Profile
Managing Partner: Christopher W. Nicoll
Number of partners: 6
Number of other attorneys: 7
Languages: English
Founded in 2004 and based in Seattle, Washington, NBF is a full-service law firm providing skilled representation to clients throughout the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Our attorneys and staff are experienced and innovative. Our firm’s broad range of practices brings together diverse perspectives that enable us to find creative and effective solutions to our clients’ legal problems.
Litigation (trial and arbitration)
NBF’s litigation practice covers a range of practice areas including commercial and complex litigation, maritime and transportation, insurance coverage and bad faith, construction, professional liability, intellectual property and appellate. We regularly represent clients in state and federal courts in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Idaho. Additionally, certain NBF attorneys are licensed in Colorado, Utah, Montana, and New York.
We are not a one-size-fits-all firm. We collaborate with our clients to develop litigation strategies that maximize the chances of meeting the client's objectives. From that perspective we remain mindful of the potential for litigation costs to rise and continually reassess in light of the benefits to be attained. NBF prides itself on its substantial experience with defending complex, multi-party, and multi-venue actions. That experience includes class actions, environmental litigation, complex insurance coverage for insurance markets around the world, admiralty, transnational litigation, construction disputes, intellectual property and high-profile lawsuits that generate press coverage and require sensitivity to public relations. Our attorneys have strong academic and professional credentials, as well as deep trial and arbitration experience.
Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith
We have extensive experience advising insurers regarding every aspect of insurance coverage matters and disputes in all insurance lines, including marine, aviation, commercial general liability, professional liability, D&O, commercial property, stock throughput, environmental risk, homeowners, personal and commercial auto. We counsel on coverage and are largely successful in resolving insurance issues without litigation. We also litigate coverage and bad faith claims under the law of various jurisdictions and in both state and federal courts. Washington is a uniquely complicated jurisdiction, and we are fully engaged representing domestic and foreign insurers in Washington on a daily basis.
We have achieved favorable outcomes for our clients in matters including Pre-Litigation Coverage Disputes, Claims Handling and Investigation in all Insurance Lines; Coverage Litigation; Intellectual Property Coverage Issues; Advertising Injury Claims; Employment Practices Claims; D&O Policies; Excess/Umbrella/Bumbershoot; all forms of Marine Insurance; Reinsurance Issues; Coverage Issues Arising Out of Loss of Business Income; and Bad Faith and Extra-Contractual Claims.
Maritime and Transportation
NBF has a full service maritime and transportation practice, representing vessel owners, insurers, shippers and other waterfront businesses in maritime litigation and a wide range of marine transactions. Many of our attorneys have practical maritime industry training and experience. NBF provides highly capable representation to clients involved in all aspects of transportation, whether by land, sea, or air. Our maritime and transportation practice group has well over 100 years of combined experience practicing law in this complicated field. Our commitment to, and experience in, the maritime and transportation industry is unparalleled.
NBF attorneys have achieved favorable outcomes for our clients in the full range of maritime litigation matters (Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Defense: Seamen, Longshore Workers, Passengers, Guests, Contractors; Vessel Casualties: Collisions, Allisions, Sinkings, Groundings, Fires, Explosions, Container Losses, etc.; Claims Brought By or Against the U.S. Government or State/Local Governments; Government Investigations; Cargo Claims: Motor, Rail, Ship, Air; Salvage Claims; Towage Claims; Charter Disputes; Vessel Arrests; Rule B Attachment; Oil pollution and toxic contamination claims under OPA 90, CERCLA and state law; Vessel detentions & seizures; Crew repatriations, Crew desertions; Representation of domestic and foreign governmental entities; White collar criminal defense related to alleged environmental crimes; Marine insurance coverage investigations, advice and litigation; Pleasure craft litigation; Limitation of Vessel Owner’s Liability; and Subrogation).
Transactions
NBF attorneys routinely handle a full range of maritime commercial and transactional matters, including drafting of and advice on purchase and sale, ship construction and repair contracts, charter parties, crew contracts, contracts of carriage, bills of lading, towage agreements, as well as providing business organization advice and documentation.
NBF represents a broad range of domestic and international businesses and insurers, as well as private vessel owners. In the past, NBF attorneys have represented the federal government as well as state and municipal governments and agencies.
NBF serves as P&I legal correspondent in Washington for multiple Protection & Indemnity Clubs (e.g., GARD, NorthStandard, UK Club). NBF attorneys serve clients from around the world who seek assistance in the Pacific Northwest or whose legal disputes require consultation with experienced and skilled attorneys licensed in the states in which we practice.
Seattle
1325 Fourth Ave., Suite 1650, Seattle, WA 98110
Web: www.nicollblack.com
Tel: (206) 838-7555
Offices
This content is provided by Nicoll Black & Feig PLLC. Learn more about our methodology
Web: www.nicollblack.com
Tel: +1 206 838 7555
Fax: +1 206 838 7515