- Phone: (206) 652-8660
- Fax: (206) 652-8290
- Email: bdonckers@bjtlegal.com
Practice Areas
- State and Federal Court Litigation and Appeals
Practice Description
Brendan Donckers is a partner at BJT. He litigates civil cases and appeals in state and federal courts with a focus on individual and class action consumer protection cases, employment litigation, and civil rights. He also represents individuals, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and small businesses in disputes involving real and personal property, contracts, public records, land use, nuisance, and torts. Brendan has argued appeals at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the Washington Supreme Court, the Washington Court of Appeals and was second-chair in a landmark FOIA case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Brendan is a member of the board of the Northwest Consumer Law Center. He served on the Board of Trustees for the Northwest Justice Project from 2017 to 2023 and president of the board from 2019 to 2021. Brendan was a mayoral appointee to the Seattle Ethics and Election Commission from 2014 to 2021, a commission he chaired from 2018 to 2020, and a mayoral appointee to the Pioneer Square Preservation Board from 2017 to 2021. He provides regular and ongoing pro bono representation since starting his practice and regularly mentors law students and new lawyers.
Before joining BJT, Brendan litigated environmental, land use, and public records cases with David Mann and Mickey Gendler at Gendler & Mann. He also worked as a staff attorney in the Washington Supreme Court Commissioner’s Office and provided policy counsel to the Washington State House’s Democratic Caucus during the 2008 legislative session. Brendan previously served as board president of the Historic South Downtown Preservation and Development Authority and as a member of the boards of the King County Chapter of Washington Conservation Voters, the Washington State Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Renton/Skyway Boys and Girls Club of King County, the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program’s Advisory Committee on Tolling and Traffic Management, and the Alliance of Pioneer Square.
Before returning to Seattle for law school, Brendan worked on a global security initiative with the United Nations Foundation in Washington, D.C. He was also a campaign aide to former U.S. Congressman, Jim McDermott. Brendan received his J.D. with honors from Seattle University and a B.A. from Santa Clara University. At Santa Clara, he double-majored in English and Philosophy and was Valedictorian of 2002’s graduating class.
Publications
“WA Supreme Court Clarifies that Insured Can Sue Their Insurer Under the CPA for Wrongfully Denying PIP Benefits,” WSAJ Trial News, Vol. 55, No. 8 (April 2020), available at: trialnewsonline.org
“Landlord/Tenant Law & Covid-19: An Update on Washington’s Eviction Moratorium & Options for Renters,” Northwest Consumer Law Center (Mar. 31, 2020), available at: youtube.com
“The Elements of a CPA Claim: Causation” and “Foreclosure,” Chapters One and Four, Washington Consumer Protection Deskbook, Washington State Association of Justice (2017)
“Hague Convention on International Child Abduction: A Child’s Return and the Presence of Domestic Violence”, Appendix G, Domestic Violence Manual for Judges, Washington State Gender and Justice Commission (2006)
Professional Honors and Affiliations
National Trial Lawyers, Civil Top 100 (2021)
Named “Rising Star” by Washington Super Lawyers (2014 to 2019)
Imagine Justice Honoree (Economic Justice), Columbia Legal Services (2016)
Private Partnership with Northwest Justice Project (Legal Services Corporation, 2011)
Public Interest Law Fellowship (S.U. Public Interest Law Foundation, 2006)
Public Interest Law Fellowship (S.U. Public Interest Law Foundation, 2006)
Haywood Burns Memorial Fellowship (National Lawyers Guild, 2005)
Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Sigma Nu, Phi Sigma Tau and Sigma Tau Delta (2002)
Member, National Association of Consumer Advocates
Member, Washington State Association of Justice
Member, Washington Employment Lawyers Association and WELA Legislative Committee
Admissions & Courts
- Admitted to U.S. Supreme Court
- Admitted to U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- Admitted to U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
- Admitted to U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
- Admitted to all Washington Courts
- Member, Federal Bar Association, Western District of Washington
- Member, Washington State Bar Association
Education
- J.D., Seattle University School of Law, Seattle, WA, 2007
- B.A., Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, 2002
