Randy Aliment

Partner

Randy.Aliment@lewisbrisbois.com

Randy Aliment is a partner in the Seattle office of Lewis Brisbois with a broad-based practice focused on commercial litigation and the higher education and sports industries. He conducts internal investigations for universities in anticipation of legal exposure as well assessments of student-athlete safety, health, and well being. He has represented universities in arbitrations related to admissions, governance, and their relationships with teaching locations and partner institutions outside of the U.S. He also serves as General Counsel for the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, one of seven organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to accredit postsecondary institutions.

Mr. Aliment has extensive experience representing foreign clients in US litigation and overseeing foreign litigation and commercial transactions for U.S. clients (in China, Japan, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East). A lifelong sports fan, Mr. Aliment represents several organizations and individuals in the sports and entertainment industries. He has represented several NBA play-by-play announcers, dealt extensively with sporting events at venues located at tribal casinos, and is a Chair of the Board of Directors of USA Bobsled/Skeleton, Inc.

In 2012, he served as Chair of the 25,000-member Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association. In 2013, he was elected to the Executive Committee of the Union Internationale des Avocats headquartered in Paris, France. He joined former Governor Christine Gregoire in September 2010 and Governor Jay Inslee in November 2013 on their trade missions to China. In 2014, Mr. Aliment served as editor and co-author of an eBook, “Invest Washington,” that has been translated into Chinese.

Mr. Aliment has repeatedly been recognized as an outstanding Pacific Northwest lawyer, including: Best Lawyers in America, 2013 – present; and Who’s Who of International Business Lawyers, 2011 – present. In 2012, he was named recipient of the University of Puget Sound’s Distinguished Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Mr. Aliment’s Martindale-Hubbell rating is “AV Preeminent.”

Primary Area(s) of Practice

  • Entertainment, Media & Sports
  • International Practices
  • Complex Business & Commercial Litigation

Admissions

Washington

United States District Court, Western Washington

United States District Court, Eastern Washington

United States Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit

United States Court of Claims

Associations

  • Washington State Bar Association
    • International Law Section, Executive Committee, 2008–2012
  • American Bar Association
    • Rule of Law Initiative Advisory Board, Asia Division, 2009–2019
    • Rule of Law Initiative Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative Council, 2016–2019
    • Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice Section, Chair, 2011–2012
    • Center for Human Rights Committee, Executive Board, 2013–2016
  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • Union Internationale des Avocats (“UIA”)
    • Executive Committee, Revenue Director, 2013–2024

Awards & Honors

  • University of Puget Sound Distinguished Alumni, Professional Achievement Award, 2012
  • Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2013—Present
  • Who’s Who of International Business Lawyers, 2011—Present

Professional Presentations

Several presentations in US, Asia, and Europe over the years including:

  • Speaker, “Attacks on the Civil Justice System and the Meaning of the Rule of Law,” 2022 Pound Civil Justice Institute Judges Forum, Seattle, Washington, July 16, 2022.
  • Speaker, “Arbitration and Governance in Sports,” Sports Law Commission, Union Internationale Des Avocats Congress, Toronto, Canada, October 29, 2017.
  • Speaker, “Litigation in US Federal Court,” Litigation Commission, Union Internationale Des Avocats Congress, Florence, Italy, October 31, 2014.
  • Speaker, “Mixed Martial Arts Opportunities in China,” Sports Law Commission, Union Internationale Des Avocats Congress, Florence, Italy, October 30, 2014.
  • Speaker, “Supply Chain Opportunities in Washington State,” Torino Piemonte Aerospace, Turin, Italy, October 27, 2014.
  • Speaker, “Conflict Minerals – Get the Facts!” Center for Advanced Manufacturing Puget Sound Manufacturing Conference, Bellevue, WA, June 18, 2014.
  • Speaker, “The Asia-Pacific Market Update: A Look Ahead to the Challenges and Opportunities in 2013 and Beyond,” 20th Annual Marketing Partner Forum - Growing Your Business in a Flat & Changing Market, Rancho Palos Verdes, January 17, 2013.

Education

Seattle University School of Law

Juris Doctor, summa cum laude

University of Puget Sound

Bachelor of Arts, with honors

Representative Matters

  • Represents a Fortune 100 company in connection with environmental litigation at a roofing plant on the Fraser River in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, which involved the first remediation order issued in British Columbia and the first case heard under British Columbia’s Waste Management Act. This precedent-setting case was contested before the Ministry of Environment, The British Columbia Environmental Appeal Board, the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the British Columbia Court of Appeal and a successful appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada.
  • Represented Community Medical Center in 1.2 million member class action in connection with alleged data security incident.
  • Represented a global company that delivers enterprise IT solutions and services against allegations in federal court, Portland, of computer hacking. Following a lengthy investigation by the Department of Justice, the FBI and the plaintiff, it was determined that the wrongful acts were committed solely by a rogue employee of the company and that no other employee had access to protected data, knew about, encouraged or directed the wrongful conduct. No charges were brought by the DOJ against the company.
  • Represented a group of investors in the highly publicized Darren Berg Ponzi scheme. The federal court litigation centered upon the largest Ponzi scheme in Washington State history and was featured in the April 2018 issue of Seattle Met Magazine (https://www.seattlemet.com/articles/2018/3/19/darren-berg-has-always-been-on-the-run).
  • Represented a private university in an arbitration that successfully restructured management and governance of the university and resolved all disputes related to its domestic, European, Middle Eastern and Asian teaching locations. Representation included preparation of new agreements and governing documents between the university and several foreign universities in Europe and China.
  • Represented a private university in connection with the recovery of $2.1 million from its partner institution located in Cairo, Egypt.
  • Represented a private university in arbitrations brought by former students alleging misrepresentation during the recruiting and admissions process.
  • Represented a Japanese distributer of certain Apple, Inc. accessory products in federal court litigation in Los Angeles against its US subsidiary in connection with control of global distribution rights.
  • Represented Asia Pulp and Paper Company in federal court against collection activities related to a $1.1 billion judgment obtained in Jakarta by certain financial institutions.
  • Represented a global company that delivers enterprise IT solutions and services in a dispute with a Redmond, Washington company over sale of an HP supercomputer.
  • Represented a group of investors in securities fraud litigation against officers and directors of Merlin Motors, Seattle.
  • Represented a group of investors in securities fraud litigation against officers and directors of Tuscany, Inc., Seattle.
  • Represented the 50% owner and president of closely held corporation against allegations of misappropriation of funds and fraud. Following a lengthy investigation by a certified fraud examiner, it was determined that there was no evidence of misappropriation of funds or fraud by the president.
  • Represented the 50% founder and managing member of a closely held office design company in connection with claims that his partner misappropriated large amounts of funds from the company.
  • Represented shareholders of a silver mine in Idaho in a contentious dispute over ownership and management control of the mine.
  • Represented Emerald Racing Association and Washington Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association in litigation challenging construction of Emerald Downs thoroughbred racetrack, Auburn.
  • Represented a Fortune 100 company in connection with environmental cleanup activities at a roofing plant on Arbutus Street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
  • Represented a Fortune 100 company in connection with environmental cleanup activities at a roofing manufacturing plant in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
  • Represented a Fortune 100 company in connection with environmental cleanup activities at a roofing plant near Gas Works Park, Seattle.
  • Represented four Fortune 500 companies in state court litigation in connection with environmental cleanup activities at a pesticide plant in the Tri-Cities, Washington.
  • Represented a Fortune 100 company in federal court litigation in connection with environmental cleanup activities related to an oil spill in the Columbia River.
  • Represented Newport Tank Containers, Inc. in connection with a merger with Beijing’s Sinochem Corporation.
  • Represented a pharmaceutical company in multi district federal court class-action litigation in Seattle in connection with severe injuries allegedly caused by phenylpropanolamine (PPA).

Publications

Several published articles and papers in US, Asia, and Europe over the years including:

  • Co-author, “Mandatory NCAA Covid Policy for Practice, Competition a Must," Bloomberg Law, September 2020.
  • Author, “An Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution in International Business Transactions,” American Bar Association TIPS Fall 2016 Newsletter, October 2016.
  • Author, “Alternative Dispute Resolution in International Business Transactions,” 2015 ABA London Sessions, June 2015.
  • Author, “Magna Carta’s Legacy Spans the Centuries,” Tort Source: A Publication of the Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, Winter 2015.
  • Editor and Co-Author, eBook, “Invest Washington,” September 2014.
  • Author, “Serb Leader is Tried by an International Tribunal,” ABA Journal, November 2013.
  • Author, “Expanding Globally? - Why the Rule of Law is an Important Consideration,” January 2013.