James R. Morrison

Partner

Seattle
T +1.206.332.1108
F +1.206.624.7317

Overview

James Morrison represents companies and individuals in commercial litigation, employment matters, data privacy, class actions and internal investigations.

Placing client needs at the forefront of his practice, James is an experienced and vigorous advocate in a variety of complex and cutting-edge cases in state and federal courts. He regularly represents clients in high-stakes litigation involving complicated issues and achieves great results for clients facing difficult situations. James also is a trusted counselor on a variety of employment issues that companies see daily.

Select Experience

  • Represents clients in complex civil matters involving data privacy, consumer protection, breach of contract, director and officer liability, insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, employment, HIPAA, healthcare, securities and many other areas of the law.
  • Experienced in employment matters involving discrimination, medical leave, compliance, policy drafting, disability, wage and hour, taxes, noncompetition, severance and other areas.
  • Received defense verdict for former CEO of technology company in trial and successfully defeated appeal to Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel in multimillion-dollar breach of contract action.
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Experience

  • Represents clients in complex civil matters involving data privacy, consumer protection, breach of contract, director and officer liability, insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, employment, HIPAA, healthcare, securities and many other areas of the law.
  • Experienced in employment matters involving discrimination, medical leave, compliance, policy drafting, disability, wage and hour, taxes, noncompetition, severance and other areas.
  • Received defense verdict for former CEO of technology company in trial and successfully defeated appeal to Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel in multimillion-dollar breach of contract action.
  • Represented defense contractor in litigation by former CEO who sued seeking severance benefits for alleged constructive termination. After multi-week trial in federal court, won the case with a favorable verdict and acquired sanctions against the former CEO for destruction of evidence.
  • Secured permanent injunction barring release of highly sensitive trade secrets for global technology company.
  • Counseled many companies on compliance with COVID-19 regulations and employment issues.
  • Regularly reaches favorable resolutions in class action litigation, including dismissal on dispositive motions.
  • Obtained favorable ruling as first-chair counsel in breach of contract arbitration representing Fortune 10 company.
  • Received over $100,000 sanction award against opposing party in securities litigation for lengthy delay in production of documents.
  • Represented large companies from the energy, mortgage, retail and banking industries in internal investigations related to securities issues and foreign corrupt practices. 
  • Interned with the United Nations at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. There, James worked with the judges on the genocide trial of Radovan Karadžić, the president of the Serbian breakaway state in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the Bosnian Civil War.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • Acritas Star Lawyer (2016)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®
    • "Ones to Watch" in Commercial Litigation (2021 to 2023)
    • "Ones to Watch" in Litigation - Securities (2021 to 2023)

Memberships

  • Washington State Bar Association
  • King County Bar Association

Pro Bono

  • Represented a Guatemalan minor detained at the U.S./Mexican border in a removal proceeding for deportation. The removal proceeding was dismissed, and the minor was confirmed as a permanent U.S. resident. 

Prior Positions

  • UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia: Judicial Intern (2009)

Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
  • Washington
  • Oregon

Education

  • J.D., Seattle University School of Law, 2010; summa cum laude; Seattle University Law Review, Associate Editor
  • B.A., Business Administration, University of Washington, 2005, cum laude

Blog

In The Blogs

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Employment Law Spotlight
Washington Employers: Take Caution Before Asking Your Employees To Sign Confidentiality and Nondisparagement Agreements
By James R. Morrison
August 4, 2022
For years, employers have insisted that confidentiality and nondisparagement agreements be included in settlement agreements in a variety of employment disputes, such as discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, and others. The reasoning...
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