Cara Wallace
- Seattle
- Anchorage
Notice
Before proceeding, please note: If you are not a current client of Perkins Coie, please do not include any information in this e-mail that you or someone else considers to be of a confidential or secret nature. Perkins Coie has no duty to keep confidential any of the information you provide. Neither the transmission nor receipt of your information is considered a request for legal advice, securing or retaining a lawyer. An attorney-client relationship with Perkins Coie or any lawyer at Perkins Coie is not established until and unless Perkins Coie agrees to such a relationship as memorialized in a separate writing.
Cara counsels nonprofits and Fortune 100 companies, drawing on her case management experience and an established reputation as a civil trial lawyer.
Cara Wallace represents healthcare providers, insurers, biotech research companies, and laboratories in complex litigation and government investigations. She advises healthcare organizations facing high-stakes litigation and enforcement actions, such as matters involving alleged billing and coding violations, diversion allegations, governance disputes, and regulatory noncompliance.
Cara has significant experience defending clients in False Claims Act (FCA) issues, including qui tam actions, as well as antitrust and consumer protection matters. She has achieved favorable outcomes for clients in federal and Washington state courts, negotiated settlements with government agencies, and advised on compliance and risk mitigation strategies involving alleged violations of the FCA.
As a civil trial lawyer, Cara has served in lead and co-counsel roles in federal and state courts across a range of civil matters. She has represented clients in evidentiary hearings, mediations, jury trials, and bench trials, earning recognition for her meticulous preparation and persuasive advocacy.
Cara is recognized for her collaborative approach and is frequently selected to manage complex cases involving business torts, as well as contractual, IP, and unfair competition disputes. She oversees timelines, deliverables, and communications with clients and stakeholders, and leads large-scale e-discovery projects. Cara applies advanced protocols to streamline document review, reduce costs, and identify key case insights. Her leadership drives successful outcomes in discovery, summary judgment, and at trial.
Cara’s pro bono practice focuses on prisoner rights and clemency representation. She has challenged unconstitutional prison conditions and obtained clemency and commutation for multiple pro bono clients.
Cara is based in Washington and Alaska.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, J.D., Editor-in-Chief, Arizona Law Review, 2015
- Dartmouth College, A.B., Government; Native American Studies
Bar and Court Admissions
-
Washington
-
Alaska
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Related Employment
- King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Trial Fellowship, 2019
- University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Tucson, AZ, Research Assistant to Barak Orbach, 2013-2015
- Perkins Coie, LLP, Seattle, WA, Summer Associate, 2014
- U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Assistant Secretary–Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C., Udall Foundation Congressional Intern, 2013
Professional Recognition
Recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation; Health Care Law, 2026
Professional Experience
Healthcare
Defended local healthcare practice and biotech research company for confidential matters before the state attorney general consumer protection division.
Defended MAT/SUD treatment provider and diagnostic laboratory for confidential matters before the DOJ, related to False Claims Act allegations.
Represented nonprofit in a confidential internal investigation related to alleged Medicaid billing violations.
Defended healthcare provider against Section 1983 claims, resulting in a favorable settlement.
Defended insurer for a confidential matter before the state attorney general antitrust division.
Defended insurer in a corporate governance dispute, resulting in a favorable settlement.
Counseled a tribally owned business related to the subsidiary’s expansion of MAT/SUD services.
Trial
Second chair in bench trial with favorable findings for national financial sector client.
Member of a 6-person trial team who was awarded pro bono trial team of the year.
Member of a 4-person trial team with a favorable jury verdict in an antitrust case.
Second chair at evidentiary hearing for an international manufacturing and supply company.
Completed a six-week trial fellowship with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Miscellaneous
Defended an insurance broker in a trade secrets/non-compete case.
Represented an Alaska Native Corporation in a confidential internal investigation related to potential trade secrets violations.
Defended an equipment dealer in a confidential matter before DOJ related to an antitrust investigation.
Represented a Fortune 100 company in a confidential internal investigation concerning alleged FCPA violations.
Defended an Alaska Native Corporation against FCA qui tam action.
Defended app developers for a confidential matter before the state attorney general consumer protection division.
Defended a Fortune 100 company against subpoenas in confidential mass arbitration, resulting in no document production or testimony.
Negotiated a favorable settlement in a confidential mass arbitration for video game and entertainment company.
Defended videogame and software development and publishing companies against subpoenas, resulting in limited document productions and enhanced confidentiality protections.
