Ian M. Bauer

Ian Bauer represents vulnerable children, developmentally disabled adults, the elderly, and others who are victims of severe abuse or neglect. His clients, who have endured what no one should have to, suffer permanent, life-changing consequences as a result of the actions of others. Although Ian can’t turn back the clock on the devastating events his clients have experienced, he can work to achieve the justice they deserve, including the healing that results from holding their abusers accountable.

“There is tremendous power in survivors of abuse and neglect being able to tell their story – on their terms – to face the people who wronged them and have them held accountable in a formal, public setting,” explains Ian. “While the only tangible outcome that can be achieved in a civil case is an award of monetary damages, often the broader goal for my clients is to tell their story and, by holding the wrongdoers publicly accountable, ensure that no one else has to go through what they did.”

Ian’s commitment to his clients in their fight for justice is without exception. Their cases are not just files on his desk. They are the stories of real people with extraordinary challenges, who he sincerely cares about. He views his work on their behalf “a calling,” not a job.

Working for victims of abuse or neglect means that Ian is frequently investigating and litigating against large, powerful corporations, daycare centers, hospitals, group homes, nursing homes, rehabilitation and assisted living facilities, government agencies, regulatory bodies, and youth sports organizations that have a vested interest in denying what happened, minimizing the extent of the abuse or neglect, or blaming someone else. Nevertheless, he is a fearless and effective advocate for his clients.

Before entering private practice, Ian spent time as a lawyer in the Washington State Attorney General’s Office defending state agencies and facilities against the type of abuse and neglect cases he now represents. This valuable experience gives him unique insight into how corporations, governmental agencies, and other institutional defendants operate and what is at stake for them. He can anticipate their tactics, defenses, and pressure points.

For Ian, the cases he takes also have meaning beyond the immediate legal issues. He believes that his work is sacred and solemn, that it serves a greater purpose. He wants the case outcomes he achieves for his clients to make a difference in their lives, to improve protections for the vulnerable, to change organizations in a positive way, and to influence policies, going forward.

“I feel very fortunate to wake up each morning and fight for people who may not have the ability, means, or ‘voice’ to advocate for themselves,” explains Ian. “This is especially true when their adversaries are powerful people, wealthy corporations, or sprawling, faceless bureaucracies. To address the people who wronged them, tell their story on their terms, and have their abusers held accountable in a formal setting is a tremendous feeling for survivors and their loved ones.”

In representing his clients, Ian sometimes collaborates with his PCVA colleagues on case strategy when unique circumstances arise. He is inspired by their enthusiasm and desire to realize the firm’s collective mission that no matter what condition a client comes into the firm, the goal is always for them to walk away with that sense of empowerment from taking ownership of their own story.

Outside of the office, Ian is a devoted husband and father to three children. He can also be found recording music and performing throughout the region under the moniker "the Orphan 40."