Brian Nadler

Brian Nadler is an attorney based in Fennemore’s Seattle office who represents businesses and other clients in commercial litigation and advises on appeals and appellate strategy. His practice spans the full litigation lifecycle, including pleadings, discovery, dispositive motions, settlement negotiations, appellate briefing, and oral argument. Brian handles complex disputes involving commercial and construction law, environmental liability, easements, defamation, civil contempt, and products liability.

Brian has extensive appellate experience in Washington state and federal courts. He has briefed matters before state and federal appellate courts and presented oral argument before the Washington Court of Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. His appellate practice includes representing litigants in appeals and preparing amicus briefs on behalf of construction-industry organizations, including Associated General Contractors of Washington, the Mechanical Contractors Association of Western Washington, and the National Utility Contractors Association of Washington.

Brian’s appellate experience includes matters involving Washington contractor and commercial law, construction disputes, environmental liability, easements, defamation, civil contempt, and products liability. His selected results include reversing an adverse easement ruling and affirming the dismissal of prescriptive easement and defamation claims.

Before entering private practice, Brian served as a law clerk to the Honorable Thomas O. Rice of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. His judicial experience provides additional perspective on federal litigation, legal analysis, and appellate advocacy.

Outside the office, Brian enjoys staying connected to his California roots by cheering for the Sacramento Kings and San Francisco 49ers. He also enjoys competing in triathlons, spending time outdoors with his wife and son, and raising their two Australian Shepherds, Sierra and Bran.

• J.D., Gonzaga University School of Law
  • Editor-in-Chief, Gonzaga Law Review
  • Captain, National Trial Team
  • President, William O. Douglas Committee
  • Moot Court Honors Council
• B.A., Claremont McKenna College

• Dearinger v. Eli Lilly, 2026 WL 788866 (9th Cir. 2026) (argued): represented appellants as Ninth Circuit appointed pro bono counsel on complex pharmaceutical products liability case involving the trial court’s failure to follow procedural and substantive requirements in not requesting appointment of counsel and properly applying the learned intermediary doctrine.
• Port of Anacortes v. Frontier Indus., 9 Wn. App. 2d 885, 447 P.3d 215 (Div. 1 2019): drafted briefing successfully defending a challenge to what constitutes a hazardous substance under the Model Toxics Control Act.
• Pellco v. Cornerstone General Contractors, 2021 WL 4523088 (Div. 1 2021) (unpublished): drafted an amicus brief on behalf of the Mechanical Contractors Association of Western Washington, National Electrical Contractors Association, Sheet Metal Air Conditioning National Association, Northwest Wall & Ceiling Contractors Association, National Utility Contractors Association of Washington, and Washington State Conference of Mason Contractors.
• Hemmen v. Cho, 2023 WL 195346 (Div. 1 2023) (unpublished): secured reversal of the trial court’s determination that a gate interfered with easement rights and affirmed dismissal of the plaintiff’s prescriptive easement claims.
• King County v. Walsh Construction Co., 27 Wn. App. 2d 156, 532 P.3d 182 (Div. 1 2023): drafted an amicus brief on behalf of the Associated General Contractors of Washington and National Utility Contractors Association of Washington.
• Bridge Co. v. Clark/Lewis et al., No. 85808-4-I (Div. 1 2023): drafted an amicus brief opposing discretionary review on behalf of Mechanical Contractors Association of Western Washington.
• C.A. Carey Corp. v. City of Snoqualmie, 29 Wn. App. 2d 890, 547 P.3d 247 (Div. 1 2024): drafted briefing on Washington contractor law.
• Maniatis v. Singh, No. 86872-1-I (Div. 1 2024): drafted briefing on trial court’s failure to follow procedural and substantive requirements in finding the defendant in contempt of court and presented oral argument on the same.
• Nsejjere v. Anderton, No. 60351-9-II (Div. 2 2025): secured affirmation of trial court’s grant of dismissal for failure to state a claim for defamation.

• Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch®, Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, and Commercial Litigation, 2026-2027
• Washington Super Lawyers® Rising Star, Business Litigation, 2022-2026

• Co-Author, “Washington Court of Appeals Recognizes Employer Duty to Employee’s Future Child in Preconception Exposure Case,” Fennemore Blog, July 23, 2026
• Comment, “Jurisprudential Juxtapositions: Resolving Establishment Clause Issues After Town of Greece, N.Y. v. Galloway,” 50 GONZ. L. REV. 1, 75-96 (2015)
• Author, “Tropical Cyclones and Global Warming,” GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL RESOURCES 1, 203 (Roberts Environmental Center Press 2011).
• Editor, Washington Construction Law Deskbook (2024): Chapter 11, Construction and Other Involuntary Liens.
• Editor, Washington Construction Law Deskbook (2024): Chapter 15, Damages.

• Washington State Bar Association
• King County Bar Association – Appellate Practice Section
  • Executive Committee, Honorary Member, 2025
• Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Association

• Washington
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia
• United States Supreme Court