Professional Biography
Image of V.L. Woolston

V. L. Woolston Partner

  • Seattle

    D +1.206.359.8514

    F +1.206.359.9000

    Seattle

    1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900

    Seattle, WA 98101-3099

    +1.206.359.8514

    VWoolston@perkinscoie.com

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Overview

V. Woolston, a partner at the law firm Perkins Coie LLP in Seattle in the Product Liability practice, represents manufacturers in state and federal courts throughout the United States. His practice emphasizes aviation, product liability and class actions. His principal clients include Honeywell International Inc., The Boeing Company and Hitachi Zosen. He has tried numerous aviation cases to verdict, including cases involving the crash that claimed the life of a former Winston Cup champion, Alan Kulwicki, and cases involving alleged toxic poisoning of flight attendants by contaminated cabin air. He also regularly counsels clients in loss prevention and lawsuit avoidance issues.

V. has served on the firm's management and executive committees.

Ranked by Chambers USA Ten Years in a Row

Ranked by Chambers USA and Best Lawyers

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 – 2024
  • Listed in Chambers USA as >"America's Leading Lawyers" for Transportation: Aviation: Litigation, 2014 – 2023
  • 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.)

Professional Leadership

  • Product Liability Advisory Committee, 2010 – present

Community Involvement

  • Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors, 2010 – 2014; Executive Committee, 2011 – 2014

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Bar and Court Admissions

  • Washington
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • 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

Education

  • Duke University School of Law, J.D., with distinction, 1979
  • Amherst College, B.A., summa cum laude, 1976