Moving Toward a Cohesive COVID Court System?
An Analysis of Federal Jurisdiction of Personal Injury Claims Arising Out of the Pandemic A host of tort lawsuits filed over the past few years involving nursing homes and patients’ allegations that they contracted COVID-19 due to the nursing homes’ negligence provides an opportunity for national and multi-state employers to analyze and prepare for how...
Rising Construction Costs Impacting Insurance Rates
The recent surge in inflation across the economy has impacted the price builders must pay for various forms of insurance. Simply stated, rising costs mean potential claims are worth more, and insurance companies must charge more to assume this risk. From an insurance company’s standpoint, they need to anticipate far more contingencies than they would...
Increased Risks for Banks Lending to Commercial Real Estate Due to Empty Offices in the Wake of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic, a public health crisis of unparalleled proportions, sent shockwaves through the world, disrupting every corner of the global economy. Few sectors, however, have borne the brunt of the fallout as significantly as commercial real estate (CRE). The swift pivot to remote work, mandated by public health imperatives, has triggered changes, compelling many...
ChatGPT / AI Could Be a Big Liability for Business Owners, Particularly in the Healthcare Industry
The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized various business sectors, including the healthcare industry. From diagnosing diseases and predicting treatment outcomes to providing efficient customer service through virtual assistants like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the potential of AI in healthcare is enormous. This blog post explores these potential liabilities and considers possible strategies to address them....
NORTHWEST INSURANCE LAW QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER SPRING 2023
Please find the Spring 2023 edition of the Williams Kastner Northwest Insurance Law Newsletter. Our newsletter features articles regarding some of the most important decisions and developments in insurance law over the past few months. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Eliot Harris. Follow us on LinkedIn for more legal updates.
Northwest Insurance Law Quarterly Newsletter Winter 2023
Please find the Winter 2023 edition of the Williams Kastner Northwest Insurance Law Newsletter. Our newsletter features articles regarding some of the most important decisions and developments in insurance law over the past few months. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Eliot Harris. Follow us on LinkedIn for more legal updates.
Managing Director Nicole R. MacKenzie Recognized in Women We Admire: As One of The Top 50 Women Leaders of Washington for 2022
Nicole MacKenzie is a Seattle based Member and the Managing Director of Williams Kastner. Williams Kastner is a Pacific Northwest Regional law firm with a reputation for trial and litigation expertise, supported by exemplary service in the areas of business and real estate transactions, labor and employment, securities, intellectual property, environmental and land use, and...
Williams Kastner Recognized in US News – 2023 Best Lawyers: Best Law Firms, 2023 Best Lawyers in America & 2023 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
Williams Kastner is pleased to announce that it has been recognized with 1 national ranking and 19 regional rankings in U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” publication. The 2023 rankings incorporate more than 8.2 million evaluations of more than 115,000 leading lawyers from more than 22,000 firms. Metropolitan Tier 1 Seattle Commercial Litigation...
Serving the Community: Fighting Homelessness in Portland
Williams Kastner strongly believes in the importance of giving back to the communities that have contributed so deeply to the firm’s success. Our commitment to our local community enriches us as professionals, adds depth to our perspective, and gives credence to our roots as a Pacific Northwest law firm. Tom Ped, a Member of Williams...
Williams Kastner: Northwest Insurance Law Quarterly Newsletter Summer 2022
Please find the Summer 2022 edition of the Williams Kastner Northwest Insurance Law Newsletter. Our newsletter features articles regarding some of the most important decisions and developments in insurance law over the past few months. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Eliot Harris. Follow us on LinkedIn for more legal updates.
Scarred by SCCAR and Marred by MAR: Why to Avoid Arbitration Like COVID in the COVID Era (And What to Do When You Can’t)
I. Introduction I was crestfallen after my first arbitration. Here I was, on my own finally: “Eddy on the case.” I had total creative control…I had a defense-minded arbitrator…I felt comfortable during the process. I was a regular Clarence Darrow in there. And then the result came back: a decision in the Plaintiff’s favor. I had...
Sheryl Willert Named 2022 MOST INFLUENTIAL BLACK LAWYERS
Sheryl Willert is a Member in the firm’s Seattle office and served as the firm’s Managing Director from 1996-2001 and again from 2006-2013. Willert continues to serve the firm on its Board of Directors and chairs the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice Group as well as the Diversity Committee. Willert concentrates her legal practice on...