Kara R. Masters is a principal in the firm and a member of the firm’s executive committee, serving as secretary and human resources partner since 2010. She practices civil litigation and appeals in the areas of design professional defense, construction law, insurance coverage and defense, environmental law, employment law, and general civil litigation.

Kara also serves on the NW steering committee for the Professional Liability Underwriter’s Society (PLUS), serving as the committee secretary since 2010. She has worked with PLUS in planning and moderating educational events relating to various areas of professional liability insurance. She participates in state and national chapters of the American Counsel of Engineering Companies (ACEC) and the Northwest Environmental Business Counsel (NEBC). She is a regular participant in insurance coverage and claims activities offered by the Defense Research Institute (DRI). She has also presented at educational events and authored materials on employment practice, environmental law and various construction law issues in Washington.

Kara is admitted to practice in the federal and state courts of Washington and Idaho, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. She is a member of the American Bar Association (Tort Trial & Insurance Coverage Section, 2006– ; Forum on the Construction Industry, 2010–); Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington; Washington State Bar Association (Young Lawyers Pro Bono Committee, 1994–1999; Litigation Section, 1998–; Employment Law Section, 1998–); Idaho State Bar Association (Litigation Section, 2005–); King County Bar Association (Labor & Employment Law Section, 1998–); and Washington Women Lawyers. She is also a member of the Professional Liability Underwriters Society (Steering Committee 2006–; Secretary 2010–), Defense Research Institute (Lawyers’ Professionalism & Ethics Committee 2010–), and American Counsel of Engineering Companies, Legal Counsel Forum (2008–).

Kara’s community activities include judging appellate advocacy courses and competitions at the Seattle University and University of Washington Schools of Law. She has also served as a judge for We the People’s state finals for the high school civics programs for the past 6 years. She also actively supports New Beginnings, a local organization that provides shelter and community services for women and children escaping domestic violence. She volunteered as a cook in the confidential shelter from 1999-2000, served six years on the board from 2003-2009, and held various leadership positions, including co-chairing the 30th Anniversary year gala in 2006, chairing the development committee, and ending her third term with two years as board President. She is currently exploring options for her next pro bono organizational commitment.

Publications & Presentations

• Co-moderator, PLUS NW — Attorneys, Accountants & Adjustors — E&O Coverage Update, CE (May 2012).
• Co-author, Skellenger Bender Newsletter: Defeating Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims Against Design Professionals (September 2009) (with Pamela S. Tonglao).
• Moderator, PLUS NW — Hot Topics in E&O Coverage, CE (December 2008).
• Co-author/presenter, WSBA 14^th Annual Construction Law Update, Environmental Considerations (September 2007) (with David K. Eckberg).
• Co-author, Washington Health Law Manual, Third Edition, Chapter 26–Employment Issues (January 2007).
• Co-author, Title VII Update, Sterling Educational Services, Employment Law CLE (August 2003).