Duffy guides clients with thoughtfulness and efficiency through complex commercial disputes.  He has comprehensive experience in pretrial, trial, and appellate proceedings in federal and state courts as well as in alternative forums.  Duffy is a graduate of the Yale Law School and is admitted to practice in California and Washington.

Before joining Savitt Bruce & Willey, Duffy served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Alan B. Handler of the Supreme Court of New Jersey and practiced at Morrison & Foerster in Los Angeles.  He is a recipient of the Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Services Award from the State Bar of California.

Duffy is the co-editor, with Robert Jackall, of From Albert Salomon: Essays on Social Thinkers (Newfound Press, University of Tennessee Libraries, 2019) and From Joseph Bensman: Essays on Modern Society (Newfound Press, University of Tennessee Libraries, 2014). He is author of The Consciousness of the Litigator (University of Michigan Press, 2005), an analysis of the moral sensibility engendered by litigation work and recommended reading for litigators and their clients.

Areas of Practice

• Contracts and Commercial Litigation
• Corporate Governance Disputes
• Financial and Banking Litigation
• Government Defense
• Intellectual Property Litigation
• Risk Management and Litigation Avoidance
• Securities Litigation

Prior Professional Experience

• Morrison & Foerster, Los Angeles CA, 1990-1993
• Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Alan B. Handler, Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1989-1990

Weld v. Dawson, et al.  Defended claims for breach of fiduciary duty, minority shareholder oppression, and violations of Blue Sky laws against senior corporate officer; obtained dismissal of all claims against client on motion to dismiss.

Baerwaldt v. City of Seattle, et al.  Defended challenge under Initiative-91 to agreement among the City of Seattle, King County and Chris Hansen’s ArenaCo regarding public financing for a new NBA basketball arena in Seattle; prepared motion to dismiss on behalf of all defendants and obtained dismissal of all claims on ripeness grounds.

ChemPoint v. Xenon Arc Inc., et al.  Defended technology startup and its founders against claims for misappropriation of trade secrets, false advertising, usurpation of corporate opportunity and breach of fiduciary duty; obtained ruling entitling clients to advancement of fees under plaintiff’s articles of incorporation, partial summary judgment, and then favorable settlement.

Capital Ventures International v. Network Commerce, Inc., et al. Prosecuted claims by investment firm for securities fraud under federal and state law arising from PIPE transaction; obtained favorable settlement.

Pande Cameron v. Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, et al.  Defended inverse condemnation and constitutional due process claims arising from City of Seattle’s participation in regional transit authority construction project; obtained summary judgment on all claims; defended judgment on appeal and prevailed in the Ninth Circuit.

Larson v. Lydian Wealth Management Holdings, et al.  Defended claims against financial advisors for breach of contract, misrepresentation and breach of fiduciary duty arising from investment in equity derivative product; obtained favorable settlement.

Paley v. Radar Networks Inc., et al.  Defended claims alleging unfair competition, conversion and fraudulent transfer arising from sale of technology company assets; obtained partial summary judgment dismissing most claims and then favorable settlement on remaining claim.

Titus v. Bank One.  Defended claims for misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty and violation of Consumer Protection Act arising from interest rate swap financing transaction; obtained dismissal of all claims and recovery of attorneys’ fees by summary judgment.

Confidential Arbitration.  Represented nonprofit research institute in prosecution of claims for breach of research and licensing contract and for tortious interference with federal agency relationship; obtained favorable settlement.

Maier v. Sesame Communications Inc.  Prosecuted claims for breach of employment agreement, wage and hour law violations, and tortious interference with exercise of stock options arising from termination of company founder and CEO’s employment; obtained favorable settlement.

Professional Recognition & Honors

• Selected to Washington Super Lawyers, 2019-2021
• Recipient, Wiley W. Manuel Pro Bono Services Award from the State Bar of California, 1993

Professional Associations & Leadership

• Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington
• Washington State Bar Association
  • Court Rules and Procedures Committee, 2019-present
    • Subcommittee re Superior Court Civil Rules, 2019-2020
    • Subcommittee X, 2020-2021
      • Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Rules, gender neutrality revision, 2020-2021
    • Superior Court Criminal Rules Subcommittee, 2021-2022

Publications & Presentations

• Lead Editor, with Robert Jackall, From Albert Salomon: Essays on Social Thinkers (Newfound Press, University of Tennessee Libraries, 2019)
• Editor, with Robert Jackall, From Joseph Bensman: Essays on Modern Society (Newfound Press, University of Tennessee Libraries, 2014)
• The Consciousness of the Litigator (University of Michigan Press, 2005)