Donald J. Friedman

Don Friedman has been a litigator for more than 37 years and is the chair of the firm's commercial litigation practice in its Washington, D.C. office.  He was the sole recipient in the United States of the International Law Office's 2010 Client Choice Award for Litigation. Throughout his career Don has litigated and arbitrated virtually every type of commercial dispute for a wide range of clients, particularly in the telecommunications and high-technology industries.  He also has maintained a particular focus on insurance coverage litigation from the first years of his practice.  He began by representing insurance carriers in the 1970s, but since the late 1980s, he has represented exclusively policyholders in disputes regarding coverage for environmental, directors and officers, copyright infringement and other claims.  Long before arbitration, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution became fashionable,  Don began advocating early dispute analysis and resolution and efficient case management, particularly by businesses with high volumes of recurring litigation.  Don frequently writes about litigation management, Preparing a Litigation Risk Assessment, arbitration, Judicial Review of an Arbitration Award, Waiver of Class Action Relief in Arbitration Agreements, and Second Circuit Rejects Class Action Waiver in Antitrust Case Against American Express, and insurance coverage, Have You Been Sued for Recording ZIP Codes? Your Insurance May Cover the Claim.

Professional Recognition

• Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
  (AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)
• International Law Office (ILO) 2010 Client Choice Award recipient for Litigation, United States

Professional Leadership

• District of Columbia Computer Law Forum, Board of Directors, 2011 - present
• District of Columbia Bar Association, Computer Law Section, Commercial and Government Contracts Committee, Co-Chairperson, 1988 - 1990; Section Steering Committee, 1990 - 1992
• American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, Cooperating Attorney, 1973 - 1987; Portland Chapter President, 1980 - 1981; Lawyers Committee, 1980 - 1987
• Defense Research Institute, 1980 - present

Related Employment

• Black, Tremaine, Lankton, Krieger & Schmeer, Portland, OR, Partner, 1980-1985, Associate, 1974-1979
• Lt. U. S. Navy (submarine service), 1967-1970

Clerkships

• Hon. Alfred T. Goodwin, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1973 - 1974