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
News
- Portland Business JournalJuly 16, 2021
- Law360May 5, 2021
- April 19, 2021
- February 25, 2020
- Puget Sound Business Journal, November 25, 2016
Seminars & Speaking Engagements
- October 5, 2022
- Virtual, September 30, 2022
- Case Law and Opinion Updates on Legal Ethics and MalpracticeJanuary 25, 2019
- Endangered Species Act ConferenceJanuary 24, 2019
- Ethics Hour: Identifying and Resolving Conflicts of InterestSeptember 28, 2018
- Complex, Cutting Edge Ethics Issues (and How to Deal with Them)Ethics hour: Legal ethics tips for every lawyerMarch 16, 2018
- Traps for the Unwary: Maintaining ConfidentialityTips for vessel owners, adjusters, and underwritersJanuary 26, 2018
- Washington Defense Trial Lawyers: Annual Ethics SeminarDecember 16, 2016
- December 4-9, 2016
- November 11, 2016
Publications
- December 3, 2020
- King County Bar Bulletin2019
- February 10, 2017
- February 9, 2017
- November 4, 2016
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 SchoolJuris Doctor degree (1980)
- Johns Hopkins UniversityBachelor 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.