Mark B. Tuvim

Mark Tuvim is a partner in the Environmental/Toxic Tort, Tort & Product Liability, Employment, and Professional Liability Defense practice groups. He previously served as the Managing Partner of the firm's Seattle office. 

He handles a wide variety of toxic tort and product liability cases, including those involving asbestos litigation, personal injuries, and wrongful death. He has successfully tried jury and bench trials in California and Washington, and has represented clients before state and federal courts, administrative agencies, arbitrators, and mediators.

Prior to joining GRSM, he was a Partner in a Seattle-based law firm where he represented clients in employment, product liability, and business-related tort and contract matters. He has written and spoken extensively on legal issues.

Admissions

• Washington
• California
• Oregon
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Courts, Washington
• U.S. District Courts, Oregon
• U.S. District Courts, California

Memberships

• Washington State Bar Association
• Oregon State Bar
• American Bar Association
• California State Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute

• Obtained numerous summary judgments on behalf of defendants in asbestos litigation.
• Defended claims against various products including refrigeration units, coatings/paints, locks, and water treatment equipment.
• Obtained vacation of $2 million default judgment against insurance company more than one year after entry. Unanimously affirmed on appeal.
• Represented employer sued in tort by temporary employee. Case dismissed on summary judgment based on worker's compensation pre-emption.
• Obtained summary judgment on employment and tort claims brought by terminated pilot. Unanimously affirmed on appeal.
• Authored amicus briefs in appellate courts addressing asbestos issues.

• "Asbestos Decisions Around the Country," Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (September 2010)
• "Practical Considerations in Defending a Navy Exposure Case: Federal Enclave Jurisdiction," Washington Defense Trial Lawyers (September 2008)
• "Discipline and Termination: Steps to Avoid Wrongful Discharge Liability," Council on Education in Management, Anchorage, Alaska (March 2004)
• "Leaves of Absence" (July 2003)
• "Employee Handbooks, Discipline and Discharge in Washington," Introduction to Employment and Labor Law in Washington, Lorman Education Services Seminars, Tacoma (December 2002)
• "Terminating Individual Employees: Minimizing the Risk of Liability" (November 2001)
• "Now That Employers Can Require Agreements to Arbitrate — Should They Do So?" (Fall 2002)
• "U.S. Supreme Court Highlights," Recent Decisions Clarify Labor and Employment Issues" (Summer 2002)
• "Supreme Court Addresses Employment Issues" (Spring 2002)
• "New Obligations for Employers of Disabled Workers" (Summer 2001)
• "Changes in California Labor Code for 2000" (Winter 2000)
• "Terms of Arbitration Agreement May Affect Enforcement," Employment Relations Today (Winter 1995/1996)
• "Taxation of Damages Under Federal Employment Discrimination Statutes," Employment Relations Today (Autumn 1995)
• "Don't Look Back: The Supreme Court Rules on After-Acquired Evidence," Employment Relations Today (Spring 1995)
• "English-Only Rules Should Be Narrowly Drawn and Justified by Business Necessity," Employment Relations Today (Autumn 1994)
• "Federal Anti-discrimination Laws Extended to Protect Obesity," Employment Relations Today (Summer 1994)
• "Harris vs. Forklift Systems: The Court Relaxes the Burden of Proving Sexual Harassment Claims," Employment Relations Today (Winter 1993/1994)
• "Supreme Court Decisions Favor Employer, Reaffirm Employee's Trial Burden of Proving Unlawful Discrimination," Employment Relations Today (Autumn 1993)

Education

J.D., University of California, Los Angeles

B.A., honors, Political Science, North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Honors

Named to 2023 Top 25 Attorneys of Washington list, Attorney Intel

AV® Preeminent™,
Martindale-Hubbell

Super Lawyers® distinction in the fields of Personal Injury Defense: Products; Employment Litigation Defense; and Civil Litigation Defense (2010-2023)

Best Lawyers in America® distinction in Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants (2024)