Pete M. Vial

A trial lawyer and legal counselor with more than 40 years of experience, Pete Vial practices at McNaul Ebel in the Litigation and Trial group. He focuses on commercial litigation, counseling, arbitration, and mediation. Principally he handles complex civil law matters, but he has a depth of experience in grand jury and business crime matters. His clients range from individuals to small businesses to multinational companies.

Pete has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in federal, state, and FINRA securities law cases, and in federal and state antitrust cases involving pharmaceuticals, forest products, fisheries, insurance, and bonding. He has represented parties in successful class actions involving consumer protection, employment law, and other issues, and he has represented law firms and lawyers in partnership disputes, as well as professional responsibility and malpractice cases. 

He appears frequently in temporary restraining order and injunction hearings, representing individuals and companies seeking or opposing emergency injunctive relief. Pete is often hired by a client’s regular lawyer to help in court or arbitration matters. He is also asked by area courts or lawyers to mediate lawsuits or other disputes. 

Before becoming a founding member of McNaul Ebel in 1995, Pete was a partner at the firm of Culp Dwyer Guterson & Grader from 1980 until it ceased practice. He served as the first chair of McNaul Ebel’s executive committee.

A leader in the legal community, Pete was president of the William L. Dwyer American Inn of Court and acted as chairperson of the executive committee of the Washington State Bar Association’s litigation section. He has held committee chairs and trusteeships in the King County Bar Association. In addition, Pete has addressed professional education seminars and serves as faculty at NITA clinics.

Awards & Activities

• Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation
• Top 100 Washington Lawyers, 2005, 2014, 2016-2019
• Named a Washington State Super Lawyer, 1999-2023