Jessica Eaves Mathews is the Principal of Eaves Mathews PLLC, a boutique firm that provides legal services in art and cultural heritage law, real estate, business transactions and litigation and equine law. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Art and Cultural Heritage Law at Seattle University School of Law.
For the last thirteen years, Ms. Eaves Mathews has practiced in Seattle as a business litigator and business advisor. Most recently, she was the head of litigation and compliance for one of the country's most wealthy individuals, where she managed litigation and the resolution of disputes for the company, as well as advised the company on compliance and due diligence issues, including those relating to an extensive and highly-valued art collection, and real estate and development projects.
Before her tenure as in-house Litigation and Compliance Counsel, Ms. Eaves Mathews was principal of Eaves Mathews LLC, where she handled business litigation and business advising, advising businesses on a variety of matters, including entity formation, commercial real estate issues, purchase and sale issues, distribution issues and intellectual property and copyright issues. In addition, Ms. Eaves Mathews advised, drafted and negotiated various business contracts, including construction contracts, distribution agreements, purchase and sale agreements and commercial leases. She also advised construction clients on compliance with all applicable laws for construction related businesses, and drafted formation documents for new business entities.
As Vice President and General Counsel of Mathews Contracting LLC, a family owned residential construction firm, she was responsible for advising on all aspects of legal and technical compliance required on each project, including adherence to contractual obligations, insurance requirements and state licensing standards. Her responsibilities included oversight of legal compliance for entire business, including state registration and licensing requirements, compliance with insurance terms and conditions for each project and sub-contractor. She negotiated and drafted residential remodel and new construction contracts for all construction clients; negotiated and drafted all subcontract agreements with trades for residential remodels and custom construction; worked closely with accountants, architects and d esigners in all aspects of business operations and execution of all construction and pre-construction agreements.
Throughout her career, Ms. Eaves Mathews has gained extensive experience with business and commercial litigation, including in the areas of contracts, employment law, non-disclosure agreements, wage disputes, sexual harassment, securities fraud, intellectual property piracy, and antitrust. She has specifically worked with owners of closely-held businesses and partnerships in structuring their businesses, drafting and negotiating contracts, and as an advocate in partnership and corporate disputes. In addition, she worked for one of the top five plaintiffs class-action firms in the country, where she collaborated in litigating several multi-million dollar national class actions.
In 2001 and 2002, Ms. Eaves Mathews was chosen by her peers as a Washington Law and Politics "Rising Star," which honors the top 5% of attorneys in the State of Washington under the age of 40.
From 2001-2003, she took a sabbatical from practice to teach law at Seattle University, where she was a Professor of Legal Writing. She will be returning to the classroom again this Fall, when she begins teaching Art and Cultural Property Law for Seattle University School of Law.
Memberships: Washington State Bar Association; WSBA Real Estate section; Litigation section; Business Law section; Construction Law section; King County Bar Association; National Association of Women Executives; Master Builders Association; National Association of Home Builders; MBA Women's Council; Member; WSBA Bar News Editorial Advisory Board, 1996-98.
Presentations: Host and Presenter, Washington State Bar Association CLE, "Recent Developments in Art and Cultural Property Law," April 2008.
Publications: "A Step in the Right Direction: Washington Passes the Limited Liability Company Act," 18 Seattle U.L.Rev. 197 (1994).
Co-Author: Washington Civil Procedure Deskbook, "Consolidation and Separate Trials," (1997).
Author: Washington Civil Procedure Deskbook, "Subpoenas," (2nd ed. 2002).
Community Work: Associate, Corporate Council for the Arts, 1995-96.
Founding Member, BRAVO!, Seattle Opera, 1995-97.
Founding Member, Bridges International Repertory Theatre, 1995-1996.
Counsel, Bridges International Repertory Theatre, 1997-2001.
Volunteer, Seattle Works, 1999-2001.
Tree Designer, Providence Mount St. Vincent, O Christmas Tree Auction, 2004-2006
Habitat for Humanity, Women Build, anticipated for 2008
Admitted to Bar: State of Washington; U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas; U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Education: J.D., 1995, Seattle University School of Law, magna cum laude; Editor in Chief of the Seattle University Law Review; B.A., 1990, University of New Mexico.
In her free time, Jessica loves spending time with her daughter, and riding and showing her four-year old Arabian mare. She is also an avid golfer. And when she is not planning a new remodel, or finding a new real estate investment, you will find her reading a steady stream of remodeling and kitchen design magazines while simultaneously watching anything on HGTV.