Christopher M Henderson

Christopher M. Henderson

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Practice Areas:

  • Preparing planning and end-of-life documents
  • Advising beneficiaries
  • Professional fiduciaries and attorneys regarding settlements and special needs trusts
  • Advising individuals regarding guardianship, state and federal benefits, and special education
  • Representing clients in related disputes or litigation

Biography

Chris Henderson brings a strong and diverse background in legal practice and academic work in disability rights, business and technology to his role as partner at Brothers & Henderson, P.S. Mr. Henderson’s practice includes preparing planning and end-of-life documents; advising beneficiaries, professional fiduciaries and attorneys regarding settlements and special needs trusts; advising individuals regarding guardianship, state and federal benefits, and special education; and representing clients in related disputes or litigation.

Prior to joining B&H, Henderson focused on academic work in disability rights, and professional work in business and technology – in particular, the use of technology to address the needs of those with disabilities. Mr. Henderson worked at a global law firm’s Seattle office, serving emerging technology businesses as a corporate associate. During this time, he served as outside general counsel to a variety of privately held businesses, regularly guiding his clients in transactions valued at tens of millions of dollars.

Elevating disability rights and disability and elder law has been a clear theme throughout Henderson’s career. While in law school, he was selected as symposium editor for the Washington Law Review. In that capacity, he worked closely with late professor and former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Commissioner Paul Miller to bring together internationally renowned disability law scholars to study the rights of the disabled on a global scale. The symposium culminated in an edition of the Washington Law Review edited by Mr. Henderson, Framing Legal and Human Rights Strategies for Change: A Case Study of Disability Rights in Asia 83 Wash. Law. Rev. 435 (2008).

Henderson has been invited to speak on guardianship, Medicaid, elder Law, special education and estate planning issues to many groups, including other attorneys and a variety of advocacy organizations. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Western Washington chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and is a member of the End-of-Life Washington and Full Life Care advisor groups. In 2014-2015 he served on the state Alzheimer’s Disease Working Group as the only active attorney appointed to the group by the Washington Department of Social and Health Services.

A four-time winner of the SuperLawyers Rising Star award (2014-2017), Henderson is a member of the King County Bar Association’s Guardianship and Elder Law Section where he previously served on the executive committee. He is also a member of the Washington Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Washington State Bar Association and its Real Property, Probate and Trust Section and Elder Law Section, and the National Academy for Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).

Henderson was admitted to practice in the state of Washington in 2009. He received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University and his law degree from the University of Washington School of Law, where he later co-taught the disability law course.

Apart from work, Mr. Henderson enjoys spending his time with his wife and their two children in Seattle.

Education

  • University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, Washington
    • Juris Doctor - 2008
    • Honors: Transnational Intellectual Property Seminar in Rome, Italy Selected Student
  • Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
    • Bachelor of Science - 2000
    • Major: Symbolic Systems

Bar Admissions

  • Washington, 2009
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court Western District of Washington

Honors

  • Selected to Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2023
  • Selected to Rising Stars: 2014 - 2019
  • Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Alzheimer’s Disease Working Group Appointed Member 2014-2015
  • Seattle Five Star Financial Service Professional 2016, 2017

