Charles P.E. Leitch is a Founding Principal of Patterson Buchanan Fobes Leitch & Kalzer, Inc., P.S. in Seattle. Prior to founding PBFL&K, he was a partner in the litigation firm of Lee Smart Cook Martin and Patterson.

Mr. Leitch’s practice emphasizes civil litigation, with emphasis in public sector tort defense, school law, employment law, abuse litigation, contracts, and civil rights. Mr. Leitch’s experience includes over twelve years of general and litigation counsel work for Washington School Districts, Counties, Cities, Fire Districts and EMS entities, and corporate clients. Prior to his civil practice, he served as a prosecutor on the city and county levels.

He has tried over one-hundred bench and jury trials in State court and Federal District court. These include complex jury litigation.  He successfully handled an eight-million dollar paramedic malpractice case in Pierce County for Graham Fire & Rescue, Carlson v. PCFD #21,  and a ten-million dollar federal civil rights case for Jefferson County, Barbee v. Jefferson County. Both of these cases resulted in a defense verdict. He is experienced in all facets of litigation through trial.

Mr. Leitch also provides general counsel to various public and private entities, with a particular emphasis in the areas of electronic harassment, intimidation and bullying in both the workplace and educational settings and critical response to workplace violence, boundary invasion and abuse, and catastrophic events. He also routinely handles termination investigations and proceedings, administrative hearings, coordinated response to governmental agency inquiry, and grievance arbitrations. He provides policy guidance and implementation oversight to clients on matters within his practice.