Bill Shaw’s primary area of practice is complex civil litigation, in both state and federal courts. He has extensive jury trial experience in Washington state and federal courts. Bill handles a wide variety of litigation matters, including significant patent, trademark, intellectual property and trade secrets issues, legal malpractice, general commercial disputes, white collar crime, products liability and toxic torts, and environmental litigation and arbitration. Bill’s practice has focused on matters involving complex technical and scientific issues.
Previously, Bill helped coordinate the efforts of the firm's product liability team. His past experience includes leading the defense in Washington state and the Northwest for four active asbestos defendants. Bill also acted as national, regional, and local punitive damages counsel for another defendant.
Bill has defended a number of individuals and companies on a myriad of personnel issues involving interpersonal interactions and employment related matters. Bill has defended against claims of assault, sexual harassment, and race and sex discrimination. Bill also has a plaintiff’s personal injury practice and has many years of civil trial experience in both state and federal courts.
Bill has tried cases in five different states (California, Texas, Oregon, Minnesota, and Washington) for national clients, and semi-regularly serves as an arbitrator in King County. He was also a former public defender (1978 - 1983). Additionally, Bill has counseled clients regarding disputes concerning rights in computer software and has represented the firm’s clients in software piracy matters.
Bill occasionally presents at Continuing Legal Education seminars. His most recent speaking engagement was at the Chemical Products Liability Litigation Seminar in Chicago. In addition, Bill and Martha Rodriguez-Lopez recently published a chapter on “The Expert at Trial: Cross-Examination” in Expert Witness Answer Book, a publication of the Practicing Law Institute. The deskbook looks at expert procedure and several important expert related areas using the PLK question and answer format.
Bill is recognized since 2018 in Best Lawyers in America for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants.
