A Look Into Seattle’s Legal Industry
Seattle, Washington, located at the crossroads of global trade routes, is much more than just the home of the Space Needle and grunge music—it’s the heart of the Pacific Northwest legal community. As the largest city in the state, it serves as the gateway to a regional economy that thrives on innovation, technology, and commerce. Seattle is the economic center of the Puget Sound region, which encompasses counties in both Washington and Oregon, and is home to several key industries, including aerospace, healthcare, technology, and clean energy.
But what sets the legal landscape in Seattle apart from other major cities is the unique interplay between major corporations, burgeoning tech startups, and a vibrant community of legal and business professionals. With an estimated 45,000 attorneys in the state, Washington boasts over 20 law firms with more than 50 members each, a sizable number of boutique firms with specialized practices, and an ever-growing community of solo practitioners. From helping startups navigate complex legal regulations to representing established corporations in high-stakes litigation, the range of legal services offered in Seattle is as diverse as the businesses themselves .
Leading law firms in Seattle provide a wealth of experience across multiple disciplines, from intellectual property and commercial real estate to immigration and environmental law. Their expertise is not only valuable in the local market but extends beyond the state lines, with many firms having a global presence and providing counsel to clients on international legal matters. As the Seattle tech scene continues to expand, so too does the demand for legal specialists who can guide companies through the complexities of start-up laws, employment contracts, and intellectual property rights. These firms are pivotal for both local and international businesses looking to succeed in the Seattle economy.
The legal landscape in Seattle is continually evolving, driven by technological advances and economic growth, and the expansion of the maritime and shipping industries in the region. As new businesses emerge and the economy rebounds, leading firms in the area are well-positioned to adapt and grow with them. With so many quality firms available to choose from, it is important for businesses in Seattle or looking to relocate to the city to carefully review potential law firms and their suitability for their unique needs.
Largest Seattle-Based Law Firms By Size
According to the National Law Journal, the majority of the top 250 firms in the US have offices situated across the northwest. Seattle is home to 7 of these major firms. Showing the significance of the law firm sector in the city, a large proportion of the law firms that dominate in Portland and Seattle are based in Seattle, according to a Pew Research Center report issued last year.
The biggest 5 law firms by number of attorneys in Seattle are:
K&L Gates K&L Gates (which has a sister firm in the UK called K&L Gates LLP) has 36 offices worldwide, with 20 of them in the US. With 2000 employees and over 700 lawyers worldwide, the largest portion of its lawyers are situated in Seattle, making the firm one of the largest in the world when it comes to the number of attorneys in a single office. The firm was formed in 2010 by the merging of two banks; the US-based K&L Gates and the UK-based Middletons. The history of the firm goes back to 1883, when Karr Tuttle was established as a Kent in 1883.
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP Founded in 1972, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP offers a range of legal services in the media, real estate, intellectual property and telecommunications fields, amongst others. The firm’s history is established in many top law schools, including Yale University, the University of Washington and Stanford University. The firm, which has a heavy presence in the Northwest, is very respected, being often featured in the American Lawyer magazine.
Perkins Coie Perkins Coie is a 100 percent employee-owned law firm, which means that all of its 1900 attorneys are shareholders in the firm. Founded in 1912, the Seattle-based Harris & Smith merged with the Cohen & Ringgenberg firm to form Perkins Coie in 1966. Back then, the firm had around 50 lawyers. In 1972, the firm opened offices in Washington DC, marking the first time that a law firm had established an office there. The firm kept growing, setting up offices in Palo Alto, CA, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York, and it also launched a Brussels office. The firm currently has 19 offices located throughout the world.
Foster Garvey Foster Garvey was established in 2018 but the firm has deep roots in Seattle, having been formed by the merge of two long-established local companies, the Garvey Schubert Barer law firm and Foster Pepper. The two original firms were long-term rivals, though the Garvey company had been founded by Foster Pepper’s employees. In 2000, the companies formed a strategic alliance before the full merger was finally completed in 2018, with Foster Garvey oofices now located in both Seattle and Portland.
