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Local litigation firms Local litigation stars Philip McCune
Summit Law Group
Commercial Litigation
Highly recommended David Bateman
K&L Gates David McDonald
Byrnes Keller Cromwell Intellectual Property K&L Gates
Intellectual Property
Corr Cronin Michelson Baumgardner & Preece Kevin Baumgardner
Corr Cronin Michelson Baumgardner & Preece Jerry McNaul
Danielson Harrigan Leyh & Tollefson Commercial Litigation, Employment, International McNaul Ebel Nawrot & Helgren
Sports Law, Personal Injury, Products Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation,
Davis Wright Tremaine Liability Employment Litigation
Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell Stanton Beck Ralph Palumbo
Lane Powell Summit Law Group
Perkins Coie
Construction Law Commercial Litigation, Environmental
Litigation
Summit Law Group
David Burman
Perkins Coie Stephen Rummage
Antitrust, Appellate, Class Actions, Constitutional Davis Wright Tremaine
Recommended Law, Consumer Protection, Intellectual Property Appellate, Class Actions, Commercial
Litigation, Securities
Dorsey & Whitney William Cronin
Corr Cronin Michelson Baumgardner & Preece Harry Schneider, Jr
K&L Gates Business Litigation Perkins Coie
Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Estate
Lane Powell Kelly Corr Litigation, Intellectual Property, Professional Liability
Corr Cronin Michelson Baumgardner & Preece
McNaul Ebel Nawrot & Helgren Class Actions, Commercial Litigation, Employment, William “Randy” Squires III
Intellectual Property, Personal Injury, Products Corr Cronin Michelson Baumgardner & Preece
Savitt Bruce & Willey Liability, Professional Malpractice Commercial Litigation, Construction Litigation
Stoel Rives Barbara J Duffy Robert Sulkin
Lane Powell McNaul Ebel Nawrot & Helgren
Commercial Litigation Commercial Litigation, Environmental Litigation,
Professional Malpractice, Real Estate Litigation,
Rudy A Englund Securities
Lane Powell
Class Actions, Employment Litigation, Securities Jeffrey Tilden
Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell
Parker Folse Insurance, Personal Injury, Products Liability, Real
Susman Godfrey Estate Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Suzanne Thomas
David Goodnight K&L Gates
Stoel Rives Employment Litigation
Commercial Litigation, Civil Rights, Malpractice,
Securities, Telecommunications Peter Vial
McNaul Ebel Nawrot & Helgren
Charles Gordon Arbitration, Civil Litigation
Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell
Civil Litigation
Arthur Harrigan, Jr
Danielson Harrigan Leyh & Tollefson
Commercial Litigation
Bradley Keller
Byrnes Keller Cromwell
Commercial Litigation, Tort Litigation
Paul Lawrence
K&L Gates
Appellate, Constitutional Law, Commercial
Litigation, Environmental Litigation
David Lenci
K&L Gates
Civil Litigation, Commercial Litigation
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Future stars
Denise Ashbaugh
Summit Law Group
Steven Jensen
Lane Powell
Brenda Molner
Ater Wynne
Gwendolyn Payton
Lane Powell
David Young
Lane Powell
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Washington Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling firms,
Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell has
cultivated a sophisticated civil litigation
practice while retaining the benefits of a
small boutique. Former clients include Alaska
Washington litigators note that tapering securities fraud filings between broker- Airlines, GlaxoSmithKline, and Washington
dealers have lessened over the past year, a trend that some local lawyers see as Mutual. The 12-lawyer group includes co-
founder Jeffrey Tilden who carries the
giving rise to more consumer-related class action claims in the near future. As the experience of more than 60 trials relating to
economy begins to rebound, wage and hour class-actions are again providing a personal injury, product liability, insurance
significant portion of work for firms in Seattle and beyond. coverage, and real estate. According to one
peer, “Jeff Tilden is high quality.” Charles
Gordon is another co-founder for the firm
whom competitors designate as a veteran
Highly recommended firms in cases related to employment matters, toxic trial lawyer whose broad civil litigation
torts, securities fraud, and construction law. practice provides a successful model for the
Byrnes Keller Cromwell overall firm to build upon.
