- Criminal DefenseJim has been repeatedly selected as a Washington Superlawyer, including as a featured attorney in 2014. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubble, a Top Attorney in Washington State and a Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorney in Washington State.
- Wrongful DeathOso Landslide – Pursued wrongful death claims arising from the March 22, 2014 Oso, Washington Landslide. Obtained significant spoliation sanction order against State of $1.2 million. With co-counsel, obtained $60 million settlement from the State and timber landowner.
- Sex CrimesState v. Victor Cannon – Serial rape case turning on unprecedented forensic evidence. This was the first DNA case in King County history.
- FraudSEC v. Path America LLC, et al. – Retained by Seattle-based immigration attorney to represent more than 100 Chinese investors in large-scale Puget Sound real estate projects frozen by allegations of securities fraud by the SEC. Kelly helped recover more than $11 million in frozen investor funds in a case that garnered local and national attention.
- MisdemeanorsU.S. v. Bulleye’s Shooting Supply – Jim represented the owner in the ATF investigation of the gun shop from which the weapon used in the D.C. sniper shootings was stolen. The government failed to bring a criminal case based on violations of federal firearms laws and the client received a straight probationary sentence for the tax misdemeanor to which he pled.
- Assault
- MurderState v. Canaday – First degree murder prosecution of the State’s first known serial killer. A measure of justice and vindication was obtained for the 16 year-old, pregnant victim’s husband who was himself a suspect for years.
- HomicideAs a prosecutor for more than 20 years in King County, Washington, Erin rose to leadership roles as the co-chair of the Homicide Unit and the Seattle Assistant Chief of the Criminal Division. She left criminal prosecution in 2020, transitioning into civil litigation. Erin’s years of case and courtroom work provided her with the skills needed to investigate and develop complex cases and present creative, comprehensive and persuasive arguments to judges and juries.
- Arson
- Restraining OrderUBS Financial Services, Inc. v. Hergert – Represented a financial advisor sued by his former employer when he joined a competitor. Obtained dissolution of a temporary restraining order, dismissal of the lawsuit and related arbitration, and an order of sanctions against UBS within three weeks of the lawsuit being filed.
- Money LaunderingUnited States v. Devi – Jim’s client in a four-defendant federal criminal case involving extortion, money laundering, fraud and immigration charges was acquitted of all 52 counts after an eight-week trial. The other co-defendants were all convicted.
- Extortion
- Corporate LawCorporate Governance Litigation – Member of defense team that prosecuted successful defense of substantial Washington nonprofit and executives against claims of waste, mismanagement, and breach of fiduciary duty.
- Business Disputes
- Business TransactionsJim is much sought after as an experienced and successful litigator with a broad background in business transactions. He handles a wide variety of subject matter areas including complex commercial litigation, white collar criminal matters, administrative law proceedings particularly those involving public disclosure and campaign finance, bankruptcy matters, and securities law matters in federal court and before the SEC. He also has broad experience in trust and estate litigation and plaintiff’s medical malpractice and civil rights actions. He has served as a federal prosecutor, Special Counsel to the Public Disclosure Commission for the State of Washington, Special Counsel to the City of Seattle, Special Assistant Attorney General representing the University of Washington and other governmental agencies, and is a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel. Jim has broad experience with arbitration on both a domestic and international level and has handled arbitration matters under the AAA, UNCITRAL Rules, IBA Rules, and JAMS Rules and has participated in arbitrations through the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague. Jim conducts internal investigations and serves as an expert witness on foreign extradition. Active in many high profile cases, both civil and criminal, Jim is experienced in dealing with the media on a local and national level.
- Trade Secrets
- Intellectual PropertySteve is a senior partner in the firm. A Chambers-ranked jury trial lawyer who has tried more than eighty cases to verdict, Steve’s high-stakes trial practice runs the gamut from complex commercial litigation with nine-figure exposure to product liability lawsuits alleging catastrophic injuries to high profile intellectual property disputes. Steve also uses his experience as a former SEC Enforcement lawyer and criminal prosecutor to help individuals and companies respond to governmental investigations and lawsuits.
- Unfair CompetitionJack is a partner with the firm. He is a litigator and trial lawyer, having tried cases in state and federal courts and in private arbitration. Jack has represented publicly-traded companies, government entities, the nation’s largest trade association, securities broker-dealers, and many local business and individuals in a wide array of cases. Jack’s practice emphasizes trade secrets, unfair competition, noncompetition and nonsolicitation agreements, and securities.
