Mediator Resume

Christopher J. Soelling P.L.L.C. - Member

Full-Time Neutral Mediator and Arbitrator

Member, Christopher J. Soelling P.L.L.C., 2002-Present; Partner/Associate, Short Cressman & Burgess P.L.L.C., 1981-2001.

More than 20 years as a trial lawyer in Seattle, including jury and bench trials. Substantial experience representing and advising individuals and businesses in construction law, commercial contracts and transactions, real estate, purchases, sales and leases. Practice in construction law, primarily with private and state procurement. Familiar with American Institute of Architects and Associated General Contractors contract forms. Negotiated construction contracts for owners, general contractors, and subcontractors. Successfully litigated $550,000 construction claim through trial and appeal. Practice involving real estate issues, includes hazardous waste, deed of trust priority and release issues and purchase and sale agreement litigation. Also experienced in partnership dissolution, corporate dissolution, business purchase and sale and partnership and shareholder disputes. As an advocate for consumers, represented homeowners in ten or more cases, including three cases relating to sewage flooding into the home with resultant property damage and personal injury. Has represented homeowners in new construction and remodeling claims with contractors.

Has mediated well over 3,000 cases during the past 32 years, 22 years as a full-time neutral. Has successfully mediated thousands of disputes concerning construction projects, including law schools, art museums, dams, marinas, high rise office buildings, hotels, condominiums, airports, harbors, single family new construction and single family remodels. Cases range from $50,000 to $25 million +. Has mediated two party cases and hundreds of multi-party disputes in which both private and public entities were parties as well as developers, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. Hundreds of cases have involved AIA documents, including owner/contractor agreements, owner/architect agreements, and AIA A-201 General Conditions. Mediations have ranged in size from two parties to upwards of 25 parties with multiple insurance carriers acting on behalf of almost all defendants. 500+ cases involving insurance coverage disputes, primarily relating to coverage for construction defects. $24 million dispute over wrongful discharge of real estate broker/salesperson and counterclaim by employer. At least 500 commercial disputes mediated including defamation actions, tortious interferance with business expectancy, breach of contract, breach of distributorship agreement, buy/sell agreements for real estate and businesses. More than 1,000 construction defect cases involving condominiums, townhomes, and single family residences, in Washington and Oregon. Wildfire case involving 400 + plaintiffs represented by 9 different law firms. $400 million in damages alleged. Succesfully mediated to global resolution. Significant multi-party work.

Construction Claims: Delay claims, impact claims, claims for extra work, liquidated damages, no damage for delay issues, insurance coverage for defects. Design Cases: alleged architect malpractice in connection with construction of art museums, manufacturing facilities, office buildings, etc. Structural issues including alleged structural design defects, allegedly leading to failure of post tension slabs, shear wall failures, vapor transmission through slabs, alleged misdesign of spillways and canals. Boundary disputes including adverse possession, joint use agreements. Alleged failure to properly provide contract administration services; failure to provide proper design of marina breakwater; failure to properly design artificial turf field; failure to design retaining walls, etc. Commercial disputes of all kinds Significant experience with multi-party disputes including owners, design team, general contractor, subcontractors, suppliers and manufacturers and multiple insurance carriers. Wildfire litigation involving 400 + plaintiffs and $400 million + in claimed damages

Believe in active exploration of factual issues, legal issues, and other factors that affect the ability to find a negotiated solution and probability of success should mediation prove unsuccessful. Logic based approach that emphasizes consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of each party, as well as an analysis of the needs and nonmonetary factors that drive problem solving. Willingness to continue to work with participants and the issues to resolution, including extensive follow-up with parties if resolution is not achieved at the initial session. Believe in "reality testing" without brow beating so that all parties can evaluate and make their own determination as to the best course of action, be it settlement, arbitration, or trial. Facilitative activities include chairing expert meetings to discuss and brainstorm the most appropriate repair or remediation protocol to a problem, working with experts as a group while counsel and clients observe the interation.

Cornell University (JD-1981); University of Washington (BS, cum laude-1977)

Admitted to the Bar: Washington, 1981; U.S. District Court, Western and Eastern Districts of Washington, 1991; U.S. Court of Appeals: Ninth Circuit, 1982; U.S. Tax Court, 1984.

King County Bar Association (ADR Section, Past Chair); Washington State Bar Association (Construction Section, Past Secretary)

"Washington Construction Law: What Do You Do When?" Law Seminars International; "Avoiding Contract Pitfalls," MASONARY MAGAZINE, July/August 1999; speaker, Alternatives to Litigation, Washington Association of Realtors, 1998, 1999; numerous Continuing Legal Education articles and speaking engagements, including "The Truth About Warranties: Express and Implied Warranties in Washington," "Project Documentation," "Lien and Bond Claim Manual," "Contract Formation: The Contractor/Subcontractor's Perspective;" "How to Mediate Construction Defect Cases;" speaker regarding contract issues at national builders conventions in Orlando, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and around the Pacific Northwest. Frequent CLE speaker on ADR and construction topics locally and nationally, including the ethics of negotiating, use of arbitration in lien foreclosure claims, etc.

Hourly Rate: Not provided Daily Rate: $10,000.00 Study Rate: Not provided Cancellation: $500.00/hr Cancellation Period: 15 Days Comment: Daily rate divided among the parties as they agree for local mediations (defined as Washington and Portland, Oregon) plus travel costs for mediations outside the Seattle metropolitan area. The flat fee for both local and out of town mediations covers all travel time and "down time" outside of mediation, as well as preparation.

English

United States of America

Redmond, Washington