Using law to enrich your business.

Our Clients

Startups. Closely held corporations. Fortune 500 companies. Foundations. Nonprofit and community organizations. We work hard to understand the world from our clients’ perspective and to provide legal advice to match. Vern Williams did that when he helped Holt Webster grow two pick-up trucks into one of the world’s largest air delivery companies: Airborne Freight. Dick Riddell did that with Dorothy Bullitt, helping to transform her pioneer television broadcast license into the Northwest’s largest media empire: King Broadcasting.

Getting to know our clients as people, understanding their organizations and industries and sharing their dreams is in our firm’s DNA. It is not only the best part of practicing law, but the best way to practice it.

Our work spans the full spectrum of industries and endeavors that drive our economy. Here are several of the sectors in which we serve our clients today:

Environmental and Energy Service Companies

We represent companies that provide design, engineering, remediation, construction and related professional services to the environmental and energy industry sectors. Representative work includes:

  • Defending international energy and environmental services company in lawsuit claiming inadequate environmental inspection methodology leading to cost overruns at numerous cleanup sites. Obtained advantageous settlement of claims, protecting client's good name
  • Counseling members of environmental services company in the dissolution of a non-functioning partnership and incorporation of a new, employee owned company
  • Defending hazardous site cleanup contractor against claims that contractor's work caused extensive contamination problems at the remediation site. Case settled with no payments by contractor, and payment by plaintiff of contractor's attorneys fees
  • Obtaining summary judgment dismissal for international environmental and engineering consulting firm in unlawful harassment litigation in federal court
  • Representing a global engineering design firm in age discrimination litigation in federal court
  • Assisting international nuclear energy services company in permitting of hazardous waste treatment and disposal facility

Financial Services and Banking

We represent regional and national banks, commercial finance companies, private wealth managers, investment banking and financial services firms. Representative work includes:

  • Providing general representation of one of the Northwest’s longest-standing investment advisors pursuing multi-manager domestic and offshore hedge fund strategies
  • Representing lenders in work-outs, real estate-secured financing and conduit financing
  • Representing Canadian bank and insurance company lenders in transactions involving U.S. borrowers or borrowers with U.S. affiliates
  • Representing financial institutions in complex and routine litigation arising from non-performing loans including foreclosure, collection, fraud, bankruptcy and related commercial litigation
  • Defending a major Northwest bank, and most of its officers and directors, in class actions in Washington and Montana alleging state securities fraud
  • Representing a Northwest community bank in complex commercial litigation against two major national banks and a group of customers involving a sophisticated check-kiting scheme
  • Representing a state-sponsored health care finance authority in a test case to Washington Supreme Court regarding whether authority’s issuance of tax exempt bonds violated prohibitions against certain uses of public money in Washington Constitution
  • Defending a corporate trustee in a securities fraud class action alleging that our client improperly acted as the indenture trustee of a $20 million municipal bond offering by a sewer district in Island County
  • Representing a municipal bond insurer in prosecuting securities fraud claims arising out of misrepresentations made by the underwriter and others in obtaining municipal bond insurance in connection with a $31 million conduit bond financing for a parking garage
  • Providing employment and benefits advice and litigation support to investment banks and financial services firms in courts and NASD arbitrations
  • Representing clients in responding to regulatory and criminal investigations, including representing a private wealth manager in a NASD investigative interview and representing a national bank in responding to a federal grand jury subpoena
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Health Care

We have represented the Washington State Hospital Association for more than 30 years. We also represent Washington Dental Service, several regional hospitals, health care systems, physician groups, a kidney dialysis provider and a home health and hospice provider. Representative work includes:

  • Representing Emeritus Corporation, one of the largest national owners and managers of senior housing and care facilities, in negotiating and documenting its agreement to acquire Summerville Senior Living, Inc., an operator of more than 80 senior living facilities
  • Representing a group of physicians in separating from their existing practice, establishing a new practice and entering into a joint venture with another practice using unique LLC structures
  • Assisting a number of clients in addressing medical staff and peer review issues
  • Obtaining a certificate of need determination of non-reviewability for unusual structure of physician practice ambulatory surgery center
  • Representing a hospital in successfully responding to alleged EMTALA violations
  • Representing a regional health care system in the development of its home campus, including purchase of historic property, a build-to-suit medical office building and related real estate matters
  • Providing ongoing labor and employment advice to hospitals, physician groups and professional associations
  • Providing assistance to the leading dental benefits company in the state of Washington with technology agreements, branding strategies and trademark applications, as well as insurance regulatory compliance
  • Filing of amicus curiae briefs on behalf of the Washington State Hospital Association in Superior Court and the Washington State Supreme Court