- Antitrust
- Wrongful TerminationProject Thunder v. TNS (King County Superior Court) – Represented telecommunications company against multi-million-dollar claims of breach of contract and wrongful termination stemming from an acquisition; obtained favorable settlement at trial.
- Employment DiscriminationRepresented business owners against claims of employment discrimination and hostile work environment; achieved settlement for nominal amount.
- Employment LitigationTodd is a partner with the firm. Todd’s practice focuses on high-stakes litigation involving complex commercial and business disputes in trial and appellate courts. He regularly represents clients in cases concerning trade secrets, securities litigation, regulatory compliance, employment litigation, fraud, professional negligence, and business contract disputes. Todd has experience representing professionals and consumers in cryptocurrency and blockchain-related disputes. Todd also represents individuals and companies involved in government investigations and enforcement actions. Todd has significant civil trial experience in state and federal courts in Washington and around the country.
- Non-compete AgreementToo Many, Too Broad, Too Long: Washington Overhauls Non-compete Agreements. King County Bar Bulletin, July 2019, with Lawrence R. Cock and Benjamin Byers.
- Sexual HarassmentEmployment litigation is one of our core strengths, including a superior practice defending against whistle-blower, independent contractor misclassification, sexual harassment, discrimination and wrongful termination claims.
- Real Estate LitigationBedrossian, et al. v. Stipek – Representation of individual investors in plaintiffs’ securities/real estate fraud action, with accompanying infliction of emotional distress claims. Multi-week trial garnered judgment of nearly $1 million.
- Premises LiabilityMerriman v. Winners 3, LLC, et al. – Kelly obtained summary judgment dismissal of a premises liability action involving allegations of permanent disability. The third-party indemnification claim against Kelly’s client was dismissed with prejudice and the client was awarded its attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in defending the entire matter.
- Construction LitigationFor more than forty-five years, Randy Squires has tried lawsuits in the Pacific Northwest and elsewhere. His experience base is broad: a five-year apprenticeship with a pioneer construction litigation boutique (where, among other things, he built the firm’s construction labor practice); twenty years with Davis Wright Tremaine, a large regional, now national firm, the last ten as chair of the firm’s Litigation Group; and nearly ten years as a founding member and CEO of the innovative Summit Law Group.
- Easement
- Land Use and Zoning
- Personal InjuryKelly is a partner with the firm. Kelly’s practice focuses on product liability cases, catastrophic personal injury defense, and high-stakes commercial litigation. Kelly has also developed expertise in insurance coverage and indemnity disputes, and represents both policyholders and insurance carriers in resolving high-value disputed claims. Kelly has significant civil trial experience and regularly appears in Washington’s state and federal courts on behalf of his clients. Washington Super Lawyers Magazine has named Kelly a “Rising Star” every year since 2016. In 2018, Kelly was selected as an Associate Fellow by the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society devoted to promoting superior advocacy and ethical standards in the practice of law. Kelly has also been recognized in Best Lawyers in America as “One to Watch” from 2021 to 2023.
- Medical MalpracticeIn 2020, Erin transitioned from criminal prosecution to civil litigation. Having spent thousands of hours in the courtroom in countless trials, Erin is exceptionally skilled at presenting persuasive arguments to judges and juries; she thrives in the unpredictable moments that occur in every trial. Erin’s work in criminal forensics, medical malpractice defense, and general litigation, has prepared her for a wide variety of general litigation from small to complex investigations, trial preparation, the development of experts in any field, and the thoughtful creation of persuasive courtroom arguments.
- Auto Accidents
- Disability DiscriminationKirby v. Allergan – Defended pharmaceutical company against claim of disability discrimination by a former sales representative; after four-day arbitration, the arbitrator ruled in our client’s favor and dismissed claimant’s claims in their entirety.
- Estate PlanningEmily is the firm’s managing partner. Her practice focuses on complex civil litigation, class action defense, consumer protection act claims, products liability, real estate litigation, and employment litigation, at the trial and appellate levels. Emily excels in handling large and complex matters that require creative problem-solving, diligence, and fine attention to detail.
- Bankruptcy