Carney Badley Spellman, P.S. is a Pacific Northwest law firm located in Seattle, Washington. Our clients will tell you we are known for providing exceptional value in legal services by recognizing case objectives early and obtaining cost-effective results. The Carney firm provides legal services in business, litigation, construction, government affairs and insurance to individuals and to privately-held and publicly-traded companies.
Shawn K. Mercalde, a principal with the firm's Construction and Litigation Departments, concentrates her practice in the areas of civil litigation, collections and creditors rights, commercial litigation and construction litigation. Ms. Mercalde also represents real property owners and managers in landlord-tenant disputes.
Ms. Mercalde works with construction clients to prepare contracts to protect their rights and limit or deter future litigation, prepares and defends bid protests, and has been relied upon for her experience in briefing and locating cases that assist Carney's clients during the urgent litigation process often seen by contractors involved in construction projects.
Her work in the construction department leads into Ms. Mercalde's collection practice where she advises construction and business clients of the options available to them when collecting monies owed by debtors. Carney clients often rely on Ms. Mercalde for advice regarding collection of monies owed from the debtor and, if necessary, she will draft and revise contract terms to ensure a client's ability to collect payment from a debtor at a later date. Ms. Mercalde advises clients to ensure they are in the best position to collect monies owed to them at all stages of the creditor-debtor relationship beginning with formation of the initial relationship and the governing contract terms to execution of any resulting judgments. Her success is the result of her skills, experience and tenacity. Ms. Mercalde is an integral part of the firm's ability to provide effective, efficient legal assistance in collecting monies owed.
Ms. Mercalde was named a Rising Star by Washington Law & Politics magazine for 2006, 2007 and 2010.
Publications
- Tips for Ensuring Payment in a Difficult Economy
- Government Takes a Shine to Alternative Bids
- Statute of Repose for Construction Defects
Associations
- American Bar Association
- Washington State Bar Association
- Construction Law Section, Washington State Bar Association
- Creditor-Debtor Law Section, Washington State Bar Association
- Court Rules and Procedures Committee (2005), Washington State Bar Association
- Women Business Owners, Board Member, Chair, Education and Mentorship Committee
- SeattlePROS
- NAIOP
- American Subcontractors Association of Washington
Admitted to Bar
Washington State, 2000; U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, 2001; United States Court of Federal Claims, 2005.
Education
University of Pittsburgh, BA in Politics, Philosophy & Economics, cum laude, 1992; Seattle University School of Law, JD, 1999.