Miller Nash Graham & Dunn Founded in 1873, Miller Nash Graham & Dunn offers a wide range of services to clients across Oregon and Washington. It employs more than 100 lawyers, with around half of them located in Seattle. The firm launched its first office in Seattle in 1982, establishing a second in 1992. Over the years, the firm has amassed a client base that is made up of innovative technology companies, industrial firms, educational institutions and health care organizations.
Areas of Practice: Legal Services These Firms Provide
The Seattle business landscape is home to many of the biggest players in the law industry, including numerous mid-sized and boutique firms that offer their clients a wide range of practical law services across a number of different industries. As you might expect, the biggest law firms by number of attorneys are able to handle all different areas of the law on behalf of their clients, but what makes Seattle law firms different from their counterparts in other major cities is their unique specialties-the areas of law that they know so much about, they can practically write the book on it. Litigation, for instance, is among the biggest practice areas for many firms located in Seattle. These firms will typically go after both plaintiffs and defendants in the courtroom, offering counsel and advice during each step of the litigation process. Employment law, intellectual property, environmental issues, real estate, bankruptcies and reorganizations, cases pertaining to nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, and contract disputes are all additional matters, to varying degrees, that big Seattle law firms tackle every day. Healthcare is another key practice area, given that the Seattle area is home to some of the biggest hospital systems in the state. Most of these firms represent well-established healthcare organizations throughout the entire region, advising them on issues related to taxation, regulatory compliance, fraud and abuse, Medicare and Medicaid, and a wide range of other financing and transactional matters. Even defense of malpractice claims falls under the umbrella of healthcare law.
Reputation & Prestige: Awards They Have Received
The largest law firms in Seattle enjoy a strong reputation both locally and internationally, and their lawyers receive numerous awards and recognitions for their legal work. Some of these awards are on a national level, such as AV Preeminent, or Best Lawyers, or Super Lawyers, but others are more regional, like Chambers USA.
The recognition that the top Seattle law firms have received substantiates the level and the quality of services these firms provide.
For example, many of the top law firms have received the highest rating in the legal industry, including an AV ranking and 5 stars by Martindale-Hubbell. Others have been awarded ranking by Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers.
Best Lawyers calls itself the oldest and most respected guide to the legal industry. They’ve been publishing their lists since 1983. In 2018, the following Seattle area law firms were selected as winners in certain categories:
Additionally, in 2018, a number of large Seattle law firm attorneys were named among the top rated lawyers in the country as follows:
Super Lawyers is a national rating service that recognizes outstanding legal professionals from more than 70 practice areas in all 50 states. According to their website, only five percent of the lawyers in each state are selected to Super Lawyers each year. The following Seattle law firms had attorneys who received a Super Lawyers award in 2018:
Chambers USA is a respected directory of leading lawyers and law firms across the world. Their rankings are the result of in-depth interviews with lawyers and their clients. The following Seattle law firms received a Chambers USA ranking in 2018:
Additional awards include being named a best place to work. Some of Seattle’s largest law firms make the cut here as well, showing that they not only attract top talent but offer a great working environment as well. Listed below are various awards received by Seattle law firms and why they were selected:
Ranked as the #3 best place to work by Seattle Business Magazine, Danny Gibbons, a partner accepts the award. As they noted, "The firm’s downtown office is comprised of 58 (leading lawyers) and 87 staff who practice throughout Washington. The firm is in the top 10, in terms of numbers of female equity partners (27 percent)."
Ranked as one of the top 10 places to work in Washington by Glassdoor, the firm focuses on promoting the women in its ranks. Female lawyers hold 36 percent of the firm’s equity partnerships (well above the national average of 17 percent for large firms).
Ranked as a "socially responsible law firm," by Law360, the firm is known for its active in pro bono work, community service and client contribution programs.
Ranked as a "best workplace" by Fortune Magazine, Becker said the firm’s steady investments in its staff, in terms of training, benefits and community reach, was key to this recognition.
These awards and recognitions help to explain the success of Seattle’s largest law firms. From a business perspective, a top rated law firm also means they are more likely to be hired, recently recognized for an award and have increased visibility in the market.
