V. L. Woolston
- Seattle
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With more than 40 years in practice, V. assists clients with matters involving aviation law and complex product liability.
V. Woolston represents manufacturers in state and federal courts throughout the United States. His principal clients include Honeywell International Inc., Kanadevia (formerly Hitachi Zosen), and REI. He regularly counsels clients on loss prevention and lawsuit avoidance issues.
V. has tried numerous aviation cases to defense verdicts, including claims arising from the crash of a corporate aircraft that claimed the life of a former Winston Cup champion, Alan Kulwicki, and claims alleging toxic poisoning of flight attendants by contaminated aircraft cabin air.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- Duke University School of Law, J.D., with distinction, 1979
- Amherst College, B.A., summa cum laude, 1976
Bar and Court Admissions
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Washington
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Professional Recognition
Named Corporate INTL Global Awards, "Product Liability Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Washington," "Mass Tort Litigation Lawyer of the Year in Washington," "Class Actions Lawyer of the Year in Washington," 2022
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2007-2025
Listed in Chambers USA as "America's Leading Lawyers" for Transportation: Aviation: Litigation, 2014-2024
Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, "Washington's Super Lawyers," 2003-2012, 2014-2023
Named Best Lawyers' Seattle, "Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants Lawyer of the Year," 2015, 2017, 2019; "Product Liability Litigation - Defendants Lawyer of the Year," 2015, 2018
Listed in Who's Who Legal: Transport, 2015
Recommended by The Legal 500: Litigation: product liability and mass tort defense - aerospace/aviation, 2015
*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.)
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Product Liability Advisory Committee, 2010-2022
Community Involvement
- Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors, 2010-2014; Executive Committee, 2011-2014