Jim Frush
Admitted in Washington
Jim is much sought after as an experienced and successful litigator with a broad background in business transactions. He handles a wide variety of subject matter areas including complex commercial litigation, white collar criminal matters, administrative law proceedings particularly those involving public disclosure and campaign finance, bankruptcy matters, and securities law matters in federal court and before the SEC. He also has broad experience in trust and estate litigation and plaintiff’s medical malpractice and civil rights actions. He has served as a federal prosecutor, Special Counsel to the Public Disclosure Commission for the State of Washington, Special Counsel to the City of Seattle, Special Assistant Attorney General representing the University of Washington and other governmental agencies, and is a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel. Jim has broad experience with arbitration on both a domestic and international level and has handled arbitration matters under the AAA, UNCITRAL Rules, IBA Rules, and JAMS Rules and has participated in arbitrations through the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague. Jim conducts internal investigations and serves as an expert witness on foreign extradition. Active in many high profile cases, both civil and criminal, Jim is experienced in dealing with the media on a local and national level.
Jim has been repeatedly selected as a Washington Superlawyer, including as a featured attorney in 2014. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale Hubble, a Top Attorney in Washington State and a Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorney in Washington State.
Outside of practicing law, Jim’s main passion is mountain climbing. He has scaled peaks and made first ascents around the world including making the first American ascent of Cho Oyu, in Nepal in 1986. He is a past President of the American Alpine Club. Jim is also active in charities including Cystic Fibrosis, Puget Sound Keeper’s Alliance and the Himalayan Youth Foundation.
After graduation from Columbia Law, Jim worked in New York City for White and Case. He moved to Riddell Williams in Seattle, was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for five years, and was a partner in private law firms. Jim became Of Counsel to Corr Cronin in January 2018.
Jim has appeared before federal courts throughout the country, state courts throughout Washington State, the SEC, grand juries, committees of Congress, the Washington State Bar Association., and agencies governing judicial conduct and governmental ethics. Jim is licensed to practice in Washington.
Professional Associations
Education/Background
Featured Cases
In re Bankruptcy
Jim represented the debtor in the largest bankruptcy case in Seattle’s history, both in bankruptcy court and in the parallel federal investigation. When the client was charged, Jim worked with French counsel to successfully withstand extradition attempts.
United States v. Devi
Jim’s client in a four-defendant federal criminal case involving extortion, money laundering, fraud and immigration charges was acquitted of all 52 counts after an eight-week trial. The other co-defendants were all convicted.
Enterprises International, Inc. v. Pasaban, SA, et al.
Jim represented a holding company and subsidiary in a private international arbitration involving claims of breach of a license and distribution agreement. The case was tried to a panel of three arbitrators who reached a confidential award.
Andritz AG v. Ovalstrapping Inc., et al.
Jim represented an industrial equipment design firm who brought claims of breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation, and unfair competition against an international manufacturing conglomerate. The case ultimately settled on undisclosed terms.
Andritz AG v. Ovalstrapping Inc., et al.
Jim represented an industrial equipment design firm who brought claims of breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation, and unfair competition against an international manufacturing conglomerate. The case ultimately settled on undisclosed terms.
U.S. v. Bulleye’s Shooting Supply
Jim represented the owner in the ATF investigation of the gun shop from which the weapon used in the D.C. sniper shootings was stolen. The government failed to bring a criminal case based on violations of federal firearms laws and the client received a straight probationary sentence for the tax misdemeanor to which he pled.
State of Washington PDC v. University of Washington
Jim successfully defended the University of Washington before the State Public Disclosure Commission relating to lobbying and educational matters. He later again successfully represented the University before the Public Disclosure Commission relating to University personnel attendance at the Rose Bowl Game.