While smaller than many of its competitors, Danielson Harrigan Leyh & Tollefson
the litigation boutique of Byrnes Keller Founded in 1986, Danielson Harrigan Leyh Perkins Coie
Cromwell and its 10-lawyer litigation group & Tollefson has built a 14-lawyer litigation Like its cross-town counterpart Davis Wright
have defied the “bigger is better” logic of platform through its Seattle office. The firm’s Tremaine, Perkins Coie is a firm that has
most firms and established themselves as a boutique approach allows it to work beyond taken its Seattle roots and expanded them to
leading firm in the Pacific Northwest. Past many of the conflicts of larger firms, an the international stage. The firm now
high-profile work for the firm includes advantage that has helped expand maintains 17 offices worldwide and employs
representing fisheries affected by the Exxon Danielson’s commercial litigation platform to over 700 lawyers across its litigation and
Valdez oil spill and litigation between include issues involving antitrust claims, transactional platforms. “Perkins is a great
Washington’s Medicaid system and the construction law, environmental law, firm,” remarks one Washington litigator. The
tobacco industry. “Those guys are really insurance coverage disputes, intellectual firm’s Seattle headquarters still holds a
good,” remarks one local litigator, who goes property, product liability, as well as real number of recognized litigators, including
on to single out the experience of founding estate and eminent domain. Arthur Harrigan, David Burman, who oversees the firm’s
partner Bradley Keller, saying, “Brad Keller Jr, is noted by peers as a veteran trial lawyer overall commercial litigation practice.
is a fine lawyer.” Keller represents both who handles complex commercial disputes. Burman has over 30 years of experience
plaintiffs and defendants in issues of trying cases locally and nationally, and in that
antitrust, class actions, product liability, Davis Wright Tremaine time he has developed broad specialties in
securities fraud, and white-collar Davis Wright Tremaine has become a antitrust, class actions, constitutional law,
investigations, including RICO claims. national litigation institution through its product liability, and intellectual property for
roots in the Pacific Northwest. “Davis Wright both plaintiffs and defendants. Harry
Corr Cronin Michelson Baumgardner & is really on the rise,” says one local Schneider, Jr, is noted for his practices in
Preece competitor. “They’ve been expanding. general commercial disputes, intellectual
From its lone office in Seattle, Corr Cronin They’ve got good lawyers and a good property, and professional liability by peers.
Michelson Baumgardner & Preece has footprint.” Headquartered in Seattle, the firm Advising on IP issues ranging from anti-
established a solid reputation among fellow employs over 500 lawyers through its eight counterfeiting to patent infringement,
litigators who note the firm’s presence offices in the US and one in Shanghai, China. Schneider has made a name firm himself in
throughout the Pacific Northwest region and Nearly 200 of those lawyers are dedicated to the video game industry through
Alaska. The relative youth of the firm also the firm’s commercial litigation platform, representations for such game and hardware
affords Corr Cronin the benefit of having all which is noted by peers for its specific developers as Electronic Arts and Nintendo.
