Current Employment Position(s)

Member, since 2001

Year Joined Organization: 1992

Lawyer Overview

Practice emphasizes complex civil litigation and sports law. Has served as outside counsel for the Seattle Seahawks, Oklahoma City Thunder f/k/a Seattle SuperSonics and Portland Trail Blazers. Significant involvement in a wide variety of legal and business issues impacting team ownership, including negotiation and drafting of contracts, licensing deals, intellectual property matters, employment disputes, radio/TV agreements, and private association law. Representation of teams on multiple litigation matters, including complex contract, tort, trademark and operations lawsuits. Additional sports industry experience defending NBA players in litigation, representing governmental entity in negotiating arena naming rights and use agreement and working on golf and NCAA issues. Further experience in overall case management; direct and cross-examination of expert and lay witnesses at bench and jury trials and hearings; taking and defending depositions; arguing motions in federal and state courts; and active participation in alternative dispute resolution forums. Substantial additional experience in conducting internal corporate investigations, preparing motion papers, supporting briefs and all phases of discovery. Matters include several class actions, major real estate litigation, securities suits, numerous consumer finance and breach of contract cases, and general business and banking litigation in federal and state courts.

Areas of Practice

• Litigation and Dispute Resolution
• Emergency Injuction Squad
• Antitrust and Consumer Protection
• Sports and Sports Facility

West Practice Categories

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Antitrust Law, Consumer Protection, Entertainment, Sports & Leisure Law, Litigation & Appeals

Bar Admissions

• Alabama, 1992
• Washington, 1998
• U.S. District Court Western District of Washington, 1998
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington, 2004
• U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Seattle University School of Law, 2002 - Present (Adjunct Professor, Sports Law, Winter/Spring)
• University of Washington School of Law, 2003 - 2005 (Adjunct Professor, Sports Law)
• Seattle Sports Commission (Board of Directors), 2008
• Sports Lawyers Association
• ABA Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries
• Washington State Bar Association (Member)
• Defense Research Institute, 2001 - 2003 (Washington State Liaison to Business Litigation Committee)
• Foundation Board, 2001 - 2003 (Director, Everett, Washington)
• Project Corporate Leadership, 1995 - 1996

Honors and Awards

• Washington Law & Politics, Rising Star, 2001 - 2005
• Moot Court Board, 1991 - 1992
• Pre-Law Society, Vice President, 1988 - 1989
• Baylor Ambassadors
• Martindale-Hubbell AV rating

Classes and Seminars

• Co-chair and Moderator, The Business of Sports Seminar, Seattle, WA - March 2008
• Panelist and Moderator, Entertainment and Sports Law Sympos, Miami, FL - February 2008
• Speaker, Arbitrating and Mediating Disputes, Seattle, WA - September 2007
• Panelist, Collective Bargaining Agreements and Player Salaries in Professional Sports, Sports Law Speaker Forum, Seattle University Law School - April 2005
• Guest Speaker, Introduction to Sports Law Industry, University of Washington Law School Sports Law Week - April 2003
• Moderator, Sports & Entertainment Law Seminar, Choices 2003 Forum, Seattle University Law School - March 2003
• Sports Law Industry Overview, Choices 2002 Forum, Seattle University Law School - March 2002
• Essentials for an Efficient Practice, CLE Presentation, Seattle, WA - February 2002
• Effective Mentoring, CLE Presentation, Seattle, WA - September 2001
• Moderator, The Soul of the Law, CLE Presentation, Birmingham, AL - 1993

Past Employment Positions

• Foster Pepper PLLC, Associate, 1997 - 2000
• Burr & Forman LLP - Birmingham, Alabama, Associate, 1992 - 1997
• Burr & Forman LLP - Birmingham, Alabama, Summer Clerk, 1991 - Present
• Burr & Forman LLP - Birmingham, Alabama, Recruiting Committee, 1996 - 1997
• The Honorable Howard G. Munson, Sr. - United States District Court, Northern District of New York - Syracuse, New York, Judicial Externship, 1991 - 1992
• Federal Public Defender - Houston, Texas, Summer Clerk, 1990
• Vinson & Elkins - Houston, Texas, Summer Intern, 1989
• University of Washington School of Law, Adjunct Professor, Sports Law, 2003 - 2005

Education

• Cornell Law School, Ithaca, New York, 1992
  J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
  Major: Advocacy Concentration
• Baylor University, 1989
  B.A., Bachelor of Arts
  Honors: Dean’s List
  Major: Economics and English

Published Works

• Native American Athletes: Why Gambling on the Future is a Sure Bet, 4 Va. Sports & Ent. L.J. 239, 2005

Address

1111 Third Avenue
Suite 3400
Seattle, WA 98101-3299

Phones

(206) 447-6408

Faxes

(206) 749-1969

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.foster.com