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, insurance coverage and the defense of bad faith insurance claims. Mark has taken more than 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, Wash. (1983-1984) · Law Clerk, Honorable William T. Beeks, U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington (1982-1983) · Deputy Prosecutor, Snohomish County (1981-1982) Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships · Admiralty and Maritime · Construction · Insurance · International Business · Litigation · London · Products Liability · Professional Liability Certified · National Board of Trial Advocacy (1995, 2000) Representative Matters · Cell Therapeutics, Inc. v. The LASH Group, Inc. et. al (W.D. Wash.) (represent excess insurer in Federal False Claim Act) (pharmaceutical) · McCarthy Building Co. v. Ohio Casuality Insurance et. al (King County Superior Court) (defend Underwriters in $120 million construction defect/bad faith claim) · Taylor v. Sentry Group (W.D. Wash.) (defend bad faith insurance claim) · In re MARJORIE MORNINGSTAR (represent owners' interest in total loss mega-yacht fire) · Ralston v. San Juan Excursions (W.D. 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. (W.D. Wash.) (prosecute defective vessel construction) · All Alaskan v. Raychem (W.D. Wash.) (represent London Underwriters in $100 million subrogation/fire loss action) · Richardson v. White Consolidated (Thurston County Superior Court) (products liability/wrongful death) · In Re FV PACESETTER ((W.D. Wash.) (limitation action/loss of all hands wrongful death claims) · In Re DISCOVERY (W.D. Wash.) (limitation action, defend vessel sinking/PTSD claims) Speaking Engagements · "What's Truth Got to Do With it?" Ethical Considerations in Expert Depositions, NBI Seminar (2010) · "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 (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 W.D. 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," NBI Seminar (1992) Awards and Honors · Peer Review Rated "AV" in Martindale-Hubbell · Named as a "Washington Super Lawyer," Super Lawyers magazine, Transportation/Maritime (2007-2011) Professional and Community Activities · The Maritime Law Association of the United States, Proctor in Admiralty · Defense Research Institute · Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association · American Bar Association News 08.09.2011, Thirty-six Lane Powell Attorneys Listed as Top Lawyers in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine 06.20.2011, Twenty-six Lane Powell Attorneys Named 'Washington Super Lawyers;' Ten Lane Powell Attorneys Named As 'Washington Rising Stars' 06.07.2011, Lane Powell Hosts Professional Delegate From France 07.20.2010, 58 Lane Powell Attorneys Listed as Top Lawyers in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine 06.02.2009, 25 Lane Powell Attorneys Named Washington Super Lawyers 06.02.2008, 23 Lane Powell Attorneys Named Washington Super Lawyers 06.05.2007, 20 Attorneys Selected as 2007 Washington SuperLawyers (Board Certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy) |