Gadek, Beata

Clark J. Davis practices in the area of environmental litigation, with nearly 30 years of experience in cases arising under environmental laws, including enforcement actions, cost recovery actions, insurance disputes and investigations by environmental enforcement agencies.   Mr. Davis also represents clients in real estate transactions, particularly matters involving environmental issues.

After graduating from law school in 1979, Mr. Davis spent two years as a law clerk for Judge Caleb R. Layton in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.  Because of the concentration of companies incorporated in Delaware, he had the opportunity to work on judicial decisions concerning a wide range of issues arising in commercial litigation filed in that court.  After moving to Washington State in 1981, he spent a year teaching at Seattle University Law School, followed by 15 months in the Washington Office of the Attorney General, where he was hired to represent the State of Washington in a complex class action filed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Washington Federation of State Employees.   

Mr. Davis entered private practice in 1984, handling civil litigation, including commercial litigation, insurance claims, and real estate matters.   Due to the rapid growth in the importance of environmental law, and the demand for skilled lawyers in this area, representation of clients with potential environmental liability soon became the predominant area of his practice.  Throughout his years in private practice Mr. Davis has represented individuals and businesses in investigations and enforcement actions by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Washington State Department of Ecology, and other state environmental enforcement agencies. Mr. Davis was among the first attorneys in the nation to pursue and obtain coverage under comprehensive general liability insurance policies for liability arising from environmental contamination.   He was one of the first attorneys in Washington to defend and pursue contribution claims under the Comprehensive Environment Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA often referred to as Superfund).

Mr. Davis has represented some of the largest companies doing business in the State of Washington, at sites requiring major environmental clean-up.  He also frequently represents individuals and small businesses in cases of relatively minor environmental contamination, such as leaking storage tanks.