Matthew J. Sekits

Practice Experience

Matt Sekits is a trial lawyer who focuses his practice on defending and prosecuting cases on behalf of corporate clients, including insurance companies, in complex commercial litigation. Matt has significant litigation experience in a wide range of multi-million dollar cases involving liability and property insurance, bad faith, complex business litigation, and catastrophic personal injury. Matt has successfully tried multiple cases to verdict and represented clients in numerous arbitrations and mediations.

Matt is frequently asked by the U.S. Department of State's Office of Children's Issues to act as pro bono counsel to secure the return of children abducted from their home countries under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

Matt serves as the Hiring Committee Chair for the Seattle office.

Representative Matters

Insurance

• Defended national liability insurer in jury trial of $13 million insurance coverage and bad faith case arising out of patent infringement claims brought against an insured shoemaking company.
• Represented national liability insurer in bench trial regarding the reasonableness of a $3.75 million settlement entered into by an insured plumbing company.
• Defended national property insurer in jury trial of insurance coverage and fraud case arising out of the alleged vandalism to an insured's home.

Commercial

• Defended national auto parts maker in breach of contract and business tort case brought by a competitor.
• Represented international bank in breach of contract case arising out of the purchase of over $5 million in equipment lease payment streams.
• Defended national vacation ownership developer in jury trial of copyright infringement case after $100 million lost profit claim was dismissed on summary judgment.

Catastrophic Personal Injury

• Defended regional pipeline company in personal injury case arising out of a pipe bomb explosion.
• Defended stepfather in wrongful death case arising out of a gasoline can explosion that killed his stepson.
• Defended cabulance company in wrongful death case arising out of the death of one of its passengers.