Sedgwick Expands Into the Pacific Northwest

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - Jul 5, 2011) - Sedgwick LLP has announced the opening of its newest office in Seattle, the firm's first in the Pacific Northwest and 14^th office globally. The firm's Seattle office will be led by managing partner Christopher S. Marks, who has joined the firm's Complex Litigation Division. At Sedgwick, Marks will handle product liability and commercial litigation matters.

"The opening of a Seattle office is part of our firm's ongoing strategy to explore and take advantage of opportunities for growth that will benefit our clients," Firm Chair Michael Tanenbaum said. "Chris is first and foremost an exceptional trial attorney who has successfully represented many of our shared clients in the courtroom. His addition will further solidify Sedgwick's ability to provide seamless representation and deep trial bench strength to our clients throughout the nation."

Marks is a seasoned litigator with extensive experience in complex commercial litigation matters. He focuses his practice on product liability issues related to automotive and commercial transportation, asbestos, consumer products and toxic torts. Marks serves as national trial counsel for several clients in toxic tort litigation, and is an advisor for corporate clients looking to develop nationwide strategies for mass torts litigation defense.

"I am very familiar with Sedgwick's reputation as a go-to trial firm for many of the world's largest companies," Marks said. "I am excited to become a part of that history and to contribute to expanding that reputation in the Northwest. For those clients I already share with Sedgwick, this move will completely integrate the services we provide to them. For my other clients, Sedgwick will provide the advantages and resources of an international trial and litigation firm with more than 40 practice areas."

Marks has been recognized as a "Top Lawyer" in product liability for 2010 by the Seattle Met, and as a "Rising Star" by Washington Law and Politics annually from 2001 to 2008. He is admitted to practice in California, Oregon and Washington. He is the incoming chair for the ABA Tort Insurance Practice Section's "Auto Committee."

Marks earned his J.D. (1998), cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law. He also received an MSc (1994) in European Studies, with distinction, from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Certificat d'Etudes Politiques (1993) from L'Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris. Additionally, he earned a B.A. (1992) in political science from the University of Washington.

The international trial firm of Sedgwick LLP provides trial, appellate, litigation management, counseling, risk management and transactional legal services to the world's leading companies. With more than 370 attorneys in offices in Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Orange County (California), Paris, San Francisco, Seattle and an affiliated office in Bermuda, Sedgwick's collective experience spans the globe and virtually every industry. For more information about Sedgwick, its attorneys and its services, visit www.sedgwicklaw.com.