Patty A. Eakes

Based in Seattle, Susman Godfrey partner, Rachel Black, focuses her practice on high-stakes commercial litigation for plaintiffs and defendants, both at the trial and appellate levels. Ms. Black has tried and managed high profile, high stakes, and widely covered matters in state and federal courts across the country involving a variety of claims, including patent infringement, audit malpractice, financial fraud, unfair business practices, environmental remediation, breach of contract, and ant...

Practice Emphasis and Experience Construction Business & Real Estate Commercial Litigation Government Contracts For more than 25 years, Douglas Oles has concentrated his practice on helping clients to avoid and resolve disputes on complex contracts relating to construction, supply, energy, real estate development and intellectual property licensing. Today, he is also increasingly involved as a neutral mediator and arbitrator in contract-based disputes. Mr. Oles has prepared, negotiated an...

Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans forcing the evacuation of my family. Initially we moved to rural Georgia, then to Minnesota, and finally to the Pacific Northwest. After undergoing my own divorce and multiple relocations due to Hurricane Katrina, I truly understood what it meant to put the “best interest of the kids” ahead of my own. I decided to focus my practice on family law and serving as a guardian ad litem, advocating for children’s best interest in high-conf...

Will Rava focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation involving trademarks, trade dress, domain names, copyrights and trade secrets. He has successfully litigated such disputes in federal courts across the country, before arbitration panels under the UDRP and before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Will also has extensive experience counseling clients in a variety of industries on intellectual property and brand protection strategies, including securing, policing, investigat...

Derek Ko is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Law, Information Technology Law and Technology Law. Derek practices law in Seattle, Washington Best Lawyers has recognized Derek Ko since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Derek Ko is held by other lawyers.

James E. Lobsenz maintains an extensive appellate practice in both state and federal courts, with substantive experience in constitutional law, freedom of speech, police misconduct, civil rights, criminal defense, employment law, and evidence. After clerking for Associate Justice Mathew O. Tobriner of the California Supreme Court and Chief Justice Vincent L. McKusick of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, he joined King County as a deputy prosecuting attorney before serving as a public defen...

Brian P. Lundgren is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Brian P. practices law in Seattle, Washington Best Lawyers has recognized Brian P. Lundgren since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Brian P. Lundgren is held by other lawyers.

Rachel L. Merrill is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Trusts and Estates. Rachel L. practices law in Bellevue, Washington Best Lawyers has recognized Rachel L. Merrill since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Rachel L. Merrill is held by other lawyers.

James Sanders is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management, Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. James practices law in Seattle, Washington Best Lawyers has recognized James Sanders since 2015. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which James Sanders is held by other lawyers.

Doug Hofmann is a Seattle-based trial attorney who focuses on personal injury defense, product liability, and commercial litigation. He represents national and regional clients in high-stakes litigation involving business disputes, construction, medical malpractice, toxic torts, aviation, and insurance coverage matters. Doug has tried more than 50 cases to verdict and has extensive experience handling matters involving drug and medical devices, defamation, marine and aviation claims, unfair c...