Noteworthy Clientele & Big-Name Cases
Grace Brisebois
Seattle’s law firms are as diverse as the cases they take on. Their notable clients range from oil and gas companies like BP to local firms like Starbucks. Health care companies, technology leaders such as Microsoft and Amazon, and companies in industries related to Medicare and Medicaid have often turned to Seattle law firms for legal assistance. In addition to being large publicly traded companies, many of these firms have a significant presence in the Seattle area. For example, in addition to being one of the largest coffee companies in the world, Starbucks is headquartered in Seattle. Similarly, Boeing, a major aerospace company, maintains a significant presence in the Seattle area and is one of the top employers in the region. When it comes to high-profile cases, you have to look no further than the phones of everyday Seattle residents to see the impact its law firms have had on major legal issues over the years. Just last year, the Washington State Supreme Court ruled on a controversial case initiated by a florist who declined to provide services to a same sex couple. In an 8-1 ruling, the top court ruled that the florist was in violation of the state’s anti-discrimination law when she refused to create floral arrangements for a gay couple’s wedding in 2013 . The ruling also protects same sex couples from discrimination in private businesses, including hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and restaurants. The landmark ruling touches on a wide variety of issues, such as anti-diversity laws, sexual orientation and religious freedom. The florist’s lawyer said that the ruling infringes on his client’s constitutional right to religious freedom and that the law firm would be appealing the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. Another recent high-profile case brought to the Washington Supreme Court challenged the constitutionality of the state’s battery law. It focused on an intoxicated driver who hit another car while fleeing the scene of an incident in Washington D.C. in 2014. The driver’s blood alcohol content measured at .095 percent six hours later. A peace officer charged him with second-degree assault, but the DUI Driver’s lawyers argued at trial that their client couldn’t possibly be guilty of the second degree felony as a matter of law because he was "too drunk" to intent to cause harm. The jury convicted the defendant and the Court of Appeals reversed the decision because the intoxicated driving statute states that someone can be guilty of second-degree assault if they are merely engaged in "driving or physical control of a motor vehicle." The Washington Supreme Court reviewed the case and upheld the lower court’s ruling.
Diversity And Inclusion Efforts: What They’re Doing Now
The largest law firms in Seattle have made moves to be more aware and sensitive to diversity, equity, and inclusion these last several years. Their commitment to hiring, retention, promotion, and professional advancement of women and people of color has become common policy. Seattle is home to several of the leading firms in the state and country on the forefront of proving that valuing the experiences and cultures of all individuals can create a more creative and innovative law firm.
Mergers and other changes in the legal industry have made it so that the largest 50 firms in the Washington state area are now scattered from Bellevue to Tacoma rather than primarily down town Seattle. Some of the top ranked firms have already earned accolades nationally for their efforts in this area.
Perkins Coie is among the most recognizable names and most diverse law firms in the country. Last year they were among the ten highest ranked for diversity by the American Lawyer. We know them for their 4.3% African American lawyers and 34% female partners, as well as an inclusive and accepting workplace culture. Chamberlain offers their employees as well as their clients numerous ways to ensure safe and exclusive treatment. They have an active firm wide Diversity Action Team and senior leadership teams track progress publicly.
Kirkland & Ellis has been on the rise in the last few years when it comes to inclusion. A 2018 report revealed that they were making strides in the promotion of women. Even so, they have a long way to go with 20% of partners and 30.5% of non-partner lawyers still identifying as gender or racially diverse. The Asian American Bar Association of Washington recognizes the efforts of Kirkland and others by giving out the Best Large Law Firm Diversity Award each year.
Seattle firms have been rising to the challenges of diversifying in recent years. While general movements by many law firms have made it harder to measure the impact of inclusion and sensitivity efforts individually, we can look at overall satisfaction with the companies they work for to get a better idea of the climate of inclusion.
Foster Pepper is one of the few Seattle law firms to make the top 25 law firms for 2019 in Washington’s Best Companies to Work for list. They scored almost perfect on the women and minorities component. Dorsey & Whitney not only works to promote women and minority attorneys over the last several years, but they also partner with partner Minneapolis-based nonprofit PFund Foundation to assist LGBT applicants with scholarship awards.
