Introducing the 2024 WLI Fellows

The Washington Leadership Institute (WLI) recruits fellows for each class who reflect the full diversity of our state. The leadership program includes sessions on the “nuts and bolts” of law practice, leadership styles, the judiciary and the legislative process.

2024 Fellows:

Kelly Burns

Kelly Burns is a pragmatic and solutions-oriented business advisor, leveraging her extensive legal and business background. Currently serving as Senior Counsel for 3D Print, Corporate Incubation, & Life Sciences at HP Inc., Kelly plays a vital role in supporting HP’s diverse portfolio, encompassing 3D, healthcare, start-ups, and corporate incubation.

Jocelyn Cooney

Jocelyn Cooney is an Assistant United States Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Jocelyn is currently a Tribal Liaison, working with the 25 Federally recognized tribes in the District. Jocelyn works collaboratively with the Tribes and Federal Agencies to prosecute violent crime in Indian Country. Jocelyn also ensures that Tribal Communities needs are represented to the U.S. Attorney for our District.

Catherine Houser

Catherine worked at the Northwest Justice Project in Wenatchee, Washington focusing on domestic and sexual violence involved civil law cases. Catherine left NJP in November 2023 to take a public defense contract with a small firm in Wenatchee and a family law contract with API Chaya.

Iga Fikayo Keme

Iga Fikayo Keme is corporate counsel at Starbucks Coffee Company where she specializes in technology transactions and data privacy. In her role, Iga advises Starbucks business stakeholders on software licenses, cloud hosting services, cybersecurity networks, website technologies, mobile applications, as well as on the collection and use of consumer and employee data. Prior to joining Starbucks, Iga worked as in-house counsel at Milliman Inc, one of the world’s largest independent actuarial consulting firms.

Dallas Martinez

Dallas Aguilera Martinez (they/he) is Co-Executive Director at QLaw Foundation of Washington, where they oversee the legal operations of the civil legal aid non-profit and share the overall responsibility of leading the organization. When they are not in community collaborating alongside fierce leaders, they are spending quality time with their family in an intergenerational household, with 90 years between the youngest and eldest.

Noe Merfeld

Noe Merfeld is a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, where she has been practicing for three years. Noe is the program attorney for the King County Community Diversion Program, which aims to divert low-level, first-time, felony property and drug offenses to community partners, and the Therapeutic Alternative Diversion Program. Prior to serving in this role, Noe was assigned to the General Crimes and District Court units prosecuting misdemeanor and felony crimes.

Andres Muñoz

Andrés Muñoz practices at Columbia Legal Services, a legal services organization dedicated to ending mass incarceration and advocating for immigrant equity in the workplace. Andrés primarily represents agricultural workers in class action and complex litigation cases against their employers due to abusive employment practices. Before joining CLS, Andrés served as a public defender in Yakima County, representing individuals accused of crimes. He also worked at the Unemployment Law Project, representing unemployed workers in hearings and appeals.

Tyler Quillin

Tyler currently serves as Principal Corporate Counsel at Microsoft, supporting Xbox hardware, devices, and accessories, as well as Xbox emerging technologies. Prior to joining Microsoft, Tyler was an associate at Davis Wright Tremaine practicing technology transactions in Seattle, WA. Tyler is also the current President of the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington. He is an active member of the Hispanic National Bar Association, serving previously as Deputy Finance Director and Deputy VP of Regions and Affiliates.

Paolo Sy

Paolo Sy is a Corporate Counsel & Sr. Business Program Manager on the Pro Bono Team under the Legal Tech, Operations, & Programs Group in Microsoft’s legal department. He is passionate and committed to providing legal help and social justice, while leveraging emerging technology to make his efforts more effective and impactful. After receiving his JD from Seattle University, Paolo worked in various sectors, including a local start-up and Amazon, where he gained experiences in legal, HR, and operational matters, before joining his dream job at Microsoft’s legal department.

Julie A. Turley

Julie is an Assistant Attorney General for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. Julie’s public service career began as a law clerk at the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division II, assisting Judges Lisa Sutton and J. Robin Hunt in their appellate decisions. She moved to the AGO in 2015 as an Honors Candidate. Currently, she is on the Torts Division appellate team, advising fellow Torts AAGs on all aspects of their appellate practice and dispositive trial work to protect State agencies’ positions on appeal. She also carries her own case load of appeals. As an appellate practitioner, Julie has appeared in the Washington State Court of Appeals, the Washington State Supreme Court, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Jeremy Walker

Jeremy grew up in suburban Atlanta until he went to undergraduate school at Georgia State University in Downtown Atlanta. After which, he pursued law school at Vermont Law School. He completed a semester-long internship in Seattle before making Seattle his permanent home after successfully passing the bar in 2016. He has held several roles working in various non-profit and government positions since then. Jeremy is active in QLaw and the Loren Miller Bar Association, two prominent minority bar associations in Washington State. He’s also active with the Minority and Justice Commission. When not working, he likes to watch Netflix, cook, and knit.