The two veteran bond attorneys and two paralegals who comprised the Spokane law firm of Koegen Edwards LLP have joined with Kutak Rock LLP, giving that big national firm its first presence in Washington state and the legal team here much deeper expertise to draw from as it looks to expand its client base, says managing partner Roy Koegen.

Along with Koegen, that team includes attorney Mary Edwards and paralegals Debbi Haskins and Erica Kawewehi. The change took effect Aug. 1, and Koegen says Kutak Rock is “looking at transferring people here from other offices, so we’re going to be growing. They want to grow the office pretty quickly.”

The firm currently leases space on the 17th floor of the Bank of America Financial Center downtown, but Koegen says the firm likely will look to relocate to larger quarters.

“Some of the work we’re doing right now is throughout the country. We just needed more help. We needed a deeper bench so we could help people better,” he says of what led the law group to join Kutak Rock, adding, “I think it’s good for Spokane.”

Kutak Rock, founded in 1965 in Omaha, Neb., includes more than 500 lawyers—roughly 100 of whom are bond lawyers—in 17 offices around the country. Along with the Spokane office, its other offices in the western U.S. are in Los Angeles and Irvine, Calif.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Denver.

The firm’s primary practice concentrations are business and corporate law, public finance, litigation and real estate law, with numerous areas of specialization, its website says. Its attorneys work together in integrated national practice groups to maintain and enhance their technical expertise and to reinforce and support one another in achieving client objectives, it says.

Kutak Rock has represented hundreds of state and local governmental units, a sizable number of Fortune 500 companies, every major investment banking firm in the U.S., major foreign and domestic money-center banks, national real estate investors and developers, and numerous other financial institutions and businesses, its website says.

Koegen says he has worked closely with Kutak Rock attorney for years, has grown to admire the firm, and considers it a great opportunity to be joining such a reputable firm.

The practice here has been operating under the Koegen Edwards name since 2005, but Koegen has specialized in the fields of municipal and finance law throughout his 40-year career. He formerly was with Spokane-based Lukins & Annis PS and Seattle-based Perkins Coie LLP.

The practice acts as bond counsel for public entities, including states, cities, counties, special purpose districts, and other clients. Koegen also has provided general municipal advice to a large array of clients on tax, investment, finance, and regulatory matters.

Koegen started his career in San Francisco and moved to Spokane in 1978. He has a bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University and earned his law degree at the University of California, Hastings School of Law.

Edwards’ primary focus since she began practicing in 1991 has been state and municipal finance transactions. She also practice for six years as bank counsel in secured transactions. She has served as bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, bank counsel and borrower’s counsel, and has provided advice to clients on finance, regulatory, and general governance issues.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, a master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and her law degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, in Cleveland.