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Thursday, September 25, 2025
The Crocodile
Over $105K fundraised - a new record for Law Rocks Seattle!

Overall Winner and Hustle & Heart Award: The Funk Docket (featuring legal talent from Schroeter Goldmark & Bender; The Law Offices of Edward H. Moore; The Law Offices of Keller Rohrback; The Law Offices of L.M. Jones) rocking for Academy for Creating Excellence (ACE)
Judges’ Choice Award: The Lumberjax (featuring legal talent from Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness) rocking for Teen Talking Circles
Music Matters Grant Recipient: Totem Star

A packed house for the Second Annual Law Rocks Seattle, Thursday, September 25, 2025 | Photo by Logan Jenkins

The Second Annual Law Rocks Seattle was a smashing success with six bands of legal rock stars bringing an eclectic range to the stage and setting a new Law Rocks Seattle fundraising record in the process! Each band made the stage their own, from a riveting solo performance with original songs in the mix, to a funk ensemble complete with a melodica, to a tear-away-pants-to-short-shorts reveal. Packed with an enthusiastic crowd, The Crocodile was filled with good tunes and good vibes all around.

Judges’ Choice Award Winners The Lumberjax opened the show in a haze of fog and a roaring take on the legendary Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train”. The duo entertained the crowd with their talent and playful spirit; the perfect way to open the night!

Next up, Force Majeure made their Law Rocks debut with a soulful and emotive performance, making them a force to be reckoned with. Their take on the Grateful Dead version of Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away” was a crowd and judge favorite, and their funkadelic energy kept everyone dancing and grooving throughout the entire set.

New to Law Rocks this year, Force Majeure featured legal talent from K&L Gates and rocked for Northwest Immigrant Rights Project. | Photo by Logan Jenkins

For the second year, Law Rocks presented a Music Matters grant to Totem Star, an organization supporting a diverse community of young recording artists learning music and life skills through mentorship and meaningful relationships. The grant was accepted by Totem Star Co-Founder and Executive Director, Daniel Pak. Read more about the organization in our Nonprofit Spotlight on Totem Star.

Totem Star Co-Founder and Executive Director, Daniel Pak accepts the 2025 Law Rocks Seattle Music Matters grant. | Photo by Logan Jenkins

It could be tough for a solo act to own the Croc stage on a Law Rocks debut, but The Orphan 40 had a crowd of fans screaming for more! From a dance-worthy cover of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” to a definitely NSFW take on “The Giver”, there is no doubt The Orphan 40 is a real contender.

The second Law Rocks debut of the night, The Orphan 40, featured legal talent from our Hall of Fame sponsor Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala and rocked for Rebuilding Hope. | Photo by Logan Jenkins

The Funk Docket successfully defended their title of Overall Winner and the Hustle & Heart award with a set that had the crowd spellbound. Their creative mashup of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” and Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor” included a crowd-pleasing call-and-response segment (not to mention making a strong case for fringed bodysuits).

Side Bar delivered a stellar set of classic covers like “What I Like About You” by The Romantics that showed off the lead singer’s voice and killer moves (deep squats, anyone?). The band expertly engaged the crowd throughout their performance and impressed with a tight bond between band members that extends well beyond the stage.

Closing out the night, Legal Issues made their Law Rocks debut with a smashing rock set complete with costumes and shredding guitar solos. An impressive cover of “One” by U2 energized the audience and their original song was celebrated by the crowd and judges alike.

Our third Law Rocks debut of the night, Legal Issues featured legal talent from The Law Office of Andrew C. Huff; Hoover Law Group; and Law Office of Raymond Ejarque, and rocked for Seattle Humane Society. | Photo by Logan Jenkins

All bands were truly winners. At the event’s conclusion, the Law Rocks team praised Seattle for their talent and enthusiasm, with Seattle Event Lead Crystal Allen screaming, “YOU ROCK” before the winners were announced.

“I’m proud to see Seattle’s show grow into such a high-energy, high-impact event.” says Amanda Horn, Law Rocks Board member, band member, and founder of The Troy & Baden Biddle Foundation. “Law Rocks offers a unique opportunity for the legal community to come together, celebrate music, and raise funds for incredible causes. Based on the incredible energy of the second annual event, I am confident that Law Rocks Seattle is here to stay and will keep growing and making a positive impact in the legal community for us as musicians and for the causes we champion.”

