- Telephone: 206-624-7990
- Fax: 206-624-5944
- Toll Free: 877-624-7990
- Website: www.LeeSmart.com
Established: 1913
Practice Areas
- Accountant Malpractice
- Agriculture
- Appellate Practice
- Architects and Engineers
- Automobile Liability
- Complex Litigation
- Construction Defect
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Employment Law
- Environmental and Toxic Injury
- Fire Loss
- Health
- Homeowners
- Insurance Law
- Legal Malpractice
- Medical Malpractice
- Municipal Liability
- Premises Liability
- Product Liability
- Professional Liability
- Real Estate
- Subrogation
- Trucks/Heavy Equipment
- An Experienced Litigation Firm Defending All Aspects of Litigation and Risk Prevention Analysis
- Public Entity Liability
About Us
Our firm began in 1913 as an insurance defense firm, and we continue today to concentrate our practice on the defense of civil litigation. We pride ourselves on offering skilled representation at a reasonable price. Our firm engages in general civil and trial practice in state and federal courts throughout Washington and in administrative proceedings. The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory has conferred the "AV" rating, its highest, on our firm and several of our lawyers. Unlike some firms that advertise their "litigation departments," the great majority of our practice is litigation. As a result, our lawyers possess a wealth of experience actually trying cases that many other firms cannot offer.
Our attorneys have extensive experience in all types of litigation, including premises liability, construction liability, product liability, and liquor liability, defense of major defendants in toxic-tort claims, and fire and property-damage subrogation.
We also have decades of experience in defending all types of professionals, including physicians and other health care providers, dentists, attorneys, accountants, architects, engineers, and real estate and insurance agents and brokers.
We have defended many municipalities and more than 40 school districts in claims of employer liability, sex and race discrimination, and personal injury. We have also defended many types of employers against claims of harassment, wrongful discharge, whistleblower, and discrimination claims, before federal and state courts, the EEOC, Office of Civil Rights and other state and administrative agencies.
Our firm has handled a large volume of insurance-coverage issues for both insurers and policyholders. We have provided insurer clients with coverage evaluations and advice and has litigated many insurance-coverage actions.
We also have a sizeable appellate practice. Our lawyers have appeared before all divisions of the Washington State Court of Appeals, the Washington Supreme Court, several districts and circuits of the United States District Court and Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.
Client Information
Insurance Clients
- Allied Professionals Insurance Company
- Allied World National Assurance Company
- Allstate Insurance Company
- Alteris Insurance Services, Inc.
- American Commercial Management
- Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance
- Amerisure Insurance Company
- AMEX Assurance Company
- AmTrust North America
- Argo Pro
- Balboa Insurance Group
- Berkley North Pacific Group, LLC
- Berkley Risk Administrators Company, LLC
- CAMICO Mutual Insurance Company
- Carolina Casualty Insurance Company
- Catlin, Inc.
- CNA Insurance Companies
- Crum & Forster
- Encompass Insurance
- Everest Indemnity Insurance Company
- Everest National Insurance Company
- Farmers Insurance Company
- Fireman's Fund Insurance Company
- First Mercury Insurance Company
- Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance Company
- GEICO
- General Star Management Company
- Great American Insurance Company
- Great Northwest Insurance Company
- Hallmark Insurance Company
- Hanover Professionals
- The Hartford
- Hiscox USA
- Intercare Insurance Services, Inc.
- James River Insurance Company
- Lawyer's Protector Plan
- Liberty International Underwriters
- Liberty Mutual Insurance Company
- Lloyd's of London
- Markel Service, Incorporated
- The Medical Protective Company
- Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company
- Monitor Liability Managers, Inc.
- National Farmers Union Casualty Group
- National Indemnity Group
- Navigators Pro
- NORDIC
- OMS National Insurance Company
- OneBeacon Insurance Company
- Orion Insurance Group
- Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company
- Precision Risk Management, Inc.
- QBE North America
- Riverport Insurance Company
- RLI Insurance Company
- State Farm Insurance
- Swiss Reinsurance Company
- Travelers Bond & Financial Products
- United National Group
- United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
- United States Liability Insurance Group
- Vela Insurance Services, LLC
- Western National Insurance Group
- XL Select Professionals
- Zurich Insurance Company
Non-Insurance Clients
- AutoNation Incorporated
- Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.
- BinTech Partners
- City of Rainier
- City of Tenino
- Correct Care Solutions, LLC
- Costco Wholesale Corporation
- Davita, Inc.
- Digestive Health Specialities
- Dynamic Collectors, Inc.
- Ewing & Clark, Inc.
- Ferrellgas
- GameWorks
- Keller Williams Realty
- The Making A Difference Foundation
- Quest Diagnostics
- Re/Max Eastside Brokers, Inc.
