John Walker Wood

john wood picture

John Walker Wood started his legal career at the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., having been hired through the Attorney General’s Honors Program.  As a new attorney, he defended the federal government against accusations that it used various forms of intellectual property, including scientific patents, without authorization. 

Since entering private practice, Mr. Wood has handled a range of civil litigation, including ERISA, disability, and insurance-related disputes. He enjoys an "AV" Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell (5.0 out of 5.0), the highest rating an attorney can receive.  In 2010, he was named one of Seattle's "Top Lawyers" by Seattle Metropolitan magazine.  

Mr. Wood has a passion for helping people who are unfairly denied employee benefits (including disability, health, and life insurance benefits) under the federal ERISA statute.  His clients have come from varied occupations in medicine, nursing, physical therapy, dentistry, law, engineering, business, management consulting, sales, law enforcement, technology, enterainment, pharmacy, human resources, factory work, and many other fields.  He has assisted with claims against Unum Life, Paul Revere, Aetna, AIG, Assurant, Hartford, Reliance Standard, CIGNA, Liberty Mutual, Metropolitan Life, Shenandoah Life, The Standard Insurance Company, Kansas City Life, Jefferson Pilot, Lincoln Financial, Provident, Life Insurance Company of North America, Prudential, Sun Life, and others.

A graduate of Tulane Law School, Mr. Wood has given speeches to attorneys on ERISA, disability insurance, legal procedure, case management, legal ethics, computer technology, and subrogation.  As an active member of the American Association for Justice, he currently serves as Chair of the ERISA, Health, and Disability Insurance Litigation Group, and as immediate past Chair of AAJ's Insurance Law Section.  He is also an EAGLE member of the Washington State Association for Justice.

Before moving to Seattle in 2007, he practiced with a leading Tennessee law firm and served as an officer and executive committee member of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.  He was named a "Super Lawyer" in the field of Employee Benefits by Law & Politics magazine. 

In 2007, Mr. Wood founded the Wood Law Firm in Seattle.  He focuses on ERISA claims, insurance-related disputes, and civil litigation.  In addition to his active legal practice, he maintains his blog that helps to educate attorneys and the public about the intricacies of the complex ERISA law.  In addition to his law degree, he holds a master's degree from Georgetown University. 

Mr. Wood enjoys running, hiking, dog walking, music, and traveling.