srow@pfglaw.com
503.222.1812

Practice Areas:  

Insurance Coverage, Litigation

Background:   

Seth is an experienced litigator and legal advisor with an active practice in both Oregon and Washington. Seth focuses on helping corporate clients resolve complex business, insurance, and employment disputes efficiently and successfully, whether through litigation, arbitration, or negotiated settlement. Primarily, Seth serves clients in the construction, manufacturing and technology,
and retail sectors. He is a frequent speaker and author on electronic discovery and pre-trial practice and provides co-counsel or consulting to other attorneys and companies in the areas of
e-discovery and data security.

His background in labor and employment includes defending employers in litigation relating to discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour claims, including class action litigation, and counseling on employment practices. Prior to joining PFG, Seth practiced with Holland & Knight LLP, the 18th largest law firm in the U.S and a member of the Am Law 100, and with a large Northwest regional law firm. Prior to entering private practice, Seth was law clerk to a federal trial judge in the Eastern District of Washington. In 2009, Seth was designated a "Rising Star" by SuperLawyers™ magazine.

Education:   

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., cum laude
Yale University, B.A.

Admissions:   

All state and federal courts in Oregon and Washington.

Memberships:   

American Bar Association, Litigation Section
Federal Bar Association
Multnomah Bar Association
Oregon State Bar Association
Washington State Bar Association

Articles:   

Federal Civil Litigation in Oregon, Chapter 26 “Judgments”, Oregon State Bar (2009), co-author

Federal Practice Handbook, U.S. District Court, District of Oregon, Federal Bar Association Oregon Chapter, (rev. 2005 & 2009), editor

Tips & Traps for the Civil Litigator, Oregon Law Institute, (October 30, 2009), faculty

Document Retention & Destruction in Oregon, Lorman, (November 4, 2009), faculty

In Arm's Reach: Probing Claims that Data is not 'Reasonably Accessible, ABA Publishing, PP&D Newsletter, (Fall 2008)

Electronic Discovery, PLI Compliance Deskbook, Practicing Law Institute (2008), co-author

Hot Topics in Federal Practice and Procedure, E-Discovery: You Can't Avoid It!, OLI, (May 10, 2008), faculty member

Representative    Cases:   

Employment Discrimination
Defended a major retailer against claims of retaliation for taking protected medical leave.

Breach of Contract
Defended a foreign electronics manufacturer against claims valued at over $10 million by a terminated distributor.

Construction
Prosecuted claims against two design professionals for lost profits from negligent design of a residential housing development.

Insurance Coverage
Represented a major local residential developer in negotiations with its liability carries for defense and indemnity coverage for multiple overlapping claims from five different home owners associations.

Environmental
Defended a major US consumer-goods manufacturer against environmental contamination claims relating to dry cleaning equipment.