Mark G. Beard

Shareholder | Seattle | 206.223.7014 | beardm@lanepowell.com

Areas of Practice

An accomplished trial lawyer, Mark Beard represents defendants in maritime personal injury, wrongful death and complex catastrophic loss cases. His experience ranges from multimillion dollar international commercial transactions, wrongful death, sexual assault and harassment, products liability, medical, legal and accounting malpractice. Mark has taken over 35 substantive cases to verdict in Washington Superior Court and in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. He is a member of the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association, the Defense Research Institute, and a proctor in the Maritime Law Association of the United States since 1989. Mark has written and lectured internationally, nationally, and statewide on civil trial practice, maritime personal injury, limitation of liability, products liability, and catastrophic losses.

Professional Experience

• Associate, Schwabe, Williamson, Wyatt, Moore and Roberts, Seattle, Washington (1983-1984)
• Law Clerk to the Honorable William T. Beeks, United States District Judge, Seattle, Washington (1982-1983)
• Deputy Prosecutor, Snohomish County (1981-1982)

Admitted to Practice

• Washington
• U.S. District Court, Western and Eastern District of Washington
• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. Supreme Court

Academics

• University of Puget Sound (J.D., 1981)
• University of Washington (B.S. and B.A., 1977)

Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships

• Admiralty and Maritime
• Insurance
• International Business
• London
• Products Liability
• Professional Liability

Certified

• National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1995, 2000

Representative Matters

• Ralston v. San Juan Excursions, WD. Wash., Defend vessel in 33 USC § 905(b) suit (quadriplegic).
• Newcomb v. Electrolux, Whatcom County Superior Court. Defend manufacturer (product liability/traumatic amputation).
• Pacific Whale Foundation v. Alcoa, et al., WD. Wash. Prosecute defective vessel construction.
• All Alaskan v. Raychem, WD. Wash. Represent London Underwriters in $100 million subrogation action.
• Richardson v. White Consolidated, Thurston County Superior Court (products liability/wrongful death).
• In Re FV PACESETTER, WD. Wash. Limitation action/loss of all hands wrongful death claims.
• In Re DISCOVERY, WD. Wash. Limitation action, defend vessel sinking/PTSD claims.

Speaking Engagements

• “You Want How Much?” – Ethical Considerations in Defending Excess and Policy Limits Demands, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association Annual Insurance Law Update, 2006
• “The Bad Faith Nightmare; Keeping the Monster in the Closet,” Lloyd’s of London, England, 2004
• Toxic Mold Litigation in the Pacific Northwest, Lloyd’s of London, 2003
• Defending the Catastrophic Loss, 14th Annual Product Liability Conference, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2002
• Limitation Actions and Other Shoals of Admiralty Law, the Defense Perspective, ATLA National Convention, 1998
• Federal Practice in WD. Wash. The View from Defense, WSTLA seminar, 1998
• American Jurisprudence and Personal Injury Litigation in the United States, Reykjavik, Iceland, 1996
• Maritime Sexual Harassment Claims Law & Practice, International Maritime Conference, 1996
• Maritime Personal Injury Litigation in Washington – MBI seminar, 1992

Awards and Honors