of its co-founders still actively practicing. expertise in intellectual property. Davis
Senior partner Kelly Corr was part of the Wright lawyers recently served as counsel to Summit Law Group
firm’s response for Chrysler in three separate author JD Salinger, defending the writer’s Based out of Seattle, the Summit Law Group
arbitrations against local auto dealers that principal work, “The Catcher in the Rye,” is unique in that the firm consists entirely of
had sued the automaker after being excluded against an unauthorized sequel by a partners and of-counsel members. With no
from its dealership network. The Corr competitor that claimed rights to the work associates on its roster, the firm claims to
Cronin team was successful in defending through fair-use doctrine. The Davis Wright better staff its cases with any number of its 25
Chrysler in each of the arbitrations, an team asserted Salinger’s rights in the Southern veteran trial lawyers. And thanks to the
achievement that also highlights the firms District of New York and subsequently efforts of litigators like Philip McCune and
growing profile for arbitration work proved their client’s work had been infringed. Ralph Palumbo, clients are beginning to
involving its corporate clientele. “The guys Stephen Rummage is specifically noted for his appreciate the firm’s diversion from
over at Corr Cronin have a very strong expertise regarding securities litigation. The “normal” firm structures. “Based on
reputation,” says one fellow litigator. Kevin Seattle partner is defending former feedback from other lawyers and those
Baumgardner is another founding partner of Washington Mutual executives in a familiar with professional negligence cases
the firm and is noted by peers for his focuses consolidated action before the Western and securities fraud issues, and from what we
on product liability and employment District of Washington, where his clients face witnessed, Phil [McCune] worked a miracle,”
practices. William Cronin handles general charges of breach of fiduciary duty and says one Summit Law client. “He started
business litigation for plaintiffs and various ERISA claims. Rummage also with very little to work with, and using a
defendants. Focuses in professional liability handles general commercial disputes and combination of sharp legal acumen, shrewd
securities fraud have provided him a client appellate proceedings. psychological insight, and flat out
roster that includes Amazon.com, Exxon, determination, simply overpowered our
and Georgia Pacific. William “Randy” Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell opponents.” The client goes on to note that
Squires has over 30 years of trial experience Founded in 1996 by former partners of the “the support staff at Summit was stellar,
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making important contributions to the a strong round of peer feedback. “I have high in July 2010. Additionally, Lane Powell
successful outcome of the case.” McCune is regard for him,” says one competitor of serves as the primary regional counsel to Key
known for his expertise related to tort Lenci. “He’s a very strong commercial lawyer Bank in the Pacific Northwest. Stanton Beck
disputes, class actions, business control over there.” Another peer claims: “Suzanne chairs the firm’s construction litigation group
disputes, and intellectual property litigation Thomas at K&L Gates is a powerful and consistently represents owners,
regarding patents and trade secrets. Ralph litigator.” Lenci is a general commercial designers, insurers, and lenders involved in
Palumbo’s commercial litigation practice litigator with experience in antitrust, commercial development disputes.
concentrates on antitrust and environmental intellectual property, land use, and securities
law issues, areas where he recently advised fraud cases, while Thomas focuses her McNaul Ebel Nawrot & Helgren
service companies associated with the practice in matters related to employment Established in 1995, the firm of McNaul Ebel
Alaskan oil pipeline over the past year. law. Paul Lawrence is well regarded by peers Nawrot & Helgren has made a quick rise to
for his general commercial practice and prominence in the Seattle litigation
Recommended firms experience in appellate matters. David community. Co-founder Jerry McNaul is
Bateman is mentioned frequently as a high- lauded by peers for his leadership of the firm
Dorsey & Whitney profile intellectual property litigator for the through its formative years. “McNaul has
The Midwestern firm of Dorsey & Whitney firm. really built quite a firm over there,” says one
has maintained Seattle office since 1995. Seattle litigator. Peers say he is a consistent
With 19 offices worldwide and more than Lane Powell presence in matters related to antitrust,
650 lawyers on its transactional and Based in Seattle, Lane Powell has established construction law, environmental law, and
litigation rosters, the firm is respected by a wide footprint across the Northwest region labor and employment disputes. Robert
Sulkin receives similar praise for his
commercial litigation practice, which
“ ‘Based on feedback fromcases lawyers and those familiar
with professional negligence
other
and securities fraud issues,
includes expertise in environmental law,
professional malpractice, real estate, and
securities fraud. In what is perhaps the best
compliment a litigator can receive, several
and from what we witnessed, Phil [McCune] worked a miracle,’ peers note their preference for Sulkin to serve
says one Summit Law client. ” as counsel should they be conflicted out of a
matter. “Bob Sulkin is a very good lawyer.
He’s always been a good referral,” says one
competitor. Peter Vial is a noted civil litigator
competitors for the vast resources it can offer of the country through satellite offices in with specialties in antitrust and securities
corporate clientele. Dorsey & Whitney offer Anchorage, Alaska; Portland, Oregon; and fraud matters.
