Naoko Inoue Shatz is a Co-Founder of IFJC. After years of practice in the field, Naoko noticed an increasing demand for legal services for international families, and founded IFJC in March 2017. Ms. Shatz is the Managing Attorney of Shatz Law Group PLLC, focusing her practice in the areas of cross border transactions including M&A, joint ventures, incorporation/new business formations, contracts, intellectual property, employment matters and related dispute resolution. She has also extensive experience in the areas of domestic business, limited liability companies, and corporations both in the U.S. and in Japan. In addition, Ms. Shatz takes on select Family Law matters particularly relating to the Hague Convention and international family law issues between Japan and the U.S. Ms. Shatz is currently acting as outside General Counsel to several large Japanese organizations including Consulate General of Japan in Seattle and Japanese companies located in the U.S. Prior to founding the Shatz Law Group, Ms. Shatz practiced law at K&L Gates LLP and Perkins Coie LLP.

Anthony David Gipe started a practice in law after a short career as an intelligence analyst and interpreter.  Anthony has focused on complex civil litigation his entire career, in Oregon, Washington, and California, in the areas of Civil Rights, Business Litigation, Personal Injury, Family Law, and Gay and Lesbian Law.  Anthony has handled dozens of trials in state and federal courts.

Anthony’s current practice also includes advising other attorneys in their practices, including ethics, employment matters, and related issues.

Anthony also serves as a pro tem judge in King County, and part of his practice includes serving as an arbiter and mediator.

Anthony devotes significant time to volunteering in the profession.  He was a founding board member and faculty of the Washington State Bar Association Leadership Institute Advisory Board since its inception.  He is also a founding board member of QLAW.  Finally, Anthony has served within the Washington State Bar Association for fifteen years including as a committee chair, At Large Governor, and he served as President of The Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) in 2013-2016.

Anthony has degrees and credentials in linguistics, Russian language, art, and comparative history, in addition to his Juris Doctor from the University of Washington School of Law.  Washington Law & Politics readers voted Anthony a “Rising Star” in the legal profession in 2002 and 2003 and as a “Super Lawyer” in 2015-17.

When Anthony is not practicing law, he pursues his hobbies in fitness, fine arts, and painting.

It is characteristic of all deep human problems that they are not to be approached without some humor and some bewilderment. – Freeman Dyson