Tanenbaum Keale LLP is pleased to announce the opening of its West Coast office with the addition of a seven-member team led by Chris Marks, an accomplished trial attorney who has successfully tried cases around the country. The West Coast office of the litigation boutique, which will be based in Seattle, enhances the firm’s service to its clients on national litigation matters ranging from products liability to catastrophic injury to toxic torts.

“We have had the pleasure and honor of working with Chris and his colleagues on matters for common clients for years,” Chair Michael Tanenbaum said. “They are exceptional litigators and, as importantly for us, share our goal of providing outstanding and innovative service to our clients. Adding preeminent lawyers licensed in Washington, Oregon and California to the Firm allows us to enhance the scope and depth of the services we provide our clients who have entrusted us with their national and regional litigation.”

Marks joins the firm as a partner and Erin Fraser and Alice Serko are joining as associate attorneys and each will officially be members of the firm beginning on Jan. 1, 2018. Four other staff members will join to support the new office.

“Tanenbaum Keale became a highly-regarded boutique as soon as it was launched given the track record, experience and reputation of its skilled litigators and attorneys,” Marks said. “I have been privileged to work with many of the firm’s lawyers throughout my career, and I am excited to join Tanenbaum Keale for the fact that I share its passion for providing the industry an alternative – a firm that is dedicated to litigation and committed to providing unparalleled client service.”

Chris Marks

Chris Marks is a veteran trial attorney with verdicts in product liability and commercial litigation matters. He focuses his practice on defending high-exposure tort matters, including product liability cases related to asbestos, consumer products, transportation, and toxic torts. His commercial litigation and trial experience includes general contract and real estate disputes. Chris serves as national trial counsel for several clients, and is an advisor for corporate clients looking to develop nationwide strategies for mass tort litigation defense. He has obtained defense verdicts in state courts and has successfully argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and before several of Washington’s state appellate courts.

Erin Fraser

Erin Fraser defends corporate clients in complex product liability actions. Erin is well versed in all stages of civil litigation and has tried three cases to verdict. She has conducted and defended countless depositions and successfully negotiated favorable settlements for her clients. She began her career practicing securities litigation at a firm in California. In that capacity, she represented shareholder plaintiffs in complex securities actions and played an instrumental role in the settlement of a shareholder derivative suite for $13.5 million in attorneys’ fees.

Alice Serko

Alice Serko handles a broad range of civil litigation matters in defense of both private and public entities. She regularly handles matters involving catastrophic injury, personal injury, breach of contract, employment discrimination, wage and hour, and sexual misconduct and abuse. She has substantial experience in labor and employment law, products liability and general negligence matters.