Classes & Seminars

  • University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, Washington, Adjunct Faculty, Instructor, 2014 to 2016
  • “Special Needs Planning for the High Net Worth Family”, Author and Presenter , Bernstein Private Wealth Management, Seattle, Washington, 2017
  • CLE Co-Chair at S.S. Guardianships: A Three-Hour Tour of APS, Family Law, Representing AIPs and Beyond, King County Bar Association, Seattle, Washington, 2016
  • “TSC Transition Age: Education, Employment and Housing”, Author and Presenter, TSC (Tuberous Sclerosis Complex) & LAM (Lymphangioleiomyomatosis) Regional Conference Seattle, Washington, 2016
  • Handbook for Washington Seniors: Legal Rights and Resources, Legal Voice, Reviewer, Seattle, Washington, 2016
  • “Planning with Special Needs Trusts”, Author and Presenter, King County Bar Association – Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section Meeting, Seattle, Washington, 2015
  • “Accommodating Allergies in Schools”, Author and Presenter, The 14th National Academy for IDEA Administrative Law Judges and Impartial Hearing Officers, Seattle University, 2015
  • CLE Co-Chair at Advanced Issues in Guardianship: New Paradigms for Your Guardianship Practice, King County Bar Association, Seattle, Washington, 2015
  • “Advanced Planning and Legal Supports”, Author and Presenter, Alzheimer’s Association, Seattle, Washington, 2015
  • “Advanced Planning and Legal Supports”, Author and Presenter, Washington State Alzheimer’s Disease Working Group Aging and Long-Term Support Administration, Lacey, Washington, 2015
  • “Clients in Need: Dealing with Clients with Diminished Capacity”, Author and Presenter at 12th Annual Law of Lawyering, Washington State Bar Association, Seattle, Washington, 2014
  • " Medicaid Estate Recovery", Author and Presenter at Medicaid Update 2014, National Business Institute, Seattle, Washington, 2014
  • “Traumatic Brain Injury – What’s to be Done?”, Author and Presenter at Parent Advocacy Training, Seattle University School of Law, Seattle, Washington, 2014
  • “Drafting Wills for Families including Guardianships and Trusts for Minors and Special Needs”, Author and Presenter at Personal Estate Planning for the 99%, King County Bar Association, Seattle, Washington, 2013, 2014, 2015
  • Alzheimer’s Association Public Policy Town Halls, Panel Member, Renton, Bremerton and Seattle, Washington, 2013
  • “Autism 205: Legal Planning for Individuals with Disabilities”, Co-Author and Presenter, Part of Seattle Children’s Autism 200 Class Series , Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Washington, 2013
  • “Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Mental Health Advance Directive”, Author and Presenter at 11th Annual Palliative Care Conference, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, 2013
  • “Guardianship and Alternatives 101”, Author and Presenter at ARC of King County Workshop, Seattle, Washington, 2013
  • “Fundamental Principles of Will Drafting”, “Planning Methods to Control Medical Treatment”, Presenter at Drafting Effective Wills and Trusts, National Business Institute, Seattle, Washington, 2012
  • “Case Law Update: Medicare Set Asides”, Co-Author of Presentation at Medicare and the Personal Injury Claim, Washington State Association of Justice CLE, Seattle, Washington, 2012
  • “Introduction to Guardianship and Conservatorship”, “Introduction to Medicare and Medicaid”, Presenter at Elder Law: Basics of Elder Law From A-Z, LawReviewCle, Seattle, Washington, 2012
  • “Preserving Family Assets When Qualifying For Medicaid”, Author and Presenter at Resolving Legal and Financial Issues in Elder Care, National Business Institute, Seattle, Washington, 2011
  • “Guardianship and Alternatives”, “Introduction to Trusts”, Author and Presenter at Staff Training for State Chapter of a National Advocacy Group for Traumatic Brain Injury Survivors, Seattle, Washington, 2011

Published Works

  • Introduction Framing Legal and Human Rights Strategies for Change: A Case Study of Disability Rights in Asia, 83 WASH. L. REV 435-438, 2008

Professional Associations

  • Alzheimer’s Association, Western Washington Chapter / Washington State Chapter, Board Member
  • Alzheimer’s Association, Western Washington Chapter / Washington State Chapter, Ambassador to Representative Jim McDermott (past)
  • Alzheimer’s Association, Western Washington Chapter / Washington State Chapter, Ambassador to Pramila Jayapal
  • Alzheimer’s Association, Western Washington Chapter / Washington State Chapter, King County Council (past)
  • End of Life Washington, Advisory Committee
  • Full Life Care, Board Member
  • Full Life Care, Co-Chair of Benefit Luncheon (2017)
  • King County Bar Association Guardianship and Elder Law Section, Executive Committee (past)
  • Legal Voice, Reviewer - Handbook for Washington Seniors: Legal Rights and Resources (2016)
  • Washington Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
  • Washington State Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section
  • Washington State Bar Association, Elder Law Section, Committee on Guardianship Complaints (past)
  • National Academy for Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)

Current Employment Position

  • Shareholder

Past Positions

  • Washington State Supreme Court, Judicial Extern
  • Henderson Law and Planning, Seattle, Washington, Principal, 2010 to 2011
  • Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, Seattle, Washington, Associate, 2007 to 2010

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