Many thanks to the team at The Crocodile; the Rock Panel of Judges: Michael Hepburn, Daniel Pak, Alexa Peters, and “DJ Riz” Rollins; our host Valerie Ojeda; and our nonprofit guests. None of this would be possible without our Hall of Fame sponsor Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala; tour sponsor Secretariat; top sponsors K&L Gates; and Ringler; and additional sponsors Buell Realtime Reporting; Christensen O’Connor Johnson Kindness; Kubik Mediation Group; Miller Shah; Schroeter Goldmark & Bender; Ext. 606; Firmani & Associates; Herschensohn Law; Hoover Law Group; and OSC Vocational Systems. Everything we do rocks infinitely harder thanks to your support!

“We were expecting our fundraising to increase a bit from last year,” said Law Rocks Executive Director Omi Crawford, “but we are so impressed! Funds poured in all night, merch was popping, and over 600 tickets were out. Let’s just say we love Seattle!”

Law Rocks Executive Director Omi Crawford stopped by Fox Studio 13 the morning prior to the show to sit down with Studio 13 Seattle Host Mireya Garcia, discussing Law Rocks Seattle and a bit about the organization in general.
View the full interview | Photo courtesy of FOX 13 Seattle

Please consider making a contribution to support Law Rocks World Tour and ensure we keep rocking the globe for years to come!

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Are you ready for your turn in the spotlight? Join the Interest List for Law Rocks Seattle 2026 now, and be first to be notified when applications open!

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Force Majeure

Featuring legal talent from K&L Gates
Rocking for Northwest Immigrant Rights Project

Rocking the world for almost a decade, Force Majeure formed under pressure and first performed at a K&L Gates firmwide global retreat in Phoenix, Arizona, after The Beatles terminated without cause, nunc pro funk. Since then, Force Majeure have presented their eclectic musical offerings widely at firm events, house parties, and via video, and hope to have Sir Paul make a surprise visit to join one of their sets, someday. The new and improved 2025 edition of Force Majeure consists of K&L Gatesers Claire White (lead vocals), Gary Kocher (guitar/vocals), Brandi Ledferd (drums), and Mark Wittow (guitar/vocals), with friends Ian Paden (bass/vocals) and Dan Hensley (trumpet/percussion/vocals).

The Funk Docket

Featuring legal talent from Schroeter Goldmark & Bender; Law Offices of L.M. Jones; Law Offices of Keller Rhorback; and Law Offices of Edward H. Moore
Rocking for Academy for Creating Excellence (ACE)

The Funk Docket: Where rhythm meets soul; and we are about to be in session!

The Return of the Reigning Champions:
Coming back for their second year to defend their hard-earned title, The Funk Docket is ready to prove once again why they're the undisputed masters of groove. This powerhouse ensemble has earned their reputation through sheer musical excellence and an unmatched ability to move crowds.

The Sound:
Built around an absolutely dynamic rhythm section, The Funk Docket delivers the kind of tight, pocket-deep funk that makes resistance futile. Their sound is a masterful blend of classic funk foundations with contemporary R&B sensibilities, creating something both timeless and fresh. Every beat hits with precision, every bass line locks you in, and every groove builds to something bigger than the sum of its parts.

The Voice:
At the heart of their sound stands Courtney Jones, whose soul-stirring vocals serve as the perfect complement to the band's instrumental prowess. Jones doesn't just sing – she channels emotion, tells stories, and commands attention with a voice that can whisper sweet melodies one moment and belt powerhouse notes the next. Her stage presence and vocal delivery are guaranteed to leave audiences hanging on every note.

The Experience:
From the first note to the final chord, The Funk Docket creates an experience that's impossible to ignore. This isn't background music – this is music that demands your full attention and rewards it with pure musical satisfaction. Their sets are carefully crafted journeys that build energy, create moments, and leave crowds wanting more.

The Promise:
Get ready to move. Get ready to feel. Get ready for a musical set that will surely stand out from the rest. The Funk Docket doesn't just perform – they take over, lock you in, and don't let go until they're good and ready.

Fair warning: You will sway. You will groove. You will remember this performance long after the last note fades.

The Funk Docket: Where rhythm meets soul; and we are about to be in session.

