understanding the intricate details of the medical repercussions facing them now and in the future. Knowing every part of the challenges that lie ahead allows her to tell her clients' stories to insurance adjusters, judges and juries to reach the best outcome possible.

The family connection was a large part of why Wendy became a lawyer, continuing the legacy her father started 50 years ago, and family remains central to her life outside Retacco Law Offices. She and her husband connected over their love for cooking, and Wendy once considered going to culinary school.

While traveling was once a particular passion, including living in London shortly after graduating from college, Wendy now revels in living in the Puget Sound area close to her parents and many friends. While her sisters are in Yakima and Chicago, they remain close and talk several times a day.

Wendy is proud to carry on the law practice her father, Vince, started. She came to realize that she operates her law practice differently than others. That's mainly because her dad taught her to understand every element of her client's case, set realistic expectations and provide compassionate and effective legal guidance. Each case and client are different, but one thing remains constant. Wendy steadfastly pursues the best outcome for those she represents, whether through a reasonable settlement or fighting in court.