LGBTQ individuals and people of color make up less than one-third of the U.S. population but are still underrepresented in law firm ranks. Seattle has made efforts to be ahead of the curve with their diversity and inclusion commitment in recent years. It has paid off in happier and more productive employees who feel comfortable to display their true selves without fear of discrimination or harassment.
Careers At The Top Seattle Law Firms
As noted in the previous sections, the legal industry in Seattle employs a large workforce of lawyers, support staff, and other areas such as office administrators, human resources, and marketing. In a booming economy like Seattle, there is an expected demand for career opportunities with top law firms. From veteran partners with decades of experience to recent law school graduates looking for their first associate roles, the Seattle legal landscape is strong in both talent and numbers. Recruiting strategies vary by firm, with many taking to universities and law schools to recruit new attorneys. In addition, many firms look to acquire the services of seasoned lawyers by recruiting through legal recruitment firms, as well as directly through networking and referrals from colleagues and existing clients. As with most salaries in the greater Seattle area, many firms also offer good compensation and benefits packages to their employees.
Predictions For The Future Of Seattle’s Legal Industry
The Seattle legal industry is currently facing a number of transformative trends with long-term implications for the biggest law firms in the region. Personally, I welcome these trends as they contribute to the democratization of legal knowledge, a good thing for consumers and clients.
The first trend is the rise of legal technology. Technology has always played a role in the practice of law; from the printing press, to the typewriter, to word processing software, a constant stream of technological innovation has persisted over the ages. Currently, this trend is manifesting itself in the increased use of cloud-based practice management software, which allows law firms to efficiently manage and store their data while improving accessibility inside and outside their firms. Document management systems have also seen growth, improving collaboration between law firms and their clients.
Perhaps the most exciting emerging trend in the Seattle legal market is the greater embrace of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is already being used in the legal industry to train new lawyers. Programs like Lagniappe Law’s ROSS use the IBM Watson cognitive computing system to search through seven million pages of law and legal information, retrieving relevant precedents and other sources of law. New AI programs have recently been developed to draft emails and even contracts, while other software assists legal professionals in conducting contract reviews far more efficiently than any human could do. What’s more, the University of Washington School of Law has developed an open source project that uses machine learning to randomly generate contracts, analyzing the legal and economic consequences produced.
While the Seattle legal market embraces a number of radical changes, another major trend is the balancing of these changes with the constant need for security as a result of an increasing number of cyberattacks. The Seattle legal industry is no stranger to cyberattacks; a 2015 cyber breach of one of the region’s largest law firms caused the data of several hundred clients to be exposed. That breach , along with the awareness that law firms are a prime target for hackers due to the sensitivity of their data, has led to many of the larger Seattle law firms paying serious attention to the security of their data. Many larger firms now employ cybersecurity experts whose sole responsibility is to ensure the firm’s data is secure.
As a consequence of improved data security, many law firms in the region have also begun to establish an enhanced web presence. Seattle’s presence on the web is already considerable; a search for any Seattle law firm leads directly to their website link. Law firms are finding websites serve as a powerful tool in their arsenal, seeking greatly increased web traffic and visibility by making a consistent effort to publish helpful articles online that will interest potential leads. Effective use of social media is also increasingly important for marketing the firm’s services among both existing and potential clients. Sean Ralston, the Director of Business Development at Lane Powell PC, stated that "Social media has become, and continues to be, a very popular and effective way to promote a law firm and its people." It’s a welcome surprise to see law firms employing many of the same tactics as up and coming organizations to expand familiarity of their services.
An increase of outside players looking to penetrate the Seattle legal market has created heightened competition that the largest firms in the region must continually account for. Industries outside of the law have recognized the value of establishing an online presence and are infringing on law firms’ territory. Law schools in the region have improved their marketing efforts and content creation to attract prospective students. Legal technology companies are offering a wide array of options designed to attract law firms all over the country. The result is an ongoing battle for traffic that leads to a rise in costs among corporations vying for the attention of Seattle’s largest law firms. As the competition grows fiercer, the region’s largest law firms have risen to the challenge, committing valuable resources to enhance their online visibility in the market.
