Ian is a Partner at Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala in Tacoma, Washington. Ian's practice at PCVA focuses on representing children and vulnerable adults who have been severely abused and/or neglected as a result of government or corporate negligence. Ian also represents victims of catastrophic personal injury in wrongful death, civil rights and product liability litigation.
Before moving into private practice, Ian served as an Assistant Attorney General with the Torts Division of the Washington State Attorney General’s Office. In addition to handling an active caseload, Ian supervised two teams of experienced attorneys and professional staff, and coordinated the defense of civil rights and torts lawsuits against DSHS, WSDOT, WSP and other state agencies. Ian also advised executive-level agency staff and stakeholders on a wide variety of complex legal issues, including tactical litigation decisions, the implications of legislative, judicial, political and policy decisions, and emergent situations involving risk of significant tort exposure.
Ian is a frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Education courses for lawyers, and has published articles regarding civil litigation on behalf of children and vulnerable adults in various publications, including the New York Law Journal and Trial Magazine.Â
Ian has received an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible peer-reviewed national rating a lawyer can obtain.Â
Ian is a member of the Washington State Association for Justice and the American Association for Justice. Ian has also been honored as a Rising Star by SuperLawyers and Washington Law & Politics magazine. Ian has also been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiff lawyers by LawDragon, TopVerdict and the National Trial Lawyers.
