Rachel G. Talay
Managing Member

Rachel provides a variety of legal services.

She specializes in business transactions, corporate governance and intellectual property matters. She counsels companies and individuals on transactions such as acquisitions and financings. She helps with all aspects of business transactions from due diligence to consummation. She also assists companies with formation and start-up activities as well as dissolutions. Rachel evaluates, reviews, drafts and negotiates commercial contracts and agreements.

Rachel acts as outside general counsel to a number of companies and works with boards of directors, shareholders and executive officers. She assists companies with their day-to-day operations and provides guidance on best practices. She assists companies both for profit and non-profit.

She represents whistleblowers and cooperators in high profile investigations with both domestic and international aspects. She partners with investigators and law firms around the world and holds a high-level security clearance. Rachel often works closely with law enforcement.

Rachel helps clients protect and grow their brands around the world through trademark prosecution, assignments, cease and desist efforts and licensing arrangements. She also provides guidance on maintaining, protecting and enforcing trademarks and trademark portfolios.

Rachel provides guidance on antitrust matters with a focus on trade associations. She also has experience with EB-5 investment immigration matters, regional centers and related investigations.

Rachel enjoys representing pro-bono clients on business transactions and corporate matters. She believes in making an impact through serving the public good.

Rachel also spends time hiking with her family, supporting her boys on their hockey teams and exercising their Labrador Retriever.

Education

• Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, New York
• Hamilton College, Clinton, New York
• Institut Catholique de Paris, France
• Dana Hall School, Wellesley, Massachusetts

Community Involvement

• The Giving Dogs (a 501(c)(3) charity bringing diversity to sports): Founder, Volunteer; 2019 – present
• Junior League of Washington, D.C.: Member; 2001-present
• Belle Haven Women’s Club, Alexandria, Virginia: Volunteer; 2012 – present

Bar Admissions

• DC, Virginia and New York

Jacey Messer
Senior Associate

Before working at H Street Law, Jacey was a Banking Project Attorney for Epiq Global. Before that, she worked for eleven years as a Product Manager and Lead Jewelry Designer for Wheeler Manufacturing Company, a family-owned jewelry company that caters to the tourist gift shop market in the U.S. and Canada. After passing the Bar Exam in Montana, Jacey spent two years as Public Defender for the State of Montana in their Bozeman, Montana office.

During law school, Jacey competed on the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Team. Notably, she ranked 13th among 326 Oralists at the 2005 Sherman & Sterling World Rounds Competition in Washington, D.C. Jacey’s score at this competition tied for the Top Female Oralist from a United States law school. She also received the Weymouth D. Symmes Award for Moot Court Excellence at law school graduation. Her summer internships in law school included time with U.S. District Court Judge Samuel J. Haddon, Associate Dean of the University of Montana College of Business Michael Harrington, and Montana Legal Services.

Before law school, Jacey worked as a legal secretary at the Meierhenry Law Firm in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. While completing her undergraduate education, she interned at the Small Business Administration, First Interstate Bank, and Lutheran Social Services. During her junior year, Jacey completed the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA) in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis & St. Paul, Minnesota. HECUA proved to be life-changing for Jacey, opening her small-town perspective to a greater urban outlook. Jacey completed a double major in four years while competing in NCAA Div. II Women’s Basketball & Track/Field, at Augustana University. Her double majors included Business Administration and Government/International Affairs.

A native of South Dakota, Jacey, and her family relocated to Arizona in 2018. She enjoys writing, hiking in the Arizona sunshine, reading historical fiction novels, yoga, and a strong cup of black tea. She is a self-proclaimed research nerd when it comes to health/wellness topics like essential oils, non-toxic products, and clean eating. Jacey is passionate about fostering a community of life-long learners and friends that are curious about urban affairs and willing to serve. Her life’s goal is to write a book.

Education

• University of Montana School of Law, J.D. 2005
• Augustana University, B.A. 2001

Bar Membership

• Montana

Lucy Kelly Hale
Associate

Prior to working at H Street Law, Lucy was an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Commerce. During law school, Lucy was the Editor-in-Chief of the American University Business Law Review and the Communications Director for the Transactional Law Society, with whom she participated in negotiation competitions. Notably, her team won first place at The Negotiation Challenge 2019 in Kyoto, Japan. She also interned for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, and numerous private-sector entities.

Prior to law school, Lucy worked as an intern at Microsoft through the vendor company, 3Sharp, and as an editorial and marketing intern for the authors of The Art of Opportunity. Lucy completed her undergraduate degree in English literature at the University of Portland.

A native Seattleite, Lucy enjoys being outdoors with her family, the D.C. winter sun, Dungeness crab, and lots of good coffee.

Education

• American University Washington College of Law, J.D. 2019
• University of Portland, B.A. 2016

Bar Membership

• District of Columbia
• Washington

Publication

• What Is Enabled? How “Blockchain Enabling” Legislation Fails Commercial Contracts, Comment, 16 RUTGERS J. L. & PUB. POL’Y 1 (2019).

Katie Carnell
Associate

Prior to working at H Street Law, Katie was a Project Attorney and then Supervisor for Project Attorneys at Epiq Global.  During law school, Katie spent a year and a half as an intern for Gonzaga’s Indian Law Clinic supporting members of the Kalispel Tribe needing legal assistance.  She also interned for a seasoned solo practitioner, Mark Vovos, who worked as a contracted federal defender. As well, for her third year of law school she interned for Kidd Defense working as a Licensed Legal Intern helping to represent clients in Spokane County District Court for misdemeanor offenses.

Prior to law school, Katie played collegiate soccer from 2012 to 2015, ending up playing for one year in the NCAA Div. I at SUNY Albany. Katie completed her undergraduate degree in Law and Justice from Central Washington University in 2017.

Currently residing in Northern California Katie enjoys spending time outdoors hiking or at the beach with her spouse and two dogs

Education

• Gonzaga University School of Law, J.D. 2020
• Central Washington University, B.S. Law and Justice. 2017

Bar Memberships

• Washington State
• New Mexico

Bethany Hale
Chief of Staff

Before joining H Street Law, Bethany spent several years in the nonprofit and fundraising realm. Her most recent workplace being a national, not for profit college preparatory school, dedicated to professionalism and holistic education. Bethany’s work with H Street Law is largely behind the scenes. By streamlining daily operations, she enables the team to best serve their mission.

An advocate for mental health, she spends a great deal of time reading about psychosocial theory and approach. Her long-term goal is to continue her education in Psychology and open her own therapeutic practice specializing in anxiety and trauma recovery.

In her free time, Bethany enjoys traveling and has been fortunate to visit 16 different countries…and counting. She also hopes to visit all 50 American states.

Education

• University of Dallas, B.A. in Psychology