Douglas S. Dunham

Douglas S. Dunham is an attorney at Crane Dunham PLLC in Seattle, Washington, with a broad civil litigation and advisory practice. He works on commercial and business disputes, insurance matters, real estate issues, construction claims, probate, and other contested legal problems. He also has experience in mediation and arbitration. His clients include businesses, property owners, contractors, and individuals who need representation on matters that can cross several areas of law.

Douglas earned a B.A. in Economics from Willamette University in 1965 and a J.D. from Willamette University Law School in 1969, graduating cum laude and serving as an Associate Editor of the Law Review. He later completed an LL.M. at Harvard Law School in 1975, studying subjects that included procedure, insurance law, federal courts, and antitrust. These academic experiences support his work across complex litigation, regulatory, and transactional questions.

Douglas began his career at the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, where he handled criminal and civil trials and became a Senior Trial Deputy Attorney. After leaving in 1973, he practiced commercial litigation and insurance defense before co-founding his current firm in 1978. He has argued cases before the Washington Supreme Court and all three divisions of the state Court of Appeals. His matters have included commercial leases, construction liens, trust litigation, contractor bond cases, and property agreements.

Douglas S. Dunham previously chaired the Washington State Bar Association Litigation Section and served on its Court Rules Committee. He has acted as a mediator, arbitrator, judge pro tempore, and settlement guardian ad litem. His appellate, trial, and alternative dispute resolution work informs his approach to complicated cases. He brings clients a combination of litigation judgment, familiarity with administrative proceedings, and experience helping resolve disputes that affect businesses, families, and property rights.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Crane Dunham PLLC
• Member, Washington State Bar Association
• Past Chair, Washington State Bar Association Litigation Section
• Hearing Officer, Washington State Bar Disciplinary Board
• Judge Pro Tem, King County Superior Court
• Member, Washington State Bar Association Court Rules Committee
• Member, Washington Association for Justice
• Member, Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
• Arbitrator, King County Superior Court Mandatory Arbitration Program
• Settlement Guardian ad Litem, King County Court Registry
• Board of Advisors, Settlement Now
• Chair, City of Seattle Pro Parks Levy Oversight Committee
• Board Member, Association of Recreational Councils (ARC)

Licensed State

• Washington

Education

• Harvard Law School
  Master of Laws (LLM)
• Willamette University Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Willamette University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Economics

Awards & Badges