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Christopher H. Howard

Overview

Christopher Howard is a strategically minded litigator who can and will take the appropriate case to trial. Chris’s practice is diverse, with a wide range of clients including ports, hospitals, national restaurant chains, life and disability insurers, and medical, legal, accounting and other professionals.

Chris practices before federal and state courts and handles all forms of alternative ‎dispute resolution. He has tried over 90 cases, mostly in multi-week jury trials, and has served as appellate counsel for over forty reported appellate opinions. ‎In addition to serving his clients in court, Chris is a frequent speaker on ethics and risk management topics for professionals and self-insured entities and co-leads Schwabe's Ethics Hour Series.

Chris is skilled at marshaling the right resources to efficiently serve each client’s needs.  Chris serves as Shareholder in Charge of the Seattle office and as Assistant General Counsel to the firm.

Memberships & Awards

Memberships

  • Supreme Court Bar Admission, Task Force Member
  • Washington State Bar Association, Member
  • Washington State Bar Association, Rules of Professional Conduct Committee (1996-1999), Interprofessional Committee (1990-1993)
  • King County Bar Association, Professionalism Committee Member (2007-2008)
  • Defense Research Institute, Member
  • Washington State Defense Trial Lawyers Association, Member
  • Washington State Society of Healthcare Attorneys, Member

Awards

  • John L. Schwabe Client Service award (2013)
  • Washington Super Lawyers award, Civil Litigation; Defense (2001, 2006-2022)
  • Washington Super Lawyers award, Top 100 (2010-2012)
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Rating

Resources & Ideas

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

  • Ethics Hour: Ethical Communications
    Virtual, September 30, 2022
  • Case Law and Opinion Updates on Legal Ethics and Malpractice
    January 25, 2019
  • Endangered Species Act Conference
    January 24, 2019
  • Ethics Hour: Identifying and Resolving Conflicts of Interest
    September 28, 2018
  • Complex, Cutting Edge Ethics Issues (and How to Deal with Them)
    Ethics hour: Legal ethics tips for every lawyer
    March 16, 2018
  • Traps for the Unwary: Maintaining Confidentiality
    Tips for vessel owners, adjusters, and underwriters
    January 26, 2018
  • Washington Defense Trial Lawyers: Annual Ethics Seminar
    December 16, 2016
  • 37th Annual Current Concepts in Emergency Care
    December 4-9, 2016
  • King County Bar Association Bench-Bar Conference
    November 11, 2016

Multimedia

  • VIDEO | COVID-19: Impacts to the Food and Beverage Industry
    VIDEO | COVID-19: Impacts to the Food and Beverage Industry
    March 12, 2020

Community Activities

Community Activities

  • Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Former Corporate Giving Committee
  • Seattle Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association, Member, Former Chapter President
  • Stanford Law School Alumni Association, Seattle Regional Chapter, Former Co-chair

Services

Education

  • Stanford Law School
    Juris Doctor degree (1980)
  • Johns Hopkins University
    Bachelor of Arts degree, Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, Pi Sigma Alpha honorary societies (1977)

Admissions

Washington State Courts

United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

United States District Court, Eastern District of Washington

United States District Court, Western District of Washington

United States Court of Federal Claims

Outside The Office
  • Walking, sailing, snorkeling, bicycling, cross-country skiing and board games.‎

Ideas Fuel Industries