James B. Stoetzer

Shareholder | Seattle | 206.223.7019 | stoetzerj@lanepowell.com

Areas of Practice

Jim Stoetzer is an experienced litigator who focuses his active trial practice on complex commercial disputes. Jim represents clients in multi-state arbitrations and litigations regarding management liability, securities, insurance coverage, employment, construction, intellectual property and regulatory investigations.

Professional Experience

• Member, WSBA Sections: ADR, Construction, Employment, Litigation
• Member, Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
• Member, Defense Research Institute
• Faculty, National Institute for Trial Advocacy (1988, 1994)
• LTJG, United States Navy; Legal and Personal Officer, USS LaSalle, LPD-3 (1969-1972)

Admitted to Practice

• Washington, 1975; Alaska, 1979
• United States Federal District Courts, Alaska and Washington
• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; United States Supreme Court

Academics

• University of Michigan (J.D., cum laude, 1975; B.A., cum laude, 1969)
• Member, University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform (1974-1975)

Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships

• Class Action Defense
• Construction
• Director and Officer Liability
• Intellectual Property and Technology
• Labor and Employment
• Litigation
• London
• Professional Liability
• Securities
• Securities Litigation
• White Collar Criminal Defense, Regulatory Compliance and Special Investigations

Representative Matters and Clients

• Hall Street v. Mattel Inc.: Seminal FAA case on remand from U.S. Supreme Court
• The Mission Corporation: Patent law attorney malpractice litigation (defeated alleged inventor of Nintendo Wii Box game control)
• BP Alaska oilspill investigation matters
• WizKids: Patent law attorney malpractice litigation
• Metropolitan Mortgage and Securities Bankruptcy: D&O/E&O insurance litigation
• NCAA Division One Football Walk-On’s Litigation: National class action antitrust litigation
• United States of America v. John Doe: Former CEO/CFO of public company facing SEC complaint and a parallel indictment by the DOJ alleging Sarbanes-Oxley violations, accounting fraud and securities fraud
• Anchorage International Airport Terminal Redevelopment Litigation: Seismic design, delay and impact construction claim
• Rosie O’Donnell v. Entercom: Copyright and trademark suit
• Callison Architecture Inc. v. Cordax Inc.: Software design dispute
• Edwards v. Alaska Pulp Corporation: Class action environmental suit
• Getty v. Harmon & Sun America: Class action securities suit
• Local counsel in national litigation regarding the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries

Speaking Engagements

• “Building Information Modeling (BIM): Managing Risk with High Tech Design” (Presenter)
• “Assessing Litigation Risks and Strategies in Sexual Harassment Retaliation Claims” (Presenter)
• “Tank in the New Millennium” (Presenter)
• “Effective Use of Arbitration, Mediation and Negotiation,” Washington State Bar Association Seminar (Chair)
• 29th Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys (Moderator)
• “Limiting the Duty to Defend Contractor Claims for Additional Compensation” (Presenter)
• “The Perils & Pitfalls for Counsel Representing A&E Joint Ventures” (Presenter)

Awards and Honors

• Named as a Washington “SuperLawyer,” Washington Law and Politics Magazine (2007-2009)

Professional and Community Activities

• Starlight Washington Children’s Foundation Board (Present)
• Seattle Children’s Museum Board (1997-2004)