Hospitality and Restaurant

We represent hotels, hotel management and development companies, regional and national restaurant chains, a major cruise line and businesses that serve the hospitality and restaurant industries. Representative work includes:

  • Serving as general corporate counsel for privately held and publicly traded hotel companies
  • Serving as counsel for financing of hotel property acquisitions and negotiating management agreements
  • The recent completion of a $55 million public financing for Red Lion Hotels
  • Defending the owner of a major hotel against claims by general contractor for $2 million in change orders; obtained dismissal of $1.6 million in claims by summary judgment motions; and settling the remaining case with credit for attorney fees
  • Obtaining dismissal of sex and disability discrimination claims against national restaurant company
  • Providing ongoing labor and employment advice and negotiating successful settlements of wage hour, OFCCP enforcement actions and other lawsuits and agency actions on behalf of hotels, restaurants and cruise lines
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Insurance

We represent insured businesses in coverage disputes. Representative work for insureds includes:

  • Litigating to jury verdicts and settlements claims for more than a dozen environmental sites related to historic manufactured gas operations for a large investor-owned utility, leading to insurance recoveries in the mid to high eight figures
  • Negotiating claims settlements for various business property owners in the wake of the Nisqually earthquake
  • Providing successful litigation of a novel multi-million dollar insurance claim arising out of the destruction of salmon fisheries by Northwest hydroelectric dams
  • Providing secured insurance coverage for numerous public utilities and related individuals (directors, commissioners, attorneys and others) in multiple class action securities fraud cases arising from the multi-billion dollar default on municipal bonds

In areas that do not conflict with our coverage practice, we also represent insurers. We have been named a Premier Law Firm by Allstate Insurance Company. We also represent Premera Blue Cross and a regional physicians’ malpractice insurance carrier. Representative work for insurers includes:

  • Representing a large national insurance company in defense of multiple class actions alleging the unauthorized practice of law and unfair and deceptive practices in personal lines claims
  • Representing a national bond insurance company in prosecuting federal and state securities and common law claims, arising out of the default of more than $30 million of municipal revenue bonds issued to construct an expanded and renovated parking garage in downtown Spokane

Manufacturing and Distribution

We represent Emerson Electric Company, a multi-national electronics company, and other national and regional manufacturers and distributors of products including appliances, steel, paper, medical diagnostic equipment, electronic components, truck engines and various other industrial and retail products. Representative work includes:

  • Representing Alcoa, the world's largest manufacturer of aluminum products, and successfully obtaining a $75 million judgment against a competitor for defective product
  • Defending and defeating product liability claims nationwide for one of the world’s largest electronic component manufacturers
  • Successfully resolving environmental challenges and Native American tribal claims that led to the sale of two hydroelectric dams to facilitate habitat restoration on the Olympic Peninsula on behalf of an international paper company
  • Defending complex air quality regulatory actions concerning, and assisting with permitting at, multiple sites around the country for one of the nation's largest polystyrene manufacturing operations
  • Developing and implementing the nation's first natural resources damages mitigation bank, for one of the nation's leading specialty wood products manufacturers. This bank was the key part of a successful strategy for a comprehensive settlement of federal, state and tribal natural resource damages liability for 20 parties at one of the country’s largest aquatic Superfund sites
  • Defeating a preliminary injunction motion in a case against the former president of plaintiff’s U.S. cheese company for trade secrets and non-compete violations
  • Obtaining judgment at trial in favor of an international paper company accused of age and national origin discrimination
  • Defending interrelated product liability cases against an international manufacturer of commercial roofing materials and its U.S. subsidiary, designing and implementing a risk management and remediation program that foreclosed massive product liability litigation
  • Managing the defense of two major manufacturers of asbestos-containing products in more than 2,500 personal injury and wrongful death claims filed throughout the state of Washington
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Not for Profits