expertise across the corporate spectrum in Olympia and Tacoma, Washington. The firm
their Seattle office, including prominent also maintains a London office. Its litigation Savitt Bruce & Willey
practices in employment law, intellectual group consists of nearly 90 lawyers, the Savitt Bruce & Willey is the most recent
property, and real estate. This year, the firm majority of which carry first-chair trial addition to Benchmark’s local rankings in
witnessed the retirement of former experience in commercial litigation matters Washington. The firm received near-
Benchmark star Evan Schwab, a noted related to tort disputes, construction law, unanimous feedback from peers who see the
commercial litigator in the Seattle market. employment law, product liability, litigation boutique’s 12-lawyer group as a
However, the arrival of William Perry, from intellectual property, and real estate. consistent presence in cases related to issues
the local firm of Garvey Schubert & Barer, “They’re a good firm,” remarks one of intellectual property, professional liability,
rounds out the offices abilities in competitor. “They have some good clients.” securities fraud, and derivative shareholder
international trade and intellectual property Barbara Duffy chairs the firm’s litigation lawsuits. According to one local litigator,
matters. group and raised her commercial litigation Savitt Bruce & Willey “is a go-to firm when
profile in a recent action for Extendicare you have a really big problem and when you
K&L Gates Health Services. Duffy led a Lane Powell need to hire real litigators.”
Although headquartered in Pittsburgh, K&L team that defended the long-term care
Gates maintains strong ties to the Pacific provider against class-action claims that it Stoel Rives
Northwest. With its Seattle office claiming had violated the Washington Consumer Based in nearby Portland, Oregon, Stoel
ties as far back as 1883, the firm has Protection Act by misrepresenting the Rives has cultivated a significant Washington
embedded itself in regional affairs for services it offers to residents. Separate cases presence in recent years through its offices in
corporate clients for more than a century, were tried in Washington and Minnesota, Seattle and Vancouver, Washington. Peers
meanwhile establishing itself as a dominant with claims against Extendicare eventually nominate David Goodnight as a leading
brand worldwide through the creation of 19 being dismissing in both. example of the commercial litigators that the
total offices. K&L Gates’ Seattle litigation Another highlight for the firm came in firm enlists in the state. Through a practice
group is most recognized for handling Rudy Englund’s representation of Key Bank that encompasses tort disputes, product
matters related to environmental law, earlier in the year. After nearly three years of liability, civil rights, and securities law,
intellectual property, and securities fraud. negotiations regarding breach of contract and Goodnight has established a client roster that
Partners David Lenci and Suzanne Thomas fraud claims raised by Rapid Funding Group, includes Amazon.com, International Paper,
are additions to this year’s rankings following the matter was settled just before its trial date the Qwest Corporation, and Weyerhaeuser.
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PHILIP S. MCCUNE
SUMMIT LAW GROUP PLLC
315 Fifth Avenue S, Suite 1000
Seattle, WA 98104-2682
Main Tel: 206 676 7000
Fax: 206 676 7001
Direct Tel: 206 676 7038
Email: philm@summitlaw.com
Phil McCune is a trial lawyer who litigates complex cases for clients
ranging from Fortune 100 companies to venture-funded start-ups.
Phil has been trial counsel for matters ranging from national antitrust
litigation (Caldera v. Microsoft, Real Networks v. Microsoft), to complex
construction litigation (the world’s largest radio telescope), to the
successful defense of class action litigation, trade secret, products liability
and toxic tort cases (including Hanford Downwinder litigation). Phil
obtained summary judgment for the defense on a billion-dollar patent and
trade secret claim in the gaming industry. Phil also obtained a $19 million
jury verdict for clients who invented the pointing-and-scrolling computer
mouse, against a former development partner that misappropriated the
concept. Phil represents businesses, investment groups and individuals in
business disputes and litigation. He has developed a national reputation
for his work in this area. Phil’s practice includes land use counseling and
litigation for a large waste management corporation.
After graduating from Dartmouth College and Michigan Law School with
high honors, Phil clerked for and was mentored by a renowned litigator and
federal judge. He then joined Heller Ehrman, leading complex litigation
including class actions, environmental and superfund litigation. With others
from Heller and leaders from Seattle’s best firms, Phil founded Summit Law
Group in 1997. Summit has a national reputation among in-house counsel
as a top-tier litigation firm. Phil’s peers consistently rate him a “Super
Lawyer,” one of the top 5% of Washington litigators. Phil is rated “AV” /
“Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell and is named in other national ratings
guides (www.summitlaw.com/bio/mccune). Phil is well connected in the
Northwest legal, civic, and venture capital communities.
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