Laura Spence

Associate | Seattle, United States
Get in touch

Profile

Education

  • University of Oregon, JD, pro bono honors, 2021
  • Boston University, Paralegal Certificate, 2017
  • Johns Hopkins University, BM, 2017

Laura Spence is an associate in the Seattle office and focuses her practice on representing and advising insurers on complex coverage and extra-contractual matters and disputes.

Laura’s coverage litigation experience includes defending first-party claims of bad faith, breach of contract, negligence, and violations of Washington’s Consumer Protection Act and the Insurance Fair Conduct Act. Laura routinely advises clients over a variety of policies, including commercial general liability, professional liability, public entity liability, auto, homeowner, renter, and excess.

Laura speaks English, Spanish, and Korean.

Memberships

  • Washington State Bar Association
  • Washington Defense Trial Lawyers

Qualifications and admissions

  • Washington
  • US District Court, Eastern Washington
  • US District Court, Western Washington

Market recognition

  • Pro Bono Award from the University of Oregon (2022)

Work highlights

  • Judgment on the pleadings dismissing eight out of ten claims against a multi-national retailer and employee for alleged injuries arising out of a shopping incident.
  • Dismissal of action mistakenly brought against insured with identical name as the alleged tortfeasor.
  • Dismissal of action brought against public entity on request that the court resurrect the fugitive disentitlement doctrine.
  • Summary judgment dismissal on behalf of a public entity in landmark Oregon case arising from a pre-trial detainee’s alleged exposure to the COVID-19 virus.

Presentations and publications

  • “Digital Data Discovery: Social Media Harvesting & Limitations in Litigation,” presented at Reed McClure’s 19th Insurance Law Seminar Series (February 2024)

Services

Sectors