Henry Ross counsels clients on a broad range of commercial litigation and insurance coverage matters. Henry's focuses include business contract disputes, construction litigation, first and third-party coverage disputes, and trust and estate litigation. Henry joined Montgomery Purdue following a two-year clerkship with the Hon. Chief Judge Marlin J. Appelwick of the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division I. He attended law school at the University of Washington, where he graduated with honors, served as a Managing Editor of the Washington Law Review, and graduated in the top 15% of his class. Prior to law school, Henry worked in project management at a business consulting firm, and in software management for a leading car-sharing company.
What do you like about your work?
Civil litigation feels like one big board game. Strategy is everything, and good strategy literally pays off. One of the unique aspects about Montgomery Purdue is that our clients' litigation and insurance needs often will affect a substantial portion of their overall business. In this type of "bet the company" litigation, small decisions can make a big difference, just like in a board game. Successfully collaborating with our clients on these decisions is one of the most rewarding aspects of my practice.
What is something you'd be happy doing every single day for the rest of your career?
I would write legal briefs for the rest of my life. Most people think lawyers are non-creative, black and white thinkers. But starting a brief from scratch to weave client business goals with legal principles is a creative outlet that keeps me engaged. And I find it even more valuable when it leads to positive results.
When was the last time you said "no" to a client?
The last time I said no to a client was when a client asked me to perform legal work that would cost him more than the value it would return. Lawyers are expensive. We get it. I, along with the other attorneys at Montgomery Purdue, perform legal work for clients that adds value. We only want to perform work that makes business sense. And when clients ask us to perform work that doesn't make business sense, we tell them. It is part of our role as counselors to be upfront and honest about business decisions.
What skills and experiences have you acquired that make you comfortable and qualified in your practice?
I pride myself on my ability to explain complicated things simply. This comes in handy in two ways. First, explaining issues simply helps in persuading decision makers (i.e. judges). This leads to positive results. Second, explaining complicated legal principles in a simple way to clients makes our clients better informed. This leads to a better working relationship and better outcomes.