Experience

Trial Experience

• In the Matter of Coordinated Care. Representation of carrier in administrative hearing successfully challenging denial of approval of health plans for inclusion in the Washington Health Exchange.
• Adams v. United States. Representation of DuPont in a large products liability case involving over 100 individual plaintiffs.
• Weyerhaeuser v. Accurate. Representation of forest products company in a federal jury trial in a commercial dispute.
• Secured dismissal with prejudice for car manufacturer midway through trial in products liability action occurring in a joint and several state. Plaintiffs sought over $48 million in damages.
• Representation of various industrial clients in asbestos matters, including and through expedited trials.
• Representation of United States in immigration, employment, civil rights, and tort actions, including significant trial experience in both tort actions and medical malpractice defense.
• Representation of telecommunications company in a challenge to local regulations under the 1996 Federal Telecommunications Act.
• Representation of pro bono clients, including a custodian in a non-parental custody trial and public housing tenants in administrative grievance hearings.

Environmental Litigation

• Represent municipal ports and commercial clients in multi-party Superfund cost recovery actions under CERCLA and MTCA, in state and federal courts and through allocation and mediation processes.
• Representation of petroleum company in a challenge to NPDES permit before the Pollution Control Hearings Board.
• Representation of landowner in a multi-party MTCA contribution action involving perchloroethylene releases.
• Advises clients on pre-litigation risks associated with various environmental statutes, including MTCA, CERCLA, and RCRA.

Health Care

• In the Matter of Washington Counties Insurance Fund; In the Matter of Moda Health Plan, Inc.; and In the Matter of Cambia Health Solutions. Representation of association health plan and carriers in successful challenges of state insurance commissioner’s denial of rate filings.
• E.S., ex rel., R.S. & J.S., & Jodi Sternoff v. Regence BlueShield & Cambia Health Solutions, Inc., f/k/a The Regence Group. Represent carrier in defense of putative class action challenging plan design under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.
• In the Matter of Coordinated Care. Representation of carrier in administrative hearing successfully challenging denial of approval of health plans for inclusion in the Washington Health Exchange.
• Representation of providers and health plans in connection with Department of Health, Office of the Insurance Commissioner, and Attorney General investigations and complaints.

Tax Litigation

• Representation of a telecommunications company in actions for the refund of utility taxes.
• Representation of a large industrial entity in a property tax challenge before the Board of Tax Appeals.
• Representation of taxpayers in a challenge to the constitutionality of the imposition of a new tax.

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors and Activities

• Selected as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” (Washington) by Chambers USA (Litigation: General Commercial), 2023
• Named by Best Lawyers^® as Litigation—Health Care “Lawyer of the Year,” Seattle, 2023
• Included in The Best Lawyers in America^® (Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Litigation—Health Care, Litigation—Insurance), 2019–2024
• Listed in Washington Super Lawyers^®, (Civil Litigation, Environmental Litigation, Health Care, General Litigation), 2019–2021
• Listed among Rising Stars (Civil Litigation, Environmental Litigation, Health Care, General Litigation), Washington Super Lawyers^®, 2008–2009, 2013–2017
• Outstanding Advocate, Shoreline PTA Council, 2017
• Community Leadership Award, Washington Association of School Administrators, King County Region, 2014
• Volunteer of the Year, King County Bar Association, Kinship Care Solutions Project, 2006
• Irving Stenn, Jr. Award, University of Michigan Law School, 2004
• Ford Motor Company Leadership Award, 2003
• Book Award Recipient, Legal Practice Program, 2002
• J.E. Wallace Sterling Award, Stanford Alumni Association, 1999

Civic Activities

• Past President, Shoreline Public Schools Foundation, 2016–2018
• Chair, Citizens for Shoreline Schools, 2013–2014, 2016–present
• Trustee, Shoreline Public Schools Foundation, 2012–present
• Student Council Advisor, Meridian Park Elementary School, 2017–present
• Vice President, Shoreline School Board, 2007–2011
• Board Member, Stanford Club of Washington, 1999–2001, 2004–2015
• Class Agent, University of Michigan Law School, 2004–present
• Board Member, Washington State History Day, 2008–present
• Pro Bono General Counsel, Historylink.org, 2011–2016
• Judge, Washington State History Day, 1999–2001, 2004–2016

Insights & Presentations

• “Slicing Up the Potentially Expanding Pie: Allocation Considerations at Sediment Sites,” WSBA ELUL Mid-Year Meeting, June 2015
• “Case Study: MTCA Implementation of the Lower Duwamish Waterway (LDW),” Model Toxics Control Act: New Developments in Implementation, Litigation and Legislation, Law Seminars International, September 2013
• “Building Your Client Base,” Advising the New Tech Startup, New Business Lawyer Summit, WSBA, April 2013

Related News & Publications