Craig Sims

Craig is an accomplished trial lawyer with over 25 years of litigation and leadership experience. His calling “to be of service to others” is what drew him to Schroeter Goldmark & Bender. Craig’s focus is to seek accountability while honoring the lives of his clients and their families. Craig has a proven record of accomplishment litigating cases including large verdict wins and settlements exceeding $20 million. He has been the lead trial lawyer in multiple trials with successful settlements and plaintiff verdicts, including the largest asbestos jury award in the state of Oregon.

Prior to entering private practice, Craig served as the Criminal Division Chief in the Seattle Attorney’s Office where he led a team of more than sixty attorneys and staff. Craig has also served as a Senior King County Prosecutor. While on assignment with the Most Dangerous Offender Program, he prosecuted a number of homicides and high-profile cases; seeking justice while advocating for those who’d been harmed.

Craig has taught as an adjunct professor at Seattle University School of Law and a visiting lecturer at the University of Washington Law School. He’s a member and past president of the Loren Miller Bar Association, which gave him the Excellence in the Legal Profession award. Craig is also a member of the Washington State Bar Association, and a board member for the Washington State Bar Leadership Institute. The King County Bar Association designated him Mentor of the Year for the Young Lawyers Division.

Craig has traveled the country consulting on issues of diversity and equity. He is often asked to present on all aspects of trial presentations. He also enjoys spending time with his family and playing drums.

Professional & Civic Organizations

• Selected to Washington Super Lawyers by Super Lawyers® (2023)
• American College of Trial Lawyers Member 
• Washington State Bar Leadership Institute Board - Co-Chair (2023)
• Washington Bar Association
• Oregon State Bar Association
• National Bar Association
• Loren Miller Bar Association / President (2007-2009), Member at Large (2012 – 2013)
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. (Life Member)
• Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Inc.
• Washington State Association for Justice (Eagle Member)
• King County Bar Association / Trustee (2009 – 2012)
• Seattle University President’s Club
• NAACP (Life Member)
• Acknowledged by The Best Lawyers in America© for Personal Injury Litigation (2022-2023) 
• American Association for Justice

Awards & Acknowledgments

• Washington State Association for Justice, Professionalism Award Recipient (2023)
• Washington Defense Trial Lawyers - Outstanding Plaintiff's Trial Lawyer (2023) 
• Outstanding Plaintiff's Trial Lawyer (2023) 
• Seattle University BLSA Alumni Award (2020)
• Excellence in the Legal Profession Award, Loren Miller Bar Association (2013)
• Mentor of the Year Award, King County Bar Association (Young Lawyers Division) (2013)
• Attorney Professionalism Award, Washington State Bar Association (2011)
• Young Black Professionals in Seattle, Seattle Times Newspaper (2011)
• Faculty Member of the Year, Seattle University School of Law BLSA (2010)
• Mock Trial Coach of the Year, Seattle University Black Law Student Association (2009)
• Urban League of Seattle Spirit Award Recipient – Loren Miller Bar Association (2008)

• American Board of Trial Advocates “Masters of Trial” CLE presenter; Closing Argument (2018)
• WSBA Leadership Institute CLE presenter; The Cost of Success in the Practice of Law (2018)
• Washington State Attorney’s General Statewide Conference, Guest Speaker at Plenary Session: The Mask; Understanding Impacts of Assumptions and Biases.
• Faculty Member, The Promise of Civility CLE (2011-Present), Tuscany, Italy (Seattle University School of Law and Robert’s Fund Foundation)
• WSBA Trial Advocacy Program; Objections, Motions in Limine, and Other Courtroom Tips (2011 – 2017)
• Western Washington University (Fairhaven College), Racial Disparity in the U.S. Legal System, Guest Speaker
• Ralph Monroe Institute for Civic Engagement (Bellingham, WA) Examining Race, Civic Engagement and Citizenship Post-Ferguson: Where Do We Go From Here, Panelist
• Seattle University School of Law BLSA Graduation, Keynote Speaker; The Beauty of Failure
• Seattle University School of Law Latino/a Law School Association Alumni Awards, Closing Remarks; Look At Us Now
• Stolen Youth, “Not On Our Watch” 2014 Town Hall Meeting, Panelist
• Everett Community College, Minority Leadership Conference, Speaker
• Fresno/Clovis California Unified School District Student Leadership Conference, Speaker
• FOX 13 News, National Broadcast (November 2012); Washington State Initiative 502
• Washington Organized Retail Theft Coalition, Regional Conference; The Policies Behind the Prosecutions
• Washington State Bar Association Criminal Law Boot Camp CLE presenter; Policy Considerations for Prosecution
• Seattle City Attorney’s Office CLE presenter; The Art of Trial Advocacy
• Statewide Diversity Conference 2011 panelist; Bias and the Day-to-Day: Tips for Practitioners
• City of Seattle Race and Social Justice Training Facilitator
• Cleveland High School (Seattle, WA) Government Class speaker
• Seattle University School of Law Mock Trial presenter; The Art of Trial Advocacy
• Urban League of Seattle Leadership Summit panelist
• Lorman Education Services CLE presenter; Most Commonly Used Evidence Rules and Objections Admissions

Education

• Seattle University School of Law, J.D., 1997
  
  • Regent Scholar
    
  • American Inns of Court (1996-1997)
    
  • President, Student Bar Association (1996-1997)
    
  • President, Black Law Students Association (1995-1996)

• University of Oregon, B.A., 1994
  
  • Minority Achievement Scholarship
    

Admissions

• Washington State Bar Association
• United States District Court/ District of Oregon
• Oregon State Bar Association
• U.S. District Court / Western District of Washington

• $6.5 Million settlement of road design and wrongful death claims against the City of Seattle on behalf of the family of a 22-year-old motorcyclist. (City of Seattle Settles Lawsuit for $6.5 Million for the Death of 22-Year-Old)
• $4.4 Million settlement of civil rights and wrongful death claims on behalf of the family of a Black man killed by Kent Police (SGB's Craig Sims and Kaitlin Wright Secure $44M Settlement for Family of Black Man Killed by Kent Police).
• $4 Million verdict for deceased mesothelioma victim exposed to asbestos while working as a maintenance contractor at Pacific Northwest refineries.
• $8.75 Million verdict for 66-year-old mesothelioma victim exposed through construction work involving use of joint compound. Largest verdict in Oregon state history for an asbestos-related disease contracted from occupational exposure.