Riddell Williams has a long tradition of giving back to our community through our volunteer, pro-bono and discounted legal work for a wide network of family and social service organizations and nonprofits supporting the arts, education and the environment. Representative work includes:

  • Represented Tort Claimants’ Committee in the case of the Spokane Catholic Diocese, and instrumental in the concept and drafting of Plan of Reorganization
  • The establishment of and continued service as general counsel to the Bullitt Foundation, one of the leading environmental donors in the western United States
  • Assisting United Cerebral Palsy Association reorganize as Provail, repositioning it to help integrate disabled individuals into traditional residential settings
  • Obtaining summary judgment to dismiss disability and race discrimination claims brought against a large social service organization
  • The formation of and arrangement for tax-exempt bond financing for a foundation that operates more than 700 units of low income housing in the western United States and funds benefits for low income inner-city youth
  • Assisting the formation of and obtaining tax exempt status for a number of health care-related entities, including PTSO of Washington, the Health Work Force Institute and the Washington Center for Nursing
  • Providing general counsel to the YMCA of Greater Seattle, ArtsFund, ACT, Seattle Arts and Lecture, Horizon House, and special project advice to the Seattle Aquarium Society, Northwest Center, Youth in Focus and other nonprofit organizations
  • Riddell lawyers provide over 2300 hours of pro bono legal services annually

Public Sector

We represent municipalities, counties, regional councils and the University of Washington, and we have been appointed to represent the state of Washington and the Attorney General’s Office in selected matters. Representative work includes:

  • Defending a county against claims that an ordinance limiting the importation of infectious medical waste violates the United States Constitution. The case was resolved by a United States Supreme Court ruling in which county appeared as amicus curiae
  • Defending a city against a claim for wrongful termination of hearing examiners. The case was dismissed on summary judgment and affirmed by the Court of Appeals
  • Representing a new form of library taxing district in test-case litigation to establish the constitutionality of the government entity and the authority to issue bonds. Summary judgment obtained in superior court, and affirmed in the Washington Supreme Court
  • Advising the University of Washington on development of university-wide employment policies and procedures

Real Estate

We represent Harbor Properties and other real estate developers, property owners, management companies, title companies and a railroad company. Representative work includes:

  • Representing Emeritus Corporation, one of the largest national owners and managers of senior housing and care facilities, in negotiating and documenting its agreement to acquire Summerville Senior Living, Inc., an operator of more than 80 senior living facilities
  • Representing owners in regard to development, design and construction activities. Projects include office buildings, apartment buildings, transit facilities, bank buildings, distribution centers, convention centers and resorts
  • Representing landlords and tenants in regard to office, apartment and retail properties, warehouse and light industrial facilities and "build to suit" projects. Typical transactions involve 5,000 square feet to 100,000 square feet
  • Assisting sellers and purchasers of office buildings, hotels, shopping centers, industrial properties and resorts. Most transactions are in the $5,000,000 to $100,000,000 range
  • Assisting clients in the purchase, sale, financing and development of environmentally impaired or contaminated properties, including negotiating cleanup orders with regulatory agencies and litigating cost recovery actions when necessary
  • Assisting investors and developers to form and finance special purpose entities to own, develop, convert and dispose of apartment, office, recreational and industrial properties
  • Developing land use strategies and providing permitting advice to developers and owners dealing with city, county and state administrative authorities throughout the Northwest
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Retail and E-Commerce

We represent retail sellers of a variety of products sold in stores throughout the world and via the Internet. Representative work includes:

