Biography
A trial lawyer and legal counselor with more than 40 years of experience, Pete Vial practiced at McNaul Ebel in the Litigation and Trial group. He focused on commercial litigation, counseling, arbitration, and mediation. Principally, he handled complex civil law matters, and he also brought deep experience in grand jury and business crime matters. His clients ranged from individuals to small businesses to multinational companies.
Pete represented both plaintiffs and defendants in federal, state, and FINRA securities law cases, and in federal and state antitrust cases involving pharmaceuticals, forest products, fisheries, insurance, and bonding. He represented parties in successful class actions involving consumer protection, employment law, and other issues, and he represented law firms and lawyers in partnership disputes, as well as professional responsibility and malpractice cases.
He appeared frequently in temporary restraining order and injunction hearings, representing individuals and companies seeking or opposing emergency injunctive relief. Pete was often hired by a client’s regular lawyer to assist in court or arbitration matters. He was also asked by area courts and lawyers to mediate lawsuits and other disputes.
Before becoming a founding member of McNaul Ebel in 1995, Pete was a partner at the firm of Culp Dwyer Guterson & Grader from 1980 until it ceased practice. He served as the first chair of McNaul Ebel’s executive committee.
A leader in the legal community, Pete served as president of the William L. Dwyer American Inn of Court and acted as chairperson of the executive committee of the Washington State Bar Association’s litigation section. He held committee chairs and trusteeships in the King County Bar Association. In addition, Pete addressed professional education seminars and served as faculty at NITA clinics.
Education
University of Virginia School of Law (JD, 1974); editorial board, Virginia Law Review
University of Maryland (BA, 1971), with honors, Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa
Court Admissions
Washington State, 1975
Awards
Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation
Top 100 Washington Lawyers, 2005, 2014, 2016-2019
Named a Washington State Super Lawyer, 1999-2023
Featured Article
Congratulations to MENH Attorneys Named in the 2026 Edition of Best Lawyers®
McNaul Ebel Nawrot & Helgren PLLC is proud to share that 15 attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.
-
Litigation & Trial Practice Robert M. Sulkin