Legal Issues

Featuring legal talent from Law Office of Andrew C. Huff; Hoover Law Group; Law Office of Raymond Ejarque
Rocking for Seattle Humane Society

"Legal Issues" are three lawyers and a scientist who are longtime friends. We formed this band about three years ago once our kids were full grown and we now have the time, and have played at several venues, bars, taverns, any place with a stage. We primarily play classic rock covers and some originals and tend to put an edge on many of these songs. When we play, we don't tend to stand around but instead like to put on a show with our music and stage presence. We can be loud and that's the way we like it.

Website
Instagram
LinkedIn

The Lumberjax

Featuring legal talent from Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness
Rocking for Teen Talking Circles

Hailing from the Great White North in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Jean-Piérre et Jacques are two burly, hockey-playing, ax-swingin’, acoustic-strummin’ hosers who will happily rock your pants right off your body to leave you burnt and smoking on the dance floor!

A mix of comedy and musicianship, these bearded boys promise to entertain you with their interpretations of 80s covers from AC/DC to Whitney Houston to Bryan Adams to Guns N' Roses. The Pacific Northwest is their predominant stomping grounds these days so keep an eye out to witness them jack choppin’ some wood in your neighborhood!

Website
Instagram
Facebook
Linktree

The Orphan 40

Featuring legal talent from Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala
Rocking for Rebuilding Hope

“The Orphan 40” is the solo, acoustic project of PCVA Partner Ian Bauer, who spends his days representing survivors of child sexual abuse and can be otherwise found on a stage somewhere in the greater Puget Sound region with a guitar in hand, as a regular gigging musician. Prior to and during law school, Ian played in and around Seattle solo and in bands, before professional and family obligations meant stepping back from playing live. The Orphan 40 began when, during a sleepless night in the middle of a contentious trial and on the heels of his mom’s Stage IV cancer diagnosis, Ian did something he hadn’t done for years – hit the record button on his do-it-yourself home recording setup. The result? Dozens of originals and eclectic covers stripped down to their bare essentials – solo guitar and vocals recorded live, to capture and convey the raw emotion of the moment, where the imperfections and straightforward arrangements reflect an earnest authenticity all too often lacking in the modern music industry. One thing led to another, and within a matter of weeks Ian began booking shows as The Orphan 40 many months in advance, with thousands of monthly listeners checking in from Seattle to Stockholm, and everywhere in between.

Website
Instagram
Facebook

Side Bar

Featuring legal talent from King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; Robert F Cousins Attorney at Law
Rocking for Troy & Baden Biddle Foundation

The members of Side Bar rarely speak to each directly. One whispers to another out of earshot of the other band members. Some musical decisions (i.e., how much vibraslap is too much) are simply too prejudicial to discuss openly. It’s completely irrelevant and highly irregular but we allow it. When not preparing for the zombie apocalypse, Rob hones his guitar skills by listening exclusively to the Ventures. El Jeffe bangs on the drums while administering criminal justice with his office door wide open. Scott is most at home wearing a coconut bra and brandishing the aforementioned vibraslap. Brian, guitarist extraordinaire, covers all the bases from rock solid rhythm to face-melting leads. Finally, Amanda, our lungs breathing life into this venture, still flexes her legal muscles from time to time, but usually only to bail out her friends in a pinch. That about sums up Side Bar. Like we said, we rarely speak to each other directly.

For the third year, Law Rocks is awarding a Music Matters grant in each city to benefit a local organization that supports music education, particularly for underserved youth. Law Rocks' Music Matters grant is an extension of our mission to promote music education for underserved youth - and support the next generation of rock stars! We are excited to announce Totem Star as a returning grant recipient, receiving the grant for the second year in a row.

Read our most recent Nonprofit Spotlight on Totem Star.

We are proud the Second Annual Law Rocks Seattle 2025 bands raised funds for the following organizations:

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Host - Valerie Ojeda

This proud Chicago native is best known for her vocal versatility, boundless energy and magnetic charisma on stage.

During the week, Valerie Ojeda travels the country, working as an Event Emcee, Trade Show Presenter and Automotive Product Specialist, representing top companies like Panasonic, HPE, Microsoft, 3M and Honda, just to name a few.

On weekends, she manages and sings lead vocals for the wildly successful cover band, “Anthem Road,” playing in casinos, resorts, conventions, wineries, private parties and outdoor festivals, throughout the country. Anthem Road has shared the stage with such iconic 80’s bands as Berlin and Warrant, as well as some of the top tribute bands in the world. Valerie’s favorite musical moments to date were meeting rock legends Pat Benatar, Kip Winger, Jerry Dixon and Billy Ocean, as well as singing with Terri Nunn at The Canyon Club and singing the National Anthem before a Slaughter concert. But nothing compares to her experience performing for our U.S. Troops in Kuwait this summer!

