Overview
Emily Ann Albrecht focuses her practice on funeral law, including mortuary defense litigation, administrative adjudication matters for the Washington State Funeral and Cemetery Board, FTC Funeral Rule compliance, internal inspections and investigations, risk management, best practices and liability avoidance for funeral homes, cemeteries, crematories, funeral directors and embalmers. Emily also serves as General Counsel for the Washington State Funeral Directors Association. Emily is the Chair-Elect of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) Washington Young Lawyers Committee. Each year since 2017 Emily was named a SuperLawyers® “Rising Star”. Emily is also an Associate Fellow with the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honorary society composed of less than one-half of one percent of American lawyers.
Education
J.D. – Seattle University School of Law (2013)
B.A., Government & Psychology – Georgetown University (2009)
Community
Chair-Elect – WSBA Washington Young Lawyers Committee (2021)
Member – WSBA COVID-19 Task Force (2020-present)
Member – WSBA Washington Young Lawyers Committee (2017-2020)
WA District Representative– American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (2018-2020)
Associate Editor – American Bar Association Young Lawyers TYL Magazine (2017-2020)
Member – WSBA Trial Advocacy Program Steering Committee (2015-2017)
Presentations and Publications
- “Mortuary Litigation” webinar presentation for the Ohio State Funeral Directors Association (OFDA) in November 2020
- “Alkaline Hydrolysis: Facts, Myths & A Legal Perspective” virtual presentation given at the 2020 National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) Annual Convention & Expo
- Article, Death Becomes Her: Plotting a Career in Funeral Law, American Bar Association (ABA) Before the Bar (January 2020)
- “Mortuary Litigation” presentation given at the 2019 Washington State Funeral Directors Association (WSFDA) and Washington Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (WCCFA) joint Annual Convention and Expo in Leavenworth, Washington
- “Million Dollar Mistakes: Minimizing the Risks of Mortuary Litigation” presentation given at the 2018 New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association (NJSFDA) Convention and Expo in Atlantic City, New Jersey
- “Mortuary Litigation” presentation given at the 2018 International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association (ICCFA) Convention and Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada
- “Steps to Reduce and Avoid Cremation Liability” presentation given at the 2017 Cremation Strategies Conference in Nashville, Tennessee
- A Detailed Analysis of How Funeral Homes Are Complying with the FTC Funeral Rule, Funeral Service Insider (November 2018)
- Every Family’s Worst Nightmare, American Funeral Director (August 2018)
- Next of Kin: When Should You Proceed With Caution? American Funeral Director (December 2017)
- Pulling Back the Curtain – Risk Management Strategies for Dealing with Third-Party Crematories, American Funeral Director (October 2017); Republished in American & Cemetery & Cremation Magazine and The Independent Reporter (December 2017)
- Avoiding Those Million Dollar Mistakes, American Cemetery & Cremation (July 2017)
- Million Dollar Mistakes: Working Backward to Minimize the Risks of Cremation Liability, American Funeral Director (July 2017)
- Over My Dead Body: The Elusive Tort of Interference with Human Remains, NW Lawyer (July/August 2017)
- Setting the Record Straight: How to Save a Deposition When Defending Counsel Fights Dirty, DRI For The Defense, Trial Tactics Edition (June 2016)
Recognition
Associate Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
Super Lawyers® “Rising Star” 2017 through 2020
Q & A
What is your favorite thing about funeral law?
The intersection between the law and death, and the amazing people I have the pleasure of working with in the funeral industry.
If you weren’t a lawyer what career do you see yourself in?
Forensic pathology or true crime journalism.
What is your favorite thing to do when you’re not working?
Sipping a quality rosé with my husband, Joey, and our dog, Ted Jones!