Colin Folawn

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Professional Experience
Colin Folawn helps clients resolve disputes. He limits his practice to matters involving complex contract disputes, business torts, products liability, and legal malpractice/ethics. He assists clients with disputes at all stages, including pre-litigation negotiation, hearings, trials, and appeals.

Mr. Folawn has presented briefing and oral argument before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as the Washington Court of Appeals. He has tried civil jury cases to verdict in Washington courts and written and argued several successful motions in state and federal courts.

Mr. Folawn has been recognized for inclusion in the list of Washington Rising Stars published by Thomson Reuters. Before becoming a shareholder at Schwabe, he received the 2009 Defense Associate of the Year Award from Washington Defense Trial Lawyers.

While studying at the Seattle University School of Law, Mr. Folawn won the Fredric C. Tausend appellate moot court competition. He served as a judicial extern for Justice Tom Chambers of the Washington Supreme Court. In addition, Mr. Folawn was editor in chief for the Seattle University Law Review. At graduation, he was one of two law students to receive the Faculty Scholar Award for 2003.

Professional & Community Activities
Mr. Folawn is a member of the William L. Dwyer Inn of Court. He served as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Lawyers Helping Hungry Children from 2008-2009.

Publications
"Neighborhood Watch: The Negation of Rights Caused by the Notice Requirement in Copyright Enforcement Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act," 26 Seattle U. L. Rev. 979 (2003)

Select Lectures
"Ethical Use of Social Media, Cloud Computing, and Electronic Communications by Lawyers," Association of Ski Defense Attorneys Conference, March 6, 2012
"Top 10 Reasons Lawyers Get In Trouble," Bridging The Gap Continuing Legal Education, Washington State Bar Association, March 26, 2010
"Legal Ethics: Solutions to the Most Common Challenges," National Business Institute, December 2009

"Ethics: A Debate about Being Forthright in Negotiations," Washington Lawyers for Sustainability, February 2011

"Counseling the Conscientious Organization," Washington Lawyers for Sustainability, December 2009

"How do I defend all of these clients and maintain my ethics?" Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, October 2009

"Top 10 Reasons Why Lawyers Get Sued," King County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, May 2009

"Ethical Dilemmas in Everyday Practice: A Day in the Life of a Modern Lawyer," National Business Institute, December 2008

Annual Ethics Seminar for Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, December 2008

"Organization as Client," Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, May 2008

Admitted to Practice
Washington State Courts
Oregon State Courts
United States District Court, Eastern District of Washington
United States District Court, Western District of Washington
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

Education
Seattle University School of Law, Juris Doctor degree, summa cum laude (2003)
Willamette University, Bachelor of Music degree (1996)

Articles
Running the Social Media Maze, May 1, 2012
Telling Time: Drafting Effective Billing Entries , August 1, 2011
Legal Ethics and Social Media: The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same, October 8, 2009
Taking the 'Risky' out of Your Business, October 1, 2009
Punitive Damages in Claims for Maintenance and Cure, July 9, 2009
Discover Clients' Rights Before It's Too Late, March 3, 2008
Keep Your Ethical Muscles in Shape