Our History
Schuyler Wallace founded our firm over a quarter century ago after working as a workers’ compensation attorney at several other firms. At the time the firm was founded, there were virtually no firms in the Pacific Northwest devoted entirely or predominantly to workers’ compensation matters. Instead, workers’ compensation matters were more often relegated to a single attorney in multi-lawyer offices.
Recognizing the need of large businesses for a more sophisticated and cost-effective approach to workers’ compensation defense, our firm was founded. Shortly thereafter, attorneys John Klor and Lawrence Mann joined the firm, and the firm’s name was changed to Wallace, Klor & Mann. In 2016, the name of the firm was changed to Wallace, Klor, Mann, Capener & Bishop in recognition of the contributions of firm shareholders Jeffery Capener and Chris Bishop.
WKMCB welcomed Ben Debney as a shareholder in 2022. In 2023, the firm welcomed both Lester Marshall and Caleb Leonard as the firm’s newest shareholders. In 2024 the firm’s name was changed to Wallace, Mann, Capener, Bishop & Debney, adding Ben Debney to the name.
Since our firm’s founding, we have developed a reputation as a leading Pacific Northwest workers’ compensation firm, and many high caliber attorneys have joined our firm.
Today, we are one of the largest Pacific Northwest firms devoted primarily to workers’ compensation defense. We have long been at the forefront of evolving workers’ compensation matters, including asbestos liability matters, “sick building” cases involving mold, and firefighter cases (in which new laws presumptively attribute many diseases – including cancer – to work-based causes).
We also represent clients in matters that have a genesis in workers’ compensation claims, such as third-party liability actions, appellate matters, and insurance defense. We additionally represent companies in labor law and employment matters, and professionals in regulation and licensure matters.
With respect to our workers’ compensation practice, we utilize a team-based approach to handling claims and matters, as this approach has yielded the best results and highest cost efficiencies for clients. Typically younger associates engage in much of the discovery process, and senior associates and partners try cases and advise clients on key strategic matters.