Jeff Dunbar

Jeff is a Member and previously served as Chair of the firm’s Litigation practice group for the past 14 years. Jeff has handled a broad array of civil litigation matters over the course of his career, including the defense of municipalities, charitable organizations, individuals, and both public and private entities. Jeff’s litigation philosophy emphasizes risk assessment and the early investigation and evaluation of cases. In line with this philosophy, meritless cases can be vigorously defended from the outset through expedited discovery designed to maximize the possibility of resolving cases through dispositive motions, while meritorious cases can be resolved promptly and efficiently through mediation, arbitration or another form of alternative dispute resolution, if appropriate.

Examples of Jeff’s work include summary judgment dismissals in wide variety of cases at the trial court level, the successful defense of multiple appellate matters, defending alleged wrongful termination and employment discrimination matters, including the defense of public agencies; defending high-profile construction accident claims involving catastrophic injuries; defending significant environmental cleanup claims; successful defense of a great number of asbestos exposure/premises liability cases, and representing clients in a wide variety of tort claims that have resolved successfully by dispositive motion, mediation, arbitration or trial.

Jeff is currently admitted to practice in the State of Washington and in the United States District Court for both the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington as well as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Jeff has argued in Divisions I and II of the Washington Court of Appeals, the Washington State Supreme Court, and in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Jeff’s litigation practice has also included litigating cases in both state and federal courts throughout the country, including the states of Oregon, California, Utah, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Jeff received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington in 1992 and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law in 1996.