David A. Shaw

David Shaw is a Member in the Seattle office. His practice emphasizes the defense of asbestos-related claims. Mr. Shaw serves on several national trial teams for asbestos defendants and has tried numerous such cases to verdict. He has tried cases in the states of Washington, Alaska, Tennessee, California, Texas, Illinois, Maryland and New York. Additionally, he has tried cases in the Federal District Courts of Alaska and Nevada, and the Western and Eastern Districts of Washington. Mr. Shaw has also argued at all levels of the Washington appellate court system, in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Court of Claims, and in the Supreme Court of the state of Alaska. He has been recognized by the Seattle Met magazine as a “Top Lawyer” in Product Liability for 2010, a designation based upon Martindale-Hubbell’s ranking of those practitioners in King County who have been judged by their peers to be “AV Preeminent”—the highest peer-review rating available. David Shaw has also been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America^® for his work in Arbitration (2024 – 2025).

Professional Experience

Williams Kastner, Member | 2011 – Present
Williams Kastner, Of Counsel | 2001 – 2010
Barrett, Gilman, and Ziker, Of Counsel | 1994 – 2001
Danielson, Harrigan, and Tollefson, Associate | 1986 – 1994
Tewell, Thorpe, and Findlay, Associate | 1978 – 1986

• Washington State Bar Association
• King County Bar Association
  • Arbitrator

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Arbitration (2024 – 2025)

University of Washington
J.D. 1978

University of Washington
B.A., cum laude 1975

United States Naval Academy

Mr. Shaw speaks regularly at CLE programs in the Seattle area, and through invitation, has spoken at national CLE programs. In speaking, Mr. Shaw shares his extensive knowledge on general litigation practice, asbestos litigation, product liability, insurance law, insurance bad faith, and the practical effect of release agreements on guide/outfitter liability.