About Team Hochberg
Passionate Representatives
At Hochberg & Hamar, PLLC, our staff offers more than just experience and expertise. They are passionate advocates when it comes to helping people like you!
When you are in a difficult situation due to injuries or disability, you can count on us to be tenacious in our efforts to obtain each and every benefit you are entitled to.
The Team
- William D. Hochberg – Attorney
- Rachel V. Hamar – Attorney
- Amber Fillmore – Paralegal
- Lillian Kaufer – Paralegal
- Christine Peterson – Paralegal
- Michelle Merrin – Paralegal
- Evan Erickson – Paralegal
Meet Our Team
William D. Hochberg – Attorney
Bill Hochberg earned his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Puget Sound in 1980 and his Juris Doctor from the University of Washington School of Law in 1983. Prior to commencing private practice, he was a Washington state assistant attorney general for the Labor and Industries and Social and Health Service Divisions.
Bill is licensed to practice before the Washington state Supreme Court, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, and the United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. He has tried and argued cases before the Superior Courts in the State of Washington, the Washington State Court of Appeals, the Washington State Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, and the United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Bill is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, King and Snohomish County Bar Associations, American Association for Justice, and the Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ, formerly known as WSTLA). He has served on the board of WSAJ for three years. Bill also served on the WSAJ Executive Committee and chaired both the Legislative Steering Committee and the WSAJ Workers’ Compensation Section. Currently, he is the chair of the Washington Trial Lawyers Political Forum.
Bill has successfully argued six seminal and precedent setting cases before the Washington State Supreme Court:
- Harry v. Buse Timber & Sales, 166 Wn.2d 1 (2009)
- Sebastian v. Department of Labor and Industries, 142 Wn.2d 280 (2000)
- Kilpatrick v. Department of Labor and Industries, 125 Wn.2d 222 (1994)
- Department of Labor and Industries v. Fankhauser, 121 Wn.2d 304 (1993)
- Department of Labor and Industries v. Estate of MacMillan, 117 Wn.2d 222 (1991)
- Department of Labor and Industries v. Landon, 117 Wn.2d 122 (1991)
He has also appeared as amicus curiae before the Supreme Court on behalf of the Washington State Labor Council. The positions advocated in those briefs were followed by the Court in:
- Boeing v. Heidy, 147 Wn.2d 78 (2002)
- Cockle v. Department of Labor and Industries, 142 Wn.2d 801 (2001)
- Department of Labor and Industries v. Avundes, 140 Wn.2d 282 (2000)
Contact Bill: [email protected]
Rachel V. Hamar – Attorney
Rachel V. Hamar is a partner at Hochberg & Hamar, PLLC, where she focuses primarily on Social Security Disability, personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. She began working for the firm in 2008, and joined the firm as an attorney in 2011.
Rachel likes that each of team Hochberg’s clients expose her to new interests and experiences, and shows her a different perspective. She is constantly amazed and humbled she has the privilege of taking part in the lives of men and women who get up every day and overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles because of their conditions and injuries.
Rachel spent her formative years in Eastern Washington, where she grew up amidst the natural beauty of the area and learned to appreciate the diversity of Washington State. She went on to graduate summa cum laude as a Wayne Stanford Scholar from Washington State University, where she studied history and law.
Rachel then attended law school at the University of Washington, where she worked with the Immigrant Families Advocacy Project and as an advocate for foster children in the Child and Youth Advocacy Clinic. She also served as the Washington State Association for Justice Student Liaison, and takes great pride in empowering injured people through the law.
In her time off, Rachel enjoys watching art films and collecting wheat pennies.
Contact Rachel: [email protected]
Amber Fillmore – Paralegal
Amber Fillmore has worked at Hochberg & Hamar, PLLC, since May of 1999. She is one of the firm’s full-time paralegals, focusing primarily on injury claims arising under the Washington State Industrial Insurance Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, as well as Social Security Disability claims. Amber has attended numerous CLEs and seminars and is a member of the Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ), Workers’ Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILG), and Professionals in Workers’ Compensation (PWC).
Amber takes great pride in being able to help injured workers and obtaining benefits for those who deserve them. She thoroughly enjoys speaking to and meeting with every client. The best part of her job is when a client calls and is truly grateful for the time and commitment she and the other staff at Hochberg & Hamar have spent on their claim.
Amber resides in beautiful Snohomish with her husband Matt and son Grayson. She also has two labs, Bella and Koda, and four chickens. She enjoys traveling, camping, gardening, playing with her dogs, and just about anything else outdoors!
Contact Amber: [email protected]
Lillian Kaufer – Paralegal
Paralegal Lillian Kaufer joined team Hochberg in 2006. Lillian represents injured workers battling Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries or self-insured employers denying legitimate claims.
Lillian particularly enjoys working on behalf of professional athletes from the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners, and Seattle Storm. Also fluent in Spanish, she helps all of team Hochberg’s Spanish-speaking clients understand their cases.
Lillian and her husband, Patrick, have two daughters, Bridgett and Blair. Lillian and her husband have built a successful local business over the past 20 years. She also assists children in foster care through the CASA program, giving children a voice in Snohomish court.
Lillian is an active Democrat, serving on the NARAL PAC Board and ran for State Senate in 2006 and 2010.
Contact Lillian: [email protected]
Christine Peterson – Paralegal
Paralegal Christine Peterson joined Hochberg & Hamar, PLLC, in 2016.
Contact Christine: [email protected]
Michelle Merrin – Paralegal
Michelle Merrin joined Hochberg & Hamar, PLLC, as a paralegal in 2019, bringing with her decades of experience in the legal field. She focuses primarily on personal injury cases.
Michelle has great compassion for injured workers and loves that she can help the injured obtain needed treatment and support them through the stressful legal process.
Michelle has two daughters and one son, and as a lifetime Washington resident, enjoys living in Lake Stevens near the water. In her spare time Michelle enjoys boating, walking, painting and gardening.
Contact Michelle: [email protected]
Evan Erickson– Paralegal