Fred Burnside

Practice Areas

Fred Burnside concentrates his complex civil litigation practice on matters related to class-action defense, consumer financial services, and hydroelectric relicensing. His more than two decades as an attorney is distinguished by significant victories secured on behalf of financial service providers, at trial and on appeal in state and federal courts, particularly in class action lawsuits regarding non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees.

Fred obtained a motion to dismiss in the pioneer class action lawsuit over NSF fee practices and has since successfully defended other major financial services providers facing similar claims. He also has the rare experience of taking a financial services class action through a jury trial—and winning. With an established track record of securing outright victory or favourable settlement, Fred has become the go-to NSF fee attorney for consumer financial service providers facing class action lawsuits.

His leadership at DWT includes serving as the co-chair of the class action defense group, and he previously served as the firm's deputy litigation department practice group chair, Executive Committee member, and on the firm's Share (Compensation) Committee. He is a co-chair of the ABA's Annual National Institute on Class Actions, editor of the ABA Class Action Committee's Annual Survey of State Class Action Litigation, and a member of the American Law Institute.

Professional Memberships

Co-chair, Davis Wright Tremaine's Class Action Defense Group

Member, Davis Wright Tremaine’s Share Committee

Board Member of The William L. Dwyer American Inn of Court

Co-chair National Institute on Class Actions, Class Action and Derivative Suits Committee, American Bar Association

Washington State Liaison, Class Action and Derivative Suits Committee, American Bar Association

American Law Institute, Principles of Aggregate (Class Action) Litigation, Members Consultative Group