Our Story

In November, 1993, the law firm of Forsberg & Umlauf, P.S. opened as a civil litigation defense firm providing advice and litigation services in tort and insurance defense, insurance coverage, professional liability, product liability and maritime matters. The nine original attorneys who formed the firm were intent on "building a better mousetrap" in today's competitive legal market.

The firm does not pretend to be a "full service law firm." The decision to specialize in civil litigation defense is important to the shareholders at Forsberg & Umlauf for a number of reasons. First, keeping the focus on defense litigation allows the firm to develop litigation management systems and trial techniques to benefit their clients. Second, focusing on specific areas of law within this niche allows the firm to keep overhead down in terms of practice consistency and research materials. Finally, by limiting the firm's practice to defense litigation, other firms feel more comfortable referring business or a particular piece of litigation because there is little threat of losing a client.

The members of Forsberg & Umlauf realize that firms that limit their areas of practice must provide their clients with unparalleled service and superior legal skills. To meet these demands, the firm is committed to providing an early evaluation of the matters they are assigned. We have found the most efficient way to complete an early evaluation is to establish litigation management plans with budgets, which are discussed and ratified by the client and adhered to by the firm.

Forsberg & Umlauf is not a typically structured law firm. The pyramid concept with edicts coming from above does not fit with the shareholders' idea of an effective, efficient practice. What is unique about Forsberg & Umlauf, P.S. is the way it is structured around the clients' needs rather than the firm's billing requirements. As a result, the firm has adopted a decentralized structure which encourages input from all employees.

While the firm members do not anticipate or desire significant expansion, they are committed to maintaining the size necessary to litigate large, complex cases. Firm members have been involved in most of the large environmental insurance coverage cases litigated in Washington and other Pacific Northwest states. Carl Forsberg and Roy Umlauf met while working at different firms for separate clients, litigating Boeing v. Aetna, an environmental insurance coverage case involving two hazardous waste sites located in Washington.

The firm's members maintain key positions or are involved in local, regional, and national litigation defense related organizations. Terry Cullen is a King County Pro Bono Volunteer. Carl Forsberg has been appointed Trustee of the King County Bar Association for 2006-2008.  Carl has served as President of the Northwest Environmental Claim Association and Northwest Insurance Coverage Association, and is a member of the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, a National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) Instructor and Past Trial Advocacy Adjunct Professor at the University of Washington School of Law. John Hayes serves on the Maritime and Fisheries section of the Washington State Bar Association. Patrick Middleton also serves on the Maritime and Fisheries section of the Washington State Bar Association and served as the Vice Chair from 1986 to 1988. Pat was the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Chair of the Products Liability Committee in 1995. Roy Umlauf was President (2000-2001), Trustee and Officer of the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (1997-2001). Roy was on the Board of the Defense Research Institute as Northwest Regional Director and was DRI's Washington State Representative.  Roy is currently President of the Foundation for Washington State Courts (2003-Present).  Grant Lingg serves on the Insurance and Construction Defect Committees of the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers.

Through their work in these organizations, as well as answering frequent requests to write and lecture for other defense related groups, firm members keep abreast of the areas in which they practice. Our attorneys recognize and are committed to returning services to the community through work with the Washington State Bar Association, King County Pro Bono Neighborhood Legal Clinics, Volunteer Legal Services, YMCA Mock Trial Program and the City of Hope AIDS and Cancer Research Center.