Beck Chase Gilman
There When it Matters Most
Representing individuals in employment, serious injury, and other high-stakes litigation—with experience, strategic judgment, and a strong record of results.
When your career, livelihood, or future are on the line, it’s anything but routine.
In those moments, you need representation you can trust—lawyers who think deeply about your case, develop and execute a bespoke strategy tailored to the facts and circumstances, and pursue the strongest possible outcome.
Practice Areas
We focus on a select range of matters where careful strategy, thorough preparation, and sound judgment make the difference.
Our Approach
A focused practice
We maintain a focused caseload by design. That allows our attorneys to remain directly engaged in the substantive work—reviewing evidence, developing legal theories, and shaping strategy over time. We prioritize quality over quantity so that each case receives the attention it requires.
Aligned with our clients’ goals
Every case presents its own unique facts, legal issues, and practical dynamics. We approach each matter with purpose—developing a customized strategy aligned with our clients’ goals and focused on moving the case forward.
Prepared for trial from the outset
Strong outcomes—whether achieved through resolution or trial—are built on preparation. Cases are developed from the beginning with the expectation that they may be tried, and that work informs how they are evaluated, negotiated, and presented.
Deliberate decision-making
Experience matters, but so does judgment. Outcomes often turn on how a case is positioned, where pressure is applied, and the choices made at critical stages.
$31,240,547
Jury damages verdict for paralyzed skier (reduced for comparative fault and inherent risk).
Trial Counsel for a paralyzed skier against Ski Lifts Inc. The jury returned a verdict in the plaintiff’s favor after proving that the resort was negligent in its construction of a man-made ski jump and in its failure to respond to repeated prior injuries and specific warnings by other customers. Salvini v. Ski Lifts Inc., King County Superior Court Cause No. 05-2-13652-9. The verdict was reduced by 55 percent for combination of comparative fault and the inherent risks of skiing. The case was appealed and affirmed by Division I of the Court of Appeals. Salvini v. Ski Lifts, Inc., 2008 WL 4616708 (2008). Review was subsequently denied by Washington State Supreme Court.
$13,250,000
Settlement in class action against for-profit school.
Represented 28,000 former students of Washington-based Business Computer Training Institute (“BCTI”) in class action regarding educational services provided by school. Wright v. BCTI, Pierce County Superior Court Cause No. 05-2-05763-2.
$5,914,222
Jury verdict for whistleblower pharmaceutical sales rep.
Trial counsel for a sales rep of a global pharmaceutical company who experienced gender discrimination and retaliatory termination after reporting a violation under the False Claims Act. The federal jury awarded a verdict of $5,914,222, which included $390,500 in back pay, $2,143,722 in front pay, $1,690,000 in emotional distress damages, and $1,690,000 in punitive damages. Erickson v. Biogen, 2019 WL 6713307. The case was appealed by the Defendant and resolved while on appeal.
$31,240,547
Jury damages verdict for paralyzed skier (reduced for comparative fault and inherent risk).
Trial Counsel for a paralyzed skier against Ski Lifts Inc. The jury returned a verdict in the plaintiff’s favor after proving that the resort was negligent in its construction of a man-made ski jump and in its failure to respond to repeated prior injuries and specific warnings by other customers. Salvini v. Ski Lifts Inc., King County Superior Court Cause No. 05-2-13652-9. The verdict was reduced by 55 percent for combination of comparative fault and the inherent risks of skiing. The case was appealed and affirmed by Division I of the Court of Appeals. Salvini v. Ski Lifts, Inc., 2008 WL 4616708 (2008). Review was subsequently denied by Washington State Supreme Court.
$13,250,000
Settlement in class action against for-profit school.
Represented 28,000 former students of Washington-based Business Computer Training Institute (“BCTI”) in class action regarding educational services provided by school. Wright v. BCTI, Pierce County Superior Court Cause No. 05-2-05763-2.
$5,914,222
Jury verdict for whistleblower pharmaceutical sales rep.
Trial counsel for a sales rep of a global pharmaceutical company who experienced gender discrimination and retaliatory termination after reporting a violation under the False Claims Act. The federal jury awarded a verdict of $5,914,222, which included $390,500 in back pay, $2,143,722 in front pay, $1,690,000 in emotional distress damages, and $1,690,000 in punitive damages. Erickson v. Biogen, 2019 WL 6713307. The case was appealed by the Defendant and resolved while on appeal.
The Team
That work leads to referrals from other attorneys, former clients, opposing counsel, and judges.
James W. Beck
Recognized as one of Washington’s Top 100 Lawyers and a leader in the plaintiff and federal bar, James is a lawyer’s lawyer with a prolific track record of success for his clients.
Janelle E. Chase Fazio
Named South Sound Business 40 Under 40 recipient and winner of the Washington State Association for Justice’s 2020 “Ready to Soar” award, Janelle is a fighter who has earned her reputation as a tough, smart, and relentless advocate for her clients.
Eric D. Gilman
Recognized by his peers as a top tier litigation attorney, Eric is a gifted trial lawyer who mixes meticulousness, compassion, tech savvy, and tenacity to win.
“In my heart, I believe James Beck was a Godsend. He is brilliant, caring, and very accessible…. [James] is largely responsible for me getting my life back after the nightmare experience with my employer [and he] is unequivocally in the top 1 percent of lawyers.”
“[M]y case … did not have the potential for a high value award, yet … Janelle treated me like a million dollar client…. Through her efforts, I felt expertly guided through a legal process that was at times, confusing, complex, and scary. I was consistently impressed with her legal knowledge, critical thinking skills, and her attention to detail.”
You have come to the right place. Eric Gilman walked me through what needed to be done. The patience and understanding was what I needed and he provided. The communication was above par. The staff was wonderful and operated with the same set of objectives and professionalism…. I cannot refer [BCG] enough. I would use this firm for a lifetime!
I sincerely believe I would not have won my lawsuit with any other attorney…. Don’t take a chance with your future, HIRE James Beck.
[F]rom the moment I consulted with Janelle, I felt a sense of relief and support. Her dedication to representing me in a professional way was highlighted throughout my time of working with her. Not only is Janelle an expert in her field, she had excellent bedside manner and made me always feel comfortable throughout my legal process. I highly recommend Janelle and her team to anyone needing her services. I will forever be grateful to her for the experience she gave me.
“[Eric’s] rapid grasp of every nuanced aspect of the legal issues and contextual dynamics not only gave us peace of mind following every meeting we had with him before court, it also ensured the best possible outcome for all parties (especially us!). He operated with a respect and integrity in court that matched our values, while maintaining a clear, firm stand for our legal position.”
I have been involved in several complex litigation cases over the past 30 years and very few attorneys took a personal interest in knowing the details of the case as well as I knew them. Eric understood the case far better than the defendants’ counsel which led to several good outcomes during the litigation. I have since stayed in touch with Eric and recommended him to several business owners and I will use him again if faced with similar litigation events.
Discuss Your Situation
If you are evaluating a potential claim or considering legal action, we welcome the opportunity to speak with you.
Case AssessmentEmployment Case Assessment