- Safeguard Properties, LLC
- Valley Medical Center
- Werner Company, Inc.
- Westfield, LLC
- WS Consulting & Construction, Inc.
Third Party Administrators
- American Claims Management, Inc.
- Blair & Company Claims Adjusters
- Carl Warren & Company
- FARA - A York Company
- Gallagher Bassett Services, Inc.
- H & W Risk Management, Inc.
- Managed Insurance Services
- Mesa Underwriters Specialty Insurance Company
- Midland Claims Administrators, Inc.
- NARS (North American Risk Services)
- Network Adjusters, Inc.
- NovaPro Risk Solutions
- Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.
- Superior Claim Services
Personnel Information
Firm Members
Jeffrey P. Downer
Seattle, WA
- E-Mail: jpd@leesmart.com
Years of Experience: 36
Practice Areas
- Professional Liability
- Insurance Law
- Appellate Practice
- Personal Injury
- Product Liability
- Real Estate
- Legal Malpractice
- Architects and Engineers
- Medical Malpractice
- Complex Litigation
- Employment Law
- Environmental and Toxic Injury
- Premises Liability
- Risk Management
Admitted
- Washington, 1982
Memberships:
- Washington State and King County Bar Associations
Education:
- University of Washington, B.A. (cum laude), 1979
- University of Washington, J.D., 1982
Steven G. Wraith
Seattle, WA
- E-Mail: sgw@leesmart.com
Years of Experience: 31
Practice Areas
- Appellate Practice
- Agriculture
- Architects and Engineers
- Construction Defect
- Directors and Officers Liability
- Fire Loss
- Insurance Defense
- Professional Liability
- Trucks/Heavy Equipment
- Personal Injury
Admitted
- Washington, 1987
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, 1987
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1987
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington, 1988
Memberships:
- American, Washington State and King County Bar Associations
- Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- Washington State University, B.A., 1982
- Seattle University, J.D., 1987
John C. Versnel III
Seattle, WA
- E-Mail: jcv@leesmart.com
Years of Experience: 31
Practice Areas
- Complex Litigation
- Employment Law
- Medical Malpractice
- Product Liability
- Risk Management
Admitted
- Washington, 1987
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Washington
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships:
- Washington State Bar Association
- Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
- Defense Research Institute
Education:
- University of Washington, B.A., 1983
- Seattle University School of Law, J.D., 1987
Marc Rosenberg
Seattle, WA
- E-Mail: mr@leesmart.com
Years of Experience: 17
Practice Areas
- Employment Law
- Insurance Defense
- Legal Malpractice
- Civil Rights
- Consumer Law
- Municipal Liability
- Premises Liability
- Professional Liability
- Appellate Practice
Admitted
- Washington, 2001
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Washington
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships:
- Washington State Bar Association
- Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
Education:
- University of Miami School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2000
Peter E. Sutherland
Seattle, WA
- E-Mail: pes@leesmart.com
Years of Experience: 32
Practice Areas
- Automobile Liability
- Premises Liability
- Professional Malpractice
- Personal Injury
Admitted
- Georgia, 1986
- Washington, 1988
Memberships:
- Washington State Bar Association
Education:
- University of Washington, B.A., 1982
- University of Washington, B.S. (cum laude), 1983
- Vanderbilt University, J.D., 1986
Daniel C. Mooney
Seattle, WA
- E-Mail: dcm@leesmart.com
Practice Areas
- Appellate Practice
- Employment Law
- Legal Malpractice
- Premises Liability
- Debtor-Creditor Law
- Healthcare Malpractice
- Healthcare Regulatory & Compliance
- Lawyer Discipline Defense
Admitted
- Washington, 2012
Memberships:
- Washington State Bar Association
- Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
Education:
- St. Mary's College, B.A., 2005
- Seattle University School of Law, J.D., 2011
Donna M. Young
Seattle, WA
- E-Mail: dmy@leesmart.com
Practice Areas
- Accountant Malpractice
- Appellate Practice
- Automobile Liability
- Employment Law
- Legal Malpractice
- Premises Liability
- Subrogation
- Bad Faith Coverage
- Fire and Property Damage
- Real Estate Malpractice
Admitted
- Washington, 1985
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Washington
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Memberships:
- Washington State and King County Bar Associations
- Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
Education:
- Hardwick College, B.A. (cum laude), 1977
- Loyola University, J.D., 1983
- Kellan W. Byrne
In Memoriam
- Nelson T. Lee
- David L. Martin
- Fred T. Smart
Associates
- Carinne Bannan
- Erik Connell
- Jeffrey Dore
- Andrew Gustafson
- James B. Edward
- Joseph F. Martin
- Ashley M. Langley
- Susan Kim
- Sara R. Shapland
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