  • Representing Starbucks in the acquisition of full ownership of Coffee Partners Hawaii, the joint venture operating its retail stores in Hawaii, and Coffee del Caribe, the joint venture operating its Puerto Rican stores
  • Representing Redhook Ale Brewery, Incorporated in the negotiation of its multi-year distribution agreement with Anheuser-Busch, Inc. We have provided Redhook with ongoing corporate and securities advice for over 20 years
  • Providing ongoing employment advice and training for the largest online retailer of fine jewelry
  • Successfully defending age discrimination claims brought against our client, who owns warehouse club-style stores in the United States and U.S. territories
  • Representing a national athletic equipment company in the purchase of inventory from an apparel manufacturer
  • Assisting numerous clients with brand and marketing strategies, and the selection of effective trademarks. We have filed hundreds of state, federal and foreign trademark applications for our retail and e-commerce clients
  • Preparing privacy policies, terms of use and various technology and services agreements to launch and maintain our clients’ web sites and online initiatives
  • The formation one of the best known high-end chocolatiers in America, and providing its representation in all aspects of its legal work, including real estate, corporate and commercial law

Technology and Biotechnology

We represent Microsoft, RealNetworks, and numerous other technology and biotechnology companies. Representative work includes

  • Assisting Microsoft in navigating all stages of the product development and manufacture of one of the world’s most popular gaming consoles
  • Assisting numerous technology companies through all phases of their growth and development, from start-up to venture financing to initial public offering
  • Representing leading technology company in leasing two mission critical data centers involving about 250,000 square feet
  • Assisting a leading mobile entertainment, private-label search and online directory company with its licensing and web search agreements
  • Preparing and negotiating a wide variety of agreements for one of the world’s largest technology companies, including agreements covering the development, manufacture, procurement, distribution and licensing of hardware and software. We also assist it with agreements relating to developing and providing online services
  • Obtaining a temporary restraining order preventing a competitor from hiring a key executive of our client’s games group
  • Obtaining a preliminary injunction and other remedies to prevent a competitor’s access to computer software and information management systems
  • Defending a biotechnology company against claims of age and national origin discrimination and providing training and compliance programs for its leadership team
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Telecommunications

We represent national providers of wireless, voice, messaging and data services. Representative work includes:

  • Negotiating the Chapter 11 restructure of operating and term loans to a telephone and electric utility operating in more than 20 markets through several operating subsidiaries, and redocumentation of restructured loan to perfect security interests in all operating assets
  • Obtaining summary judgment on behalf of wireless provider dismissing federal sex discrimination claims
  • Litigating landmark cases defining how state concepts of taxation apply to the cellular communication industry

Transportation

We represented Airborne Express in all corporate and litigation matters from its inception to its sale to DHL. We also represent United Airlines, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway and other regional transportation and delivery companies. Representative work includes:

  • Representing one of the nation’s major airlines in air quality permitting and regulatory defense proceedings
  • Defending a major airline against class claims of age discrimination in hiring pilots, including statistical adverse impact claims
  • Defending a national transportation company in a disability discrimination case voluntarily dismissed by plaintiff following plaintiff's deposition

Utilities and Natural Resources

We represent Puget Sound Energy, Idaho Power and businesses and consulting firms representing the energy and natural resource sector. Representative work includes:

  • Representing Puget Sound Energy in the sale of its subsidiary, InfrastruX Group Inc., for $275 million
  • Assisting Puget Sound Energy resolve environmental liabilities arising out of a half dozen former manufactured gas plant sites, and recover insurance proceeds to pay for the site remediation
  • Bringing a highly successful conclusion to litigation between Idaho Power and the Nez Perce Tribes concerning hydroelectric dams on the Snake River, together with representing Idaho Power in the ensuing and successful insurance litigation
  • Serving as a lead negotiator in the design and successful conclusion of a complex, 80+ party cost allocation process for one of the first major Superfund aquatic site cleanup projects for a Fortune 1000 publicly traded utility. We served as a lead negotiator for conclusion of consent decrees for performance of cleanup at the site
  • Representing a large publicly-traded gas utility in defense of monopolization and leveraging claims relating to the sale of natural gas
  • Obtaining summary judgment dismissing prevailing wage claims on behalf of a major energy company
  • Obtaining summary judgment dismissing sexual harassment claims against an international environmental consulting company
  • Defending a dozen municipal and rural utilities in one of the largest class action securities fraud cases ever. We settled all claims against our clients, almost exclusively through payments by insurance companies, and then successfully defended their attempts to obtain repayment, alleging fraud and misrepresentation

These are only a few of the ways in which we share our clients’ goals and help them attain them. For more examples, please review the practice descriptions under Practice Areas.

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