Brenda Molner’s practice focuses on construction law and litigation, general commercial law, civil litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
Her construction practice deals with all aspects of public and private construction matters, including draft and negotiation of agreements, lien foreclosures, construction defects, litigation and other methods of claim resolution.
She has extensive experience in the construction industry including seven years as a project engineer with Wright Schuchart Harbor/General Construction, a large, west coast construction company. While there she worked on several industrial construction projects throughout the Northwest for clients such as Boeing, Kaiser Aluminum, Longview Fibre and the Port of Tacoma.
Her commercial law and civil litigation practice includes drafting and negotiation of sales, confidentiality and other types of agreements and negotiation and litigation of various types of disputes including environmental litigation, employment litigation, boundary and quiet title disputes, and breach of contract and tort actions. She has successfully represented several clients at the state court of appeals.
Brenda serves on the panel of commercial arbitrators for the American Arbitration Association. She developed her alternative dispute resolution experience through training with the Washington Law School Foundation Mediation Certificate Training Program and through work for the King County District Court, and the University of Washington Mediation Clinic.
Brenda writes about legal issues for the Puget Sound Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction Newsletter. She has been named a Washington Rising Star every year since 2005 by Washington Law and Politics.
Professional Experience
- Ater Wynne, Seattle, Washington, Of Counsel, 2007 to present; Associate, 1998 to 2007
- University of Washington Mediation Clinic, 1998
- Project Engineer, Wright Schuchart Harbor/General Construction, 1989 to 1995
- Engineering Technician, Texaco, Anacortes Refinery, 1988
Education
- University of Washington School of Law, J.D., 1998
- Washington Law School Foundation, Mediation Certificate Training Program, 1998
- University of Washington, Center for Advanced Study and Research on Intellectual Property, Summer Institute, 1996
- University of Washington College of Mechanical Engineering, B.S.M.E., 1988
Admitted to Practice
- Washington, 1998
- Oregon, 2004
- U.S. District Court, W.D., Washington, 1998
- U.S. District Court, E.D., Washington 1999
Professional Activities
- American Arbitration Association, Commercial Panel of Neutrals, 2003 to present
- King County District Court, Volunteer Mediator, 1999 to 2002
- Nat’l Association of Women in Construction, Puget Sound Chapter, Treasurer, 1999; Vice President, 2000; Secretary, 2001
- Washington Bar Association, Construction, ADR Sections
- American Bar Association, Construction, ADR and Civil Litigation Sections
Representative Matters
- Won a declaratory judgment releasing a land owner from a sale and development contract
- Represented a general contractor in the litigation and successful resolution of a $3.5 million dollar breach of contract and lien foreclosure suit against a sugar beet processing facility
- Provided representation, advice and counsel to a multi-state steel erector in several matters, including successful resolution of a $400,000 delay claim on a public works project and a $1,200,000 wrongful termination claim
- Provided representation, advice and counsel to a major structural steel and rebar supplier in numerous matters, including litigation in Washington, Oregon and Alaska
- Represented a site work subcontractor in a $1.1 million multi-week trial
- Won dismissal in a quiet title against a public entity on summary judgment and successfully defended on appeal
- Won a $400,000 arbitration award for a local manufacturer of residential millwork
- Successfully negotiated settlements for subcontractors, general contractors and suppliers through mediation in several suits with claims from $40,000 to $3,000,000
Representative Publications and/or Presentations
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