From Benchmark 2008: America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys

Highly recommended firms

Clients say that Bogle & Gates spin-off, Corr Cronin Michelson Baumgardner and Preece, claims one of “the most talented group of core litigators that exists in any of the state’s litigation boutiques.” Peers confirm that the group boasts influence in the area, largely in commercial, business, and product liability litigation. In the latter area, the firm secured a favorable settlement for Bushmaster Firearms in a case brought by two surviving victims and the families of seven deceased victims of the Washington DC snipers. Securities litigation is another strong suit. Partners are representing a former CEO and chairman against class-action securities fraud claims and parallel investigations stemming from the collapse of a multibillion-dollar Spokane company. The firm also played a main role in one of the state’s most high-profile matters when it represented the Hearst Corporation in its battle against The Seattle Times. Additional clients include Alamo Rent-a-Car, McDonald’s, Alaska Airlines, Transamerica Life Insurance, Allied Waste, Amazon.com, Blockbuster and Dow Chemical.

Founding members and co-chairs William “Bill” Cronin and Kelly Corr lead the team of 10 litigators and are hailed as two of the state’s “key names” and “highly capable and effective” trial lawyers. Cronin maintains a practice emphasizing general commercial, intellectual property and insurance litigation and clients say he is preeminent in class-action suits. Peers describe him as a “cerebral and strategic” lawyer who has a “teaching quality in front of the judge and jury” and clients say he is “incredibly smart when it comes to deconstructing witnesses.” His recent engagements include a role representing Cingular Wireless, successor to AT&T Wireless, in two ongoing insurance coverage cases and helping Amazon.com reach a favorable settlement in a breach of contract suit the client filed against Expedia. Clients report hiring Corr for their high-profile matters and say he is a “savvy trial attorney: who is very much a street fighter when he needs to be” and a particular asset in “cases that have a public aspect.” Corr handles commercial liability, employment and product liability matters. In one widely followed success, he represented Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Nirvana against Courtney Love’s attempts to gain control of the group’s music catalog and prevent the release of the band’s next album. Sources commend the firm’s other name partners, Kevin Baumgardner and Joshua “Josh” Preece. Baumgardner is recognized as one of the state’s major product liability players. He successfully defended Alaska Airlines in an air quality case brought by a group of flight attendants seeking more than $2 million and has obtained numerous judgments and settlements in favor of a group of defendants involved in state asbestos cases. Preece concentrates on legal malpractice, employment and complex commercial litigation and his clients include Safeway, Merit Capital Management and General Electric. Peers also consistently attest that William “Randy” Squires is “simply great.” Squires boasts broad experience in securities, construction, real estate, tort and commercial matters and his client include Fluor, Lovelace Biomedical Institute and Red Lion Hotels.

Reprinted with permission

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