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RALPH H. PALUMBO
Complex Litigation/Environmental/Corporate
(206) 676-7000
V-Card 
Practice: Ralph Palumbo’s practice includes a unique depth of experience in complex commercial litigation, environmental matters and corporate and business law.
Experience: Ralph has tried cases in State and federal courts involving a broad spectrum of complex commercial issues, including antitrust and trade regulation, environmental law, product liability, commercial and contract disputes, trade secrets/non-competition agreements, intellectual property, securities, patents and licensing. In the environmental area, he has represented customers in litigation, regulatory and administrative proceedings with federal and State governments and private parties involving hazardous and toxic substances, clean air, clean water, and natural resource damages. Ralph also has experience in mergers and acquisitions, franchising, licensing and corporate issues.
Recent engagements:
- Alakayak v. All Alaskan Seafoods: Lead counsel for largest seafood processor defendant in $1.2 billion antitrust class action. Successfully obtained unanimous jury verdict for defendants after four month trial.
- RealNetworks v. Microsoft: Co-counsel for plaintiff in antitrust action that successfully settled for $760 million.
- Caldera v. Microsoft: Co-lead trial counsel for plaintiff in billion dollar antitrust action. Successfully negotiated multi-hundred million dollar settlement.
- KVC v. Regis, et al.: Lead trial counsel for one of two defendants. Successfully obtained summary judgment dismissing plaintiff’s claims, obtained judgment at trial on defendants’ counterclaims, and one of the largest Civil Rule 11 sanctions awards in the United States.
- U.S. v. Trident Seafoods: Lead trial counsel to defendant in Clean Air Act enforcement case. Successfully obtained defense judgment at trial.
Representative Experience:
- Antitrust Litigation: In addition to recent engagements, Ralph has handled significant antitrust litigation, including multi-district and class action litigation, in the high technology brewing, meat packing, agricultural, and forest products industries. Ralph has also been trial counsel in cases involving dealer terminations and franchising, and he provides antitrust compliance advice to corporations and industry associations.
- Products Liability Litigation: Ralph has been national trial counsel in products liability cases in the agricultural chemicals, electronics, heavy machinery and consumer products industries. Ralph also provides advice to clients on product liability compliance and litigation management programs.
- General Complex Litigation: Ralph has been lead trial counsel in a variety of complex commercial cases, including breach of contract actions, cases involving enforcement of non-competition agreements and protection of trade secrets, securities fraud actions, general commercial disputes, patent and intellectual property litigation, and cases involving the computer software, Internet and bio-technology industries.
- Superfund Litigation: Ralph has been lead counsel to defendants in more than 40 State and federal Superfund actions throughout the United States. In that capacity he has litigated Superfund cases, managed remedial investigation, feasibility study and cleanup action negotiations with State and federal agencies on behalf of individual PRPs and PRP groups, and he has litigated allocation cases among PRPs.
- RCRA/TSCA Litigation and Regulatory Actions: Ralph was lead trial counsel in the first RCRA "imminent and substantial endangerment" action, obtaining a defense verdict on behalf of his client. Since that time, Ralph has been lead trial counsel in more than 30 State and federal RCRA actions. In addition, Ralph provides advice to corporations on RCRA compliance, permitting, and regulatory actions.
- Clean Water Act and Clean Air Actions: Ralph participated in litigating the first cases brought under the Clean Water and Clean Air Acts. Since that time, he has represented companies in more than 25 Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act enforcement cases; he has negotiated regulatory compliance issues with State and federal environmental agencies.
- Natural Resource Damage Actions: Ralph led the team of experts representing Alyeska with respect to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Since that time, he has been lead trial counsel to defendants in more than 15 natural resource damage actions, and he has advised corporations and industry trade associations with respect to strategic issues involving natural resource damages. Ralph applies his expertise in economic issues to both his antitrust practice and in understanding the complex economic issues involved in natural resource damage assessments.
- Environmental Acquisitions and Management: Ralph has represented clients in connection with more than 50 real estate transaction and corporate acquisitions involving environmental issues. He is an expert on environmental compliance and management systems and he advises Fortune 500 companies on state-of-the art practices with respect to strategic environmental management. He also provides advice to industry associations and trade groups on environmental issues.
Education: University of Washington (B.A., magna cum laude, 1969); Stanford University School of Law (J.D., cum laude 1972); Stanford Law Review, Notes Editor.
Memberships and Activities: Ralph is active in the American Bar Association’s Litigation, Antitrust and
Environmental Sections, and he is former Chair of the ABA's Special Committee on Environmental Litigation.
As a Seattle University Law School adjunct professor, he taught courses on civil trial practice. He is a
frequent speaker at continuing legal education courses on complex commercial litigation, antitrust,
environmental and high technology industries. As a founder of Summit Law Group, Ralph is consulted
by corporate counsel regarding “partnering” relationships between corporate law departments and outside
law firms and regarding innovative legal management and pricing systems.
Recognition and Community Service:
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- International Corporate Counsel Guide: 125 Best Litigation Lawyers in the United States
- The International Who’s Who of Environmental Lawyers: Pre-eminent Environmental Lawyers
- Washington Law & Politics: Top 100 Washington Super Lawyers
- Chambers USA: Top Environmental Lawyers
- Chambers USA: Top Litigation Lawyers
- Corporate Counsel Magazine: Best Environmental Lawyers in America
- The Best Lawyers in America: Environmental Law
- The Best Lawyers in America: Commercial Litigation
- The Madison Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals
- Continental Who's Who of National Business Leaders
- BTI Consulting Group: “Client Service All Star Team” – Top 115 lawyers in America for “delivering truly outstanding and superior client service”
- Leading Practitioner in Expert Guide to the World's Leading Litigation Lawyers
- Co-Chair, Benaroya Hall Capital Campaign, Seattle Symphony Orchestra
- Board of Directors, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, 1994-1996, 2007 to current
- Board Member, University of Washington College of Arts & Sciences, 2000 to current
- Co-Chair, Seattle University School of Law, 35th Anniversary Committee
- President, Northwest Burn Foundation, 1992-1995
- Member, Senior Advisory Board, 1990 Goodwill Games
- Pacific Northwest “Award of Excellence” for Outstanding Contributions to the Community, 2002
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