Jim Smith is distinguishable from many other providers of mediation and arbitration services by his history and background, both as a well-known trial lawyer, and a respected neutral who anticipates and assists in constructive settlement of disputes among parties. Settlement prevents or resolves what otherwise would be pending litigation or disputes in court, arbitration, or otherwise. After his many years of experience as a trial lawyer, he believes in dispute resolution through settlement, as opposed to decisions reached in litigation.
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Jim’s experience as a trial lawyer informs his thoughts and work as a mediator and arbitrator. He has tried numerous cases at all levels of the State and Federal court system, and knows the strengths and weaknesses of the litigation process. His own litigation practice emphasized complex cases, included disputes involving issues in business, contract, estate, fiduciary, commercial, insurance, environmental, securities, employment, construction, eminent domain, personal injury, and business tort claims. He is a past President of the Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington. Â
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For most of his years as a trial lawyer, Jim was selected by parties to mediate and arbitrate cases. This is now his full-time focus of his practice. A significant amount of his practice involved work as a mediator and arbitrator, as well as representing clients in alternative dispute resolution proceedings.