Jeffrey P. Downer is the president of Lee Smart, P.S., Inc. He graduated from the University of Washington School of Law in 1982 and was admitted to the Washington State Bar that year. He joined Lee Smart, P.S., Inc. as an intern in 1980 and as a lawyer in 1982. He became a shareholder in the firm in 1987. His practice emphasizes insurance defense litigation, including insurance-coverage matters, product liability, environmental claims and coverage, appellate practice, and a broad range of professional-liability claims. Mr. Downer is Costco Wholesale Corporation's national coordinating counsel in defense of claims across North America arising from allegations of E. coli O157:H7 infection and other claims of food-borne illness or food contamination. He coordinates the firm's insurance-coverage and appellate practice. Mr. Downer has served as arbitrator in numerous lawsuits involving personal injuries and commercial disputes.

A cum laude graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in editorial journalism, Mr. Downer is the editor of THE LEE SMART QUARTERLY, a newsletter regarding litigation and the insurance defense practice of law. In 1994 the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory gave Mr. Downer its "AV" rating, which is its highest. He has spoken at Continuing Legal Education seminars regarding claims of food-borne illness, professional liability, and many other aspects of defense litigation.