You do not have to arrive with all the answers

No. You can begin without choosing a practice area. The first conversation can help identify what has happened, who is involved, and what needs attention next.

Start with the legal process you are facing and any immediate timing concerns. Please do not include confidential, privileged, or highly sensitive information in an initial website inquiry.

If the firm determines that a more detailed conversation is appropriate, Costello can arrange a secure way to discuss the underlying facts.

Yes. Call the firm at 206-775-4381.

Call the firm and identify the deadline or other timing concern when you reach out.

If Costello takes your matter, you will work directly with the lawyers responsible for your strategy and representation.

Costello can discuss working alongside existing counsel or taking a lead role when a matter expands.

Some legal problems extend beyond a single case or forum. A government investigation may overlap with civil litigation, a licensing matter, regulatory action, or criminal exposure.

When that happens, statements, documents, deadlines, or strategic decisions in one matter may affect another. Costello considers those connections so the client’s response is not developed in isolation.

No. Making an initial inquiry does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Representation must be separately agreed with the firm.

The firm will review the information you provide to determine whether a conversation is appropriate and whether Costello may be able to assist. If so, the firm will contact you about next steps.

Representation begins only after conflicts are cleared and an engagement agreement is completed.

“White collar crime” generally refers to nonviolent offenses involving alleged fraud, financial misconduct, concealment, abuse of trust, or other conduct arising in business or professional settings.

Examples can include fraud, embezzlement, securities violations, money laundering, bribery, tax offenses, false claims, and other financial or business-related allegations.

White-collar matters can also create consequences outside the criminal case, including civil litigation, regulatory enforcement, professional licensing issues, employment consequences, and reputational harm.

White-collar defense is a specialized area of criminal defense involving investigations and allegations that often arise in business, financial, professional, or regulatory settings.

These matters frequently begin before charges are filed and may involve subpoenas, grand jury proceedings, government agencies, large document productions, or related civil, regulatory, and licensing issues.

The distinction is not that one type of criminal matter is more important than another. White-collar matters often require experience managing government investigations and multiple potential proceedings at the same time.

Civil litigation generally involves a dispute between private parties that proceeds through the state or federal court system.

A government investigation can begin before any lawsuit or criminal charge exists. An agency, regulator, prosecutor, or other government authority may seek documents, testimony, interviews, or other information under procedures and deadlines that differ from ordinary civil discovery.

Government involvement can also create criminal, regulatory, licensing, administrative, or civil exposure at the same time. That is one reason the strategy used in an ordinary private dispute may need to be reconsidered once the government becomes involved.

A Civil Investigative Demand, or CID, is a formal investigative tool that certain government agencies may use to require documents, written responses, testimony, or other information before an enforcement action is filed.

A CID may identify the law being investigated and the information sought. Depending on the issuing authority and applicable law, the time to respond or challenge the demand may be limited.

Early legal review can help identify the response deadline, evaluate the scope of the demand, preserve relevant information, and determine whether the CID creates related civil, regulatory, or criminal exposure.

This means the DOH received a complaint with allegations that, if true, would constitute a violation of the laws or regulations administered by the DOH that govern your profession. Violations include, among other things, several types of “unprofessional conduct” as defined in statute. See RCW 18.130.180. When DOH investigates complaints, it works with DOH investigators, DOH staff attorneys, and the Office of the Attorney General to gather and analyze evidence. The DOH’s investigation file must include your responses, and experienced legal counsel can assist you and represent you during this process. Failing to cooperate with a DOH investigation is itself an independent basis for finding a violation. Not every investigation will result in the initiation of a formal DOH disciplinary proceeding against your credential.

A letter from the Department of Financial Institutions may relate to a consumer complaint, regulatory investigation, compliance review, or other agency inquiry involving your business.

DFI correspondence can carry important response deadlines, so one of the first steps is identifying what the agency is requesting and when a response is due.

Counsel can help assess the scope of the inquiry, preserve and organize relevant information, prepare the response, communicate with the agency, and evaluate whether the matter creates broader regulatory, civil, licensing, or criminal exposure.

Early steps typically include identifying deadlines, understanding the scope of the request, organizing relevant records, and determining whether legal and accounting support is appropriate.

A Department of Revenue audit may involve sales tax, use tax, gross income, excise taxes, business and occupation taxes, or other state tax issues depending on the business and the scope of the audit.

Counsel can help manage communications, evaluate the legal issues raised by the audit, coordinate with accounting professionals where appropriate, and consider any collateral regulatory or litigation consequences.

A demand letter often signals that a dispute has entered a pre-litigation stage. Do not ignore it, but avoid an impulsive response before you understand what is being claimed, what deadlines may apply, and what is at risk.

Consider speaking with counsel before responding, particularly when the demand involves significant financial, operational, employment, regulatory, or reputational exposure.

Counsel can evaluate the claims, relevant facts and law, potential defenses, deadlines, and the practical options for responding or preparing for litigation.