Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell

What Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell does

Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell LLP (GTTC) is a Seattle-based litigation law firm founded in 1996 by Jeffrey I. Tilden and Franklin D. Cordell, operating as a limited liability partnership with a second office in Spokane, Washington. The firm specializes in complex commercial litigation and is recognized as Washington's premier policyholder-side insurance recovery practice, with additional capabilities in personal injury, construction, employment, trust and estate/fiduciary, mediation and arbitration, and intellectual property matters. Differentiated technical capabilities include "insurance archaeology" for reconstructing decades-old policies in long-tail environmental and asbestos claims, deep trial advocacy expertise (Co-founder Tilden has tried over 80 cases to verdict), and partner-led engagement through a non-pyramid organizational structure.

The firm serves a heterogeneous client base spanning enterprise (Nordstrom, Boeing/McDonnell Douglas, Move Inc./Realtor.com, Puget Sound Energy, Infospace/Blucora, FutureSelect Portfolio Management), government (Port of Bellingham, Grant County PUD), nonprofit/tribal entities (Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Snoqualmie Indian Tribe), and mid-market businesses (Sandpiper Condominium, Lacey Marketplace Associates). Revenue is generated through professional legal services billed via hourly rates for litigation, contingency arrangements for qualifying personal injury and insurance recovery matters, and flat fees for select engagements; fee structures are not publicly disclosed.

GTTC acquires clients through professional referrals, peer recognition (Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent), speaking engagements, CLE programs, legal publications, and community involvement. The firm maintains multi-decade client relationships (e.g., 22-year engagement with Puget Sound Energy) and has secured notable outcomes including a $130M trade secret settlement for Move, Inc., a $19M jury verdict in an ACE American Insurance coverage case, a $16M verdict against Ernst & Young in a Madoff-linked audit case, and over $170M for Ride the Ducks victims.

Name

Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell

Legal name

Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell LLP

Website

https://gordontilden.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell LLP is a Seattle-based litigation firm founded in 1996 that represents policyholders, businesses, government entities, and individuals in complex commercial litigation and insurance recovery matters across eight practice areas including personal injury, construction, and trust disputes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services - Litigation and Insurance Recovery

NAICS

Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Injury & Insurance Defense (BPAHAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Claims Advocacy & Loss Recovery Services (FSAEADAH)

Keywords

• Complex commercial litigation
• Insurance recovery practice
• Policyholder coverage disputes
• Personal injury litigation
• Construction defect litigation

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Fees: The firm generates revenue through professional legal services billed to clients. Fee structures include hourly rates for litigation services, contingency fees for personal injury and certain insurance recovery matters, and flat fees for specific services. The firm represents policyholders, businesses, and individuals in high-stakes litigation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell LLP is a Seattle-based litigation boutique that provides legal representation across eight practice areas, with primary depth in complex commercial litigation and policyholder-side insurance recovery. The firm advises corporate clients, government entities, tribes, and individuals on high-stakes disputes ranging from trade secret and shareholder derivative actions to insurance coverage, bad-faith, environmental and asbestos long-tail claims, personal injury, construction, employment, intellectual property, and trust and estate litigation. Matters are handled by partners on a non-pyramid basis, with alternative dispute resolution services through mediation and arbitration.

Product overview

Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell LLP is a Seattle-based law firm offering legal services through eight distinct practice areas: Commercial Litigation, Insurance Recovery, Personal Injury Litigation, Construction Litigation, Employment Negotiations and Disputes, Trust Estate and Fiduciary Litigation, Mediation and Arbitration, and Intellectual Property. The firm specializes in complex litigation and insurance recovery, representing policyholders in coverage disputes and businesses in high-stakes commercial litigation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Litigation Legal representation in complex business disputes including business ownership disputes, commercial contract disputes, class action lawsuits, trade secret cases, professional negligence claims, real estate litigation, and shareholder derivative lawsuits.
• Insurance Recovery Policyholder-side insurance recovery practice advising clients and prosecuting claims and coverage litigation under all types of insurance policies, including long-tail insurance, management liability, commercial property, cyber coverage, and bad-faith claims.
• Personal Injury Litigation Representation in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases for both plaintiffs and defendants, encompassing car collisions, premises liability, product liability, truck accidents, electrical fires, and maritime accidents.
• Construction Litigation Legal services for construction disputes involving enforcement of contracts and insurance policies for owners, developers, contractors, and design professionals on projects ranging from single-family homes to large complex construction.
• Employment Negotiations and Disputes Legal representation in employment matters including negotiation of employment agreements, executive compensation packages, severance agreements, non-compete agreements, and litigation of discrimination and wrongful termination claims.
• Trust, Estate, and Fiduciary Litigation Legal representation in trust, estate, and fiduciary disputes including estate administration, trust administration, will contests, breaches of fiduciary duties, and disputes involving family-owned businesses.
• Mediation and Arbitration Alternative dispute resolution services led by experienced mediators and arbitrators specializing in complex insurance coverage, construction, real property, and commercial disputes.
• Intellectual Property Legal services for intellectual property including trademark and trade secret litigation, trademark registration and prosecution, copyright registration, and infringement actions in federal courts and before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Quantifiable outcome

• $130 million settlement in trade secret case for Move, Inc.
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major and supporting.

• Jenner & BlockmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-counsel relationship with Jenner & Block in the $130 million trade secret case for Move, Inc. (Realtor.com) against Zillow. GTTC attorneys worked alongside Jenner & Block on this significant litigation matter.
• Thomas, Alexander, Forrester & Sorensen LLPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-counsel with noted Los Angeles trial lawyers in the groundbreaking Madoff-linked audit case against Ernst & Young. Jeff Thomas represented FutureSelect Portfolio Management as co-counsel in this first successful lawsuit against an auditor over Madoff losses.
• Marten LawsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCo-counsel engagement with Marten Law in Gull Industries environmental insurance recovery case involving 220 gas stations.
• Association of General Contractors of WashingtonsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGreg Pendleton and Frank Cordell served as amicus counsel for the Association of General Contractors in T-Mobile USA v. Selective Insurance Company, achieving favorable Washington Supreme Court ruling on additional insured coverage.
• Legal Employers Advancing Diversity in Washington (LEAD-WA)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFirm participates in LEAD-WA program and hires summer associates through this diversity initiative. Partner Susannah Carr serves on its Board of Directors.
• American College of Coverage CounselsupportingOthersSeveral GTTC attorneys are Fellows of this nationwide, invitation-only organization of preeminent insurance coverage counsel, reflecting their commitment to excellence in the field.
• King County Bar Association Records ProjectsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGTTC lawyers assist individuals with vacating eligible non-violent criminal convictions through the Records Project, helping clients remove barriers to employment and housing.
• Seattle Clemency ProjectsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGTTC lawyers represent individuals seeking early release from prison through the Seattle Clemency Project, providing pro bono legal representation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell