ABC LAW GROUP
Adam Ballout, Partner
Adam Ballout is a family defense attorney, partner at ABC Law Group, and co-founder of the Family Intervention Response to Stop Trauma (FIRST) Legal Clinic, which uses early legal advocacy and interdisciplinary collaboration to help prevent unnecessary family separation. Adam is passionate about building bridges among disciplines that have historically worked in silos. That commitment led to his participation in the University of Washington’s Biomedical Ethics Lab, where more than 100 students from medicine, nursing, social work, public health, and related fields engaged in cross-disciplinary learning about the legal, medical, ethical, and social dimensions of child welfare intervention. Adam presented at the World Association for Infant Mental Health’s 18th World Congress in Dublin in 2023 and is scheduled to present at its 19th World Congress in Toronto in October 2026. His work focuses on creating shared understanding and coordinated systems that better support infants, parents, and families.
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Taila Ayay, Partner
Taila Ayay is the founding Executive Director of FIRST Legal Clinic and a founding partner of ABC Law Group. Since establishing FIRST Legal Clinic, she has guided the organization’s growth, legal programming, and advocacy on behalf of children and families. She will step down as Executive Director in August 2026 following a successful tenure marked by organizational leadership and a sustained commitment to accessible, family-centered legal services.
Taila is an influential voice in child welfare matters affecting families. Her work focuses on protecting family integrity, improving legal outcomes, and ensuring that parents and children receive informed, effective representation. Through her leadership at FIRST Legal Clinic and her practice at ABC Law Group, she brings a client-centered and practical approach to complex legal matters.
As a founding partner of ABC Law Group, Taila continues to advise and represent clients with careful preparation, clear communication, and focused advocacy.
Melinda Drewing
Attorney
Melinda L. Drewing began her legal career in child welfare cases as a Rule 9 Intern while at Seattle University School of Law. Discovering a passion for an area of law she never knew existed she worked in multiple capacities in this unique niche including child representation, serving as an Attorney Guardian ad Litem and a brief stint as an Assistant Attorney General. A defense attorney at heart, she dedicated a majority of her career to reunifying families by providing legal defense to parents in dependencies for over ten years in Snohomish County, Wa.
Melinda also serves as an attorney at the F.I.R.S.T. Legal Clinic a medical legal partnership that works upstream to prevent family separations by providing supports and advocacy pre-crisis.
Dana Halbert
Attorney
Dana is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Law. Prior to joining ABC Law Group, Dana worked with the Innocence Project Northwest for two years. The Innocence project northwest provides legal and investigative services to individuals in Washington State seeking to prove their innocence and work to redress the causes of wrongful convictions.
In addition, Dana volunteered with Street Youth Legal Advocates O(SYLA) and served on the board as co-president.
Dana has focused on serving low-income populations, in both civil and criminal matters, and has experience in the following areas:
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Tribal public defense
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Tribal and state dependencies
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Family law: dissolution, adoption, child custody, child support
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Protection orders
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SSI/SSDI disability law
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Immigration asylum law
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Criminal and parental termination appeals
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Public defense policy and practices
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Probate matters
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Misdemeanor Criminal Defense
Connor is a Seattle native and earned his law degree from Seattle University School of Law. During law school, he served on the Board of the Seattle Journal for Social Justice, volunteered with the Moderate Means Practicum to expand access to civil legal services, and worked with the Lawyers Fostering Independence program to assist at-risk youth and young adults experiencing homelessness.
After graduation, Connor joined Everett Law Association as a public defender, representing clients charged with misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors in Everett Municipal Court. He joined ABC Law Group, LLC in 2021, where he primarily represents parents and children in dependency and termination proceedings, with a focus on protecting the constitutional rights and well-being of vulnerable families. His practice also includes minor guardianships, administrative law, criminal defense, family law, and protection orders.
Connor also works with the Family Intervention Response to Stop Trauma (FIRST) Legal Clinic, which provides legal advocacy to pregnant individuals and parents of newborns at risk of CPS removal. The clinic helps families address barriers that could otherwise lead to separation.
Outside of work, Connor enjoys attempting to golf and exploring emerging technologies, including virtual reality and 3D printing.
Connor O'Neil, Attorney
Kate Kautzman, Attorney
Kate graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law in May 2025 and was admitted to the bar in September 2025. During law school she gained valuable experience interning with a construction-focused law firm and clerking for both commissioners of the Washington Court of Appeals, Division III, where she developed strong research, writing, and analytical skills.
Kate is excited to begin her legal career at ABC Law Group and to deepen her knowledge of dependency law. She brings curiosity, thoughtfulness, and a genuine eagerness to learn.
Outside the office, Kate enjoys reading fiction and spending time with her cats
Atharshna Singarajah, Attorney
Atharshna is a graduate of Seattle University School of Law. She joined ABC Law Group in 2022, where she represents parents in child welfare proceedings with a strong commitment to protecting family integrity and protecting due process rights.
Her practice focuses on dependency, guardianship, and civil protection order matters. She works closely with clients to navigate complex legal systems while advocating for reunification and family stability.
In addition, Atharshna provides legal advocacy through the Family Intervention Response to Stop Trauma (FIRST) Legal Clinic, representing pregnant individuals and parents of newborns at risk of Child Protective Services (CPS) involvement and removal. Through this work, she helps families access early legal support to protect their rights and promote family preservation.
Atharshna is committed to providing compassionate, client-centered representation and supporting parents through difficult legal situations involving their families.
Claire Rynerson-Collier, Paralegal
Claire has been with ABC Law Group since February 2017. In June 2017 she graduated with an AA in paralegal studies from Edmonds Community College. She is hands on with all cases, assists all of the firm’s attorneys in keeping things running smoothly, and handles behind the scenes administrative tasks.
In her spare time, Claire is usually spending her time on adventures with her husband, children, horse and their dog. She grew up with a passion for animals and a strong love and interest for the law.
Roxanne Cardon,
Legal Assistant
Roxanne was born and raised in New Mexico and graduated from New Mexico State University with her bachelors degree. She is a mother of 2 and has made Washington her home for the past 12 years. Her passions include hiking, baking, reading and photography. Roxanne is a prior PTA president and she believes strongly in family reunification and keeping parents and children together.
ZOEY
Zoey joined the office in 2012 only days after her birth. Zoey's focus on community partnerships and the involuntary sharing of bbq, hot dogs, meat products, and unattended chicken burritos has made her the life of the party for almost a decade.
Outside of the office, Zoey's interests include sleep research, meats, treats, long walks, watching my amish life and quantum computing's implications for future banking.
Piña
Pina is an xolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), a national icon in Mexico and arguably the world’s most recognizable salamander.
Pina was rescued from a "squid game" style survival situation and has thrived in the care of ABC.