Blake Marks-Dias
Principal
Blake is a trial lawyer. He represents clients, large and small, in a broad range of high-stakes litigation matters, including complex commercial litigation, legal malpractice, trade secrets and non-competition actions.
Blake has a passion for oral advocacy. He has successfully tried cases in a variety of jurisdictions, and has orchestrated numerous successful arbitrations and mediations.
In college, he earned the award of best debater in the nation. He was a two-time Northwest debate champion, and finished second in the 1995 national tournament (final round transcript published in Freeley and Steinberg, Argumentation and Debate (12th ed. 2009)).
Representative cases:
- Represented prominent Northwest law firm in malpractice case arising out of associate’s alleged failure to file claim within statute of limitations. Settlement on the eve of trial on terms favorable to the client.
- Represented insurance company and one of its staff counsel in case alleging legal malpractice and bad faith. Nuisance value settlement on the eve of trial.
- Defended contract prosecutor against malicious prosecution and Section 1983 claims. Summary judgment dismissal based on immunity.
- Represented conveyor belt manufacturer in case involving claims that a municipalities’ library system was defective. Settlement on the eve of trial on terms favorable to the client.
- Defended farm equipment seller against claims that the equipment malfunctioned, causing the partial loss of the plaintiff’s tongue. Settlement on terms favorable to the client.
- Defended group of petroleum industry employees who left their company to work for a competitor. The company alleged violations of the Uniform Trade Secrets Act and other torts. Case abandoned following defeat of company’s motion for a preliminary injunction.
- Defended Water District and its officers in lawsuit alleging due process violations, Section 1983 claims and other torts arising out of the denial of a permit. Settlement on the eve of trial on terms favorable to the clients.
- Represented technology company in dispute with venture capital partner. Settlement on terms favorable to the client.
- Obtained $20 million plus settlement for Microsoft in breach of contract dispute.
- Co-counsel at six-week hearing before the Pollution Control Hearings Board in matter involving stormwater regulations. Obtained order favorable to client.
- Part of team that represented owner of wood treatment facility in defense of claims by EPA. Client entered into advantageous site clean-up performance consent decree with EPA.
Education and Admissions
Blake received his B.A. from Gonzaga University, cum laude, in 1995. He received his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1998, where he was selected as a member of the Order of the Barristers and Moot Court Honor Board. He competed at the world finals of the Jessup Moot Court Competition.
Blake is admitted to practice in Washington, Oregon, the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Memberships
American Bar Association, King County Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association, ABA Lawyers' Professional Liability Consortium
Awards and Recognition
Blake is a founding member of the William L. Dwyer Inn of Court. He has been named a Rising Star® by Washington Law & Politics magazine.
Presentations
"Expert Depositions", RW Inhouse Training, January 12, 2011
"Document Retention and Destruction", Tacoma, Washington, August 13, 2010
"Special Discovery Problems", RW Inhouse Training, September 9, 2009
"Opening Statements and Demonstrative Exhibits", WSBA Litigation Skills Boot Camp, August 13, 2009
"Email in Employment Cases", WSBA Employment Law Essentials CLE, July 26, 2007
“Managing Electronic Records for Success in Business and Litigation”, WSBA Business Law Section Midyear CLE, June 1, 2007
“E-Discovery in Employment Cases”, December 1, 2006
“Document Retention and Destruction in Washington”, Tacoma, Washington, October 27, 2006
“A New Era? The E-Discovery Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure”, June 20, 2006
“Goals of an Electronic Document Retention Program”, June 1, 2006
