Claire Loebs Davis
Shareholder
davisc@lanepowell.com
206.223.7060
Areas of Practice
Claire Loebs Davis focuses her practice on defending public companies and their directors and
officers in securities class actions, shareholder derivative suits, and investigations by the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Claire joined Lane Powell from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in December 2012 and is Chair
of the Firm’s Pro Bono Committee for the Seattle office. She graduated from the University of
Michigan Law School in 2003 (class rank 2 of 387), and clerked for the Honorable Richard Nygaard
of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
Prior to attending law school, Claire was a newspaper reporter for several years, primarily covering
legal and political issues, and winning multiple state and national writing awards.
In addition to securities litigation, Claire represents clients in matters related to animal law. She
developed her focus on animal law through work as a lawyer and consultant for Best Friends Animal
Society.
Professional Experience
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Litigation Associate (2007-2012)
Best Friends Animal Society, In-House Counsel/Animal Law Consultant (2004-2007)
Third Circuit Court of Appeals, Judicial Clerk for Hon. Richard L. Nygaard (2003-2004)
Admitted to Practice
Washington
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
Academics
University of Michigan Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 2003)
Order of the Coif
Class rank 2/387 Michigan Law Review, Contributing Editor
Recipient of Henry M. Bates Memorial Scholarship Award
Awarded Roger A. Cunningham Memorial Property Prize
The George Washington University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1995)
Phi Beta Kappa
National Merit Scholar
CNN’s Inside Politics, Intern
Bureau of National Affairs, Intern
IT Magazine, Co-founder and Editor-in-chief
The Insider, Editor-in-chief
Pulliam Fellowship, Recipient
Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships
Chair, Lane Powell Pro Bono Committee, Seattle Office
Securities Litigation
Litigation
D&O Liability
Investigations and Regulatory Compliance
Representative Matters and Clients
Claire is one of the nation’s most experienced securities litigators of her generation. She has handled
and managed all aspects of securities and corporate governance litigation matters, from discovery
management, to motion-to-dismiss briefing and oral arguments, to strategic matters such as case
development, mediations and trial preparation.
Claire was a newspaper reporter before law school, which helped her to develop skills that are key to
excellent brief writing. She has specialized in developing, writing and editing briefs throughout her
legal career, and has written or supervised the preparation of myriad winning motions to dismiss.
Claire has defended a broad range of securities and corporate governance litigation matters,
representing clients such as Ambassadors Group, Cell Therapeutics, Dendreon, Jones Soda, Kerry
Killinger (former CEO of Washington Mutual), Nighthawk Radiology, PremierWest Bancorp, Primo
Water, TriQuint Semiconductor and WSB Financial Group.
TV/Radio Interviews
“Oregon Anti-whaling Charity Appeals to US Supreme Court,” Interviewed by Oregon Public Broadcasting (April 29, 2015)
Publications
Claire is a primary author and editor of Lane Powell’s Securities and Corporate Governance Litigation blog, D&O Discourse.
“Liability: Protecting Your Reputation,” National Association of Corporate Directors Directorship magazine, Co-author (January/February 2016)
“Five Securities Litigation Issues to Watch in 2016,” Law360, Co-author (January 8, 2016)
“Sea Shepherd Stands Fast Against Whaling Through Operation Ultimate Justice,” Wire Service, Quoted (December 1, 2015)
“Correcting Incorrect Opinions About Omnicare,” Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS) Journal, Co-author (September 2015)
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“Whaling Activists Settle Attack Claims for $2.55M,” Courthouse News Service, Quoted
(June 11, 2015)
“Supreme Court Declines to Hear Sea Shepherd’s Case Against Whalers,” Just Marine News
(June 9, 2015)
“Sea Shepherd Resolves Contempt Dispute With Whalers,” The Maritime Executive, Quoted
(June 8, 2015)
“Whaling: Sea Shepherd Seeks U.S. Injunction,” The Maritime Executive, Quoted (May 27, 2015)
“Sea Shepherd Seeks U.S. Injunction Against Japanese Whaling,” Wire Service, Quoted
(May 27, 2015)
“Sea Shepherd Tries Novel Tack in Appeal of Piracy Ruling,” Environment & Energy Publishing, Quoted (May 7, 2015)
“Sea Shepherd Takes Whalers to High Court,” Courthouse News Service, Quoted (May 4, 2015)
“Oregon Anti-whaling Group Looks to Take Case to Supreme Court,” Portland Business Journal (April 29, 2015)
“Sea Shepherd Conservation Society Takes ‘Whale Wars’ to Supreme Court: Expansive Interpretation of Alien Tort Statute Endangers US Businesses, Sea Shepherd Argues,” Business Wire, Quoted (April 29, 2015)
“Supreme Court’s Omnicare Decision Follows Middle Path Advocated by Lane Powell and Washington Legal Foundation,” Lane Powell Legal Update, Co-author (March 26, 2015)
“Supreme Court’s Omnicare Decision Follows Middle Path Advocated by Lane Powell and WLF,” Washington Legal Foundation’s The Legal Pulse blog , Co-author (March 25, 2015)
“Supreme Court Sets High Bar for Challenging Exec Opinions,” Law360, Quoted (March 24, 2015)
“Omnicare Court Ponders Two Middle Paths: One Rocky, One Smooth,” Law360, Quoted
(December 3, 2014)
“Justices Face Muddy Waters with Omnicare Middle Ground,” Law360, Quoted
(November 7, 2014)
“Supreme Court to Hear Pensions Argument,” POLITICO Pro, Quoted (November 3, 2014)
“True, not False: SCOTUS ‘Omnicare’ Case Highlights Need for Clarity on Key Securities Class Action Issue,” The Legal Pulse blog, Washington Legal Foundation, Co-author (November 3, 2014)
“Ineffective Motions to Dismiss Erode the Power of the Reform Act,” Co-author, The Corporate Governance Advisor (July/August 2014)
“High Court Takes Up New Securities Conundrum in Omnicare Case,” The AM Law Litigation Daily, Quoted (March 3, 2014)
“Securities Defense Bar Has High Hopes Riding on Omnicare,” Law360, Quoted (March 3, 2014)
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“Halliburton: Do Plaintiffs Have a Fix in Affiliated Ute?” Law360 (February 13, 2014)
“Public Companies, Beware! Safe Harbor Protection Requires Thoughtful Warnings and a Sophisticated Defense,” Seattle Business magazine, Co-author (February 2014)
“6th Circ. Took a Wrong Turn in Omnicare,” Law360 (August 21, 2013)
Speaking Engagements
Claire has given presentations at the local and national level, including for the Washington State Bar
Association and at the University of Washington, The George Washington University, and Lewis and
Clark Law School.
Awards
Named as a “Washington Rising Star,” Super Lawyers® magazine, Securities Litigation (2010-2016)
Professional and Community Activities
Member, Pro Bono Panel, Federal Bar Association of the Western District of Washington
Washington State Bar Association Animal Law Section
Chairperson-elect (2012-Present)
Editor, Animal Law Section Newsletter (2011-Present)
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