08 Jan 2026
Foster Garvey Appoints Ben Hodges and John Ray Nelson as Co-Practice Group Leaders of Litigation Practice
"Foster Garvey appoints Ben Hodges and John Ray Nelson as Co-Practice Group Leaders of its Litigation practice. Hodges focuses on IP and patent litigation; Nelson is a veteran trial lawyer handling commercial and environmental claims."
Ben Hodges is a patent attorney whose practice focuses on guiding clients’ intellectual property portfolios and protecting those assets through litigation. His litigation experience includes managing complex civil cases of all types, including post-grant IP matters, patent, unfair competition, trademark and trade dress, copyright, property disputes and breach of contract cases. He also handles litigation related to the Consumer Protection Act, false advertising and defamation claims as well as constitutional issues. Hodges maintains an active pro bono practice, including counseling and litigation for veterans denied disability benefits, prisoners, victims of domestic violence and IP counseling for artists.
John Ray Nelson is a trial attorney based in Spokane, Washington, who has served as lead counsel in state and federal courts across the country. His practice encompasses a wide variety of commercial and environmental claims on both the plaintiff and defense sides. Over more than 40 years, Nelson has tried more than 35 cases to decision before juries, judges, administrative bodies and arbitrators and has successfully defended two separate nine-figure cases.
Seattle-based partner Tim Filer served as the Litigation Practice Group Leader over the last several years; the firm expressed appreciation for his dedicated service. Foster Garvey’s litigation team provides dispute resolution services across virtually all industries served by the firm, working with clients to assess needs and prioritize resolution options from immediate injunctive relief to trial or arbitration.