For Valerie, being of service is the highest form of consciousness, so being able to give back to local communities, by being a part of Law Rocks, is an absolute dream come true!

aTradeShowPresenter.com

AnthemRoadBand.com

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Judge - Michael Hepburn

In the mid-and-late 1970's Michael’s music achieved worldwide professional recognition through the success of his band, "Pleasure." Michael's compositions have been featured in the works of contemporary mainstream hip-hop and rap artists, including the soundtrack for the movie, “House Party” (“Kid vs. Play, the Battle”), Janet Jackson's 1997 release, "The Velvet Rope" (“Free Xone”) and Will Smith’s 2002 release, “Born to Reign” (“1000 Kisses”). In 2019 Pleasure released "Now Is The Time," available worldwide on Pleasure Records. A sample of Pleasure’s 2024 outdoor performance last June can be seen and heard here: Portland festival-goers treated to rare performance by iconic funk band Pleasure - OPB. One can also find a fascinating reference to the musically influential legacy of the Pleasure band in Questlove’s New York Times bestselling book, “Music Is History.”

Recently retired from practice as a Senior Deputy Prosecuting attorney for King County, Michael continues his songwriting, recording production, arranging, keyboard and vocal performance work in Seattle.

Judge - Daniel Pak

Daniel Pak, born and raised on O`ahu, is a singer, songwriter, producer, nonprofit executive, and arts and culture champion. As frontman for Kore Ionz from 2008-2018, Pak shared the stage with The Wailers, Toots and the Maytals, Steel Pulse, and many of reggae’s finest. Pak performs today with his band, The Lolos.

Pak is the co-founder and executive director of Totem Star, a creative youth development organization supporting a diverse community of young emerging recording artists through music production, performance, and mentorship. In January 2024 Totem Star opened the doors to its new state-of-the-art recording studio at King Street Station, built in partnership with the City of Seattle and the Cultural Space Agency.

Pak is a commissioner emeritus of the Seattle Music Commission and has also served as a Governor for the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Recording Academy. In November 2022 Pak was inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame.

(Photo credit to Nat Silva)

Judge - Alexa Peters

Alexa Peters is Senior Digital Music Manager at KNKX Public Radio and a freelance journalist who specializes in arts & culture. Her journalism has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, The Seattle Times, and The Stranger, among other outlets, and she has shared her expertise on local music and gender equity in the music industry on panels for Folklife Festival, Town Hall Seattle, and the University of Washington. She is currently co-authoring a book on the modern history of the Seattle jazz community with jazz critic Paul de Barros, to be published with University of Washington Press in 2027.

Judge - "DJ Riz" Rollins

i've been a dj since i was um about ten. a record player, a spindle, metal for the big records, and this circular pyramid for records with the big holes. i am from chicago, but not the chicago, you're thinking of. i live in seattle, but not the setalle you're thinking of. i like rock, hip hop, soul, gospel, funk, but not the rock, hip hop, soul, gospel, funk you're thinking of. my moms played jazz, but not the kind of jazz you're thinking of. i only remember my dad liking, miles and sinatra. but then he left.i was in a gospel group in bible college, but not the kind of bible college you're thinking of. i bought records, because nobody seemed to know how.at least not the people i lived with.i' have played music on turntable, transistor radio, teevee, 8 tracks, cassettes, reels, cd's, usb's,. i've hummed whistled, sang hooted, hooered music, but maybe not the music you're thinking of, in bedrooms ( lots of bedrooms , more bedrooms than i can remember). basements, alleys, libraries, church basements ( but prolly not the kind of churches, you're thinking of ),barns, in the woods, in the desert, on the ocean , in cities, villages, and lots and lots of clubs. for as few as 2 and as many as thousands. all my life but when my best friend john suggested that i be a dj at a radio station for a living, i told him, 'i couldn't possibly, because i didn't have the skills to do something as joyful as that.and then, maybe 2 years later ,i joined a radio station that was almost.thirty years ago.i been there since. I love to eat and to kiss. Music is not my first second, or even 3rd biggest love. When I’m down I pray. When I’m up I pray too.