Noura Yunker
Trial Lawyer, Business Advisor and Attorney at Law: Contract Negotiation and Drafting, Amicable Dispute Resolution, and Litigation

Noura S. Yunker, Attorney at Law

I practice law in Seattle, Washington. My practice is focused on small businesses. That is, I help business owners identify and manage their legal risks so they can be more relaxed, have more fun and make more money doing what they love to do.

I do this by negotiating and drafting contracts, which are really the agreements upon which successful business transactions are based. I also help my clients resolve differences with suppliers, contractors and customers so that accounts are paid and valued relationships are preserved. If all else fails, as it does on occasion, I use the litigation process to enforce my clients' business boundaries and recover the money to which they are entitled.

My clients typically rely on employment agreements, non-disclosure agreements, non-compete agreements (which, contrary to popular belief, are enforceable in certain circumstances), severance agreements, vendor or supplier contracts, real estate lease agreements, website contracts and user agreements, and many other contracts that define the relationships that form the bedrock of every business.

Many people don't realize the law provides certain safeguards and benefits to those involved in commerce. It does this because we, as a society, value and encourage productivity. Small business owners invest their heart and soul - and in many cases their life savings - into starting their own business, but often operate without any of the advantages they are legally entitled to. If you are one of those people, I'm here to tell you there are good reasons to consult your lawyer early on, and avoid potential pitfalls, rather than waiting until you have an honest-to-goodness, unavoidable legal problem to resolve. The old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is certainly apt if you're considering the life and livelihood of an entrepreneur.

Protect and vindicate. "Protegere, vindicare, validare."

Speaking opportunities; website design; a list of brilliant small business professionals and technicians to whom I can refer my clients with confidence.

I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Seattle University Albers School of Business in 1989. My concentration is in Finance and my minor is in Economics.

In 1995 I earned my Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law.

I currently manage a civil practice focusing mainly on commercial contract and tort issues. As a business counselor I advise commercial clients and negotiate and draft business contracts such as employment and severance agreements, vendor contracts, supplier contracts, purchase and sale agreements, and real estate lease agreements. With support like this, you'll have the confidence of knowing where you stand and what your options are.

As a trial lawyer and litigation consultant I investigate and advise my clients on litigation and settlement strategy, draft and file pleadings and motions, argue motions in court and administrative hearings, and negotiate, litigate and settle or try my clients' claims in accordance with their needs and wishes. My clients face their business conflicts squarely, knowing I've got their back, and I'll step between them and any legal bullet that's headed their way. That gives them the power to take well-informed risks and realize greater financial gains, all without giving up a good night's sleep.

As a litigation consultant I also provide litigation expertise to other lawyers and law firms who need an experienced hand to manage their litigation matters. If you are a legal professional who is a solo or small firm practitioner, your ability to litigate and provide skilled representation at trial will often be the factor that makes or breaks your settlement negotiations. Without that ability you have no bargaining leverage; with it you can negotiate for the best possible outcome and provide your clients with results they never thought possible before.

Here are some of my representative results:

2008: I successfully defended two clients against government claims of civil fraud and perjury. The government dropped all its claims against my clients and agreed never to pursue those claims again.

2007: I obtained an $84,000 judgment on my client's breach of contract, product liability and consumer protection claims. This was an elevenfold increase over the initial valuation of her problem as a contract claim alone.

2006: I settled my clients' claims for breach of an oral contract and misrepresentation for $30,000... equal to 150% of the expected settlement value of the case. My clients obtained almost all of what they were owed, even though the initial prospects for recovery appeared limited.

2005: I negotiated high-low binding arbitration limits of $1,150,000 - $150,000 on my client's claims for breach of contract and intentional interference with business expectancies. My client walked into that arbitration with confidence because he knew that even in the worst case scenario he would walk out with no less than $150,000.

2004-05: I doubled the volume of subrogation claims for the Seattle Legal Office of St. Paul Travelers Property & Casualty Company. My client experienced significant improvement in trust and rapport between its Legal Division Subrogation Department and the Major Loss Unit of its Claims Department. Travelers first contacted me for assistance in 2004, and asked me back to help again in 2005.

Before hanging out my shingle and going into practice for myself nearly nine years ago, I was a trial attorney for Allstate Insurance Company. One of the largest property and casualty insurers in the nation, Allstate provides legal defense to its policyholders in the areas of automobile accident, homeowners' liability and commercial liability across the country. As a member of Allstate's elite litigation team I managed a caseload of up to 95 concurrent litigation matters involving all stages of the litigation process, from initial appearance to settlement or verdict.

This was my introduction to the practice of law. I cut my chops investigating and defending automobile accident personal injury claims in King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties. In a typical day I managed aspects of many different cases, each with an eye toward preparing the case for ultimate disposition in trial. For example, I interviewed clients and witnesses, drafted and filed pleadings, evaluated cases, recommended settlement and litigation strategy to claims adjusters, and propounded and answered discovery on a daily basis. I also regularly conducted and defended depositions of lay and expert witnesses, inspected accident sites, retained and consulted with experts, and developed case theories and themes. I briefed and argued motions, and appeared in arbitrations, mediations, settlement conferences and trials.

The daily challenges of trial practice, coupled with the bone-crushing weight of that caseload, gave me the fortitude and perspective I would later draw upon to successfully launch and grow my own law practice.

In addition to trying my own cases and conducting my own discovery, I provided supplemental calendar coverage for other staff attorneys' discovery depositions, arbitrations and court appearances. Through my early years as a trial lawyer I learned the value of perseverance and collaboration, two qualities essential to longevity in business today.

I've conducted and defended more than 460 depositions and participated in over 300 arbitrations, mediations and court-ordered settlement conferences. Through sheer volume exposure to the litigation process, I've developed an ability to anticipate what's coming down the line and respond with effective strategies to minimize business losses and maximize the chances for success.

During my first two-and-a-half years as a trial lawyer I planned and conducted 27 civil jury trials, obtaining 3 defense verdicts and successfully bringing in 21 of the remaining 24 verdicts at values significantly below the plaintiff's final demand. Over the course of my career I've maintained an 89% success ratio in trial, which gives me credibility with my peers and greater influence among those with whom I negotiate.

I am a member of the Washington State Bar Association, admitted to practice in all Washington Courts and in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. I'm also a member of the American Bar Association Advisory Panel. I've been a member of the King County Bar Association, the Pierce County Bar Association, the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers, Washington Women Lawyers, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association (now WSAJ).

In 1999 I was invited to serve as a Judge Pro Tem for Snohomish County South District Court, and in 2000 I was asked to arbitrate for the Better Business Bureau of Washington. In 2003 I became a member of the faculty of National Business Institute, featured in its Personal Injury Litigation Institute for Washington Attorneys. I have authored two texts, "Using Direct Examination to Win Your Case," and "The Art of Cross Examination," both published by National Business Institute (NBI, Inc., Eau Claire, 2003).