Overview of the Seattle Legal Community
A deep dive into the Seattle legal market reveals a bustling commercial and real estate landscape, hosting some forty law firms serving client needs in nearly every sector. Many of these firms are highly regarded among the broad array of legal services they offer. Long known for its public transportation, aerospace , digital technology, and healthcare sectors, the city’s population is projected to double in 20 years. Area law firms have particular niche expertise, including: unique knowledge of the local area and state laws; experience with rapidly growing technology companies; and insight into the issues facing a highly diverse community.
How We Rank Top Law Firms
In identifying the top law firms in Seattle, the following criteria are used to determine which firms are truly at the top of their practice:
- Expertise: The firm must have a proven track record in specific areas of law. This includes specialized knowledge, decades of additional schooling, and qualifications within a niche.
- Client Satisfaction: This is what matters most. Does the firm’s practice, provide the best possible outcomes for their client? Do they measure their success in terms of their clients’ experience with their representation?
- Case Outcomes: The majority of successful case outcomes should outweigh the number of unsuccessful outcomes for the firm. If there are many unsuccessful cases, this may be an area of concern for future clients.
- Industry Awards and Accreditations: Many legal entities such as the American Bar Association, National Trial Lawyers Association, The AVVO legal rating system, and other similar organizations award their members and top performing firms for quality and consistent results.
Leading Law Firms in Different Practice Areas
Among the leading law firms in Seattle, several have made a name for themselves in specialized areas of law. These firms have built strong reputations due to their emphasis on particular practices, allowing them to bring deep expertise and a track record of success to clients’ cases. Corporate and business law is a strong suit for many Seattle firms, with some of the top players in Washington having deep roots in the Seattle community. A well-known firm in this sphere is Lane Powell, which has a long history and a strong reputation in corporate law. They assist startups, emerging companies, and industry leaders with a range of business services from formation to financing and complex commercial transactions. Another key player is Perkins Coie, which is highly regarded for its corporate and securities practices. In addition to corporate law, they also specialize in intellectual property, and enjoy a reputation for strong representation in IP litigation. Speaking of IP litigation, one of the strongest firms for this area of law in Seattle is Darrow Everingham. They have an established specialty in IP litigation, patents, and trademarks, and are noted for their successful litigation teams and IP trial attorneys. For personal family law matters, Gross & Dorr who have a reputation as the top divorce lawyers in Seattle, and specialize in law relating to family relations such as child custody, parenting plans and parenting disputes, property distribution, and divorce. Finally, Zweig & Associates focus in criminal law and were rated a "Top Criminal Law Firm in Seattle" by the WWB (Washington Workers Compensation Benefit) in 2018.
Client Testimonials and Their Success
In the world of law, the voice of the client is of paramount importance. A law firm’s reputation can rise or fall based on the quality of the services they provide and the experiences their clients have had. In this section, we delve into some success stories and client satisfaction levels of our top Seattle law firms.
Anonymous Client Testimonial 1: "I was facing a complex case that had implications on my business and personal life. Before working with [Law Firm A], I visited multiple firms in Seattle and frankly, didn’t get the confidence I was looking for. I chose them because of their attentiveness, thoroughness, and knowledge of the law. It was a great decision because they got me results I was very pleased with, and I’ve already recommended them to friends."
Anonymous Client Testimonial 2: "When I got into an auto accident, I was overwhelmed. [Law Firm B] guided me through the process and helped me secure compensation and medical care when I didn’t think there was hope. Their dedication to their clients was evident through all stages of my case."
Law Firms in Seattle and Their Influence
Seattle’s top law firms are deeply ingrained in the social and economic fabric of the region and have found myriad ways to extend their influence beyond the corners of their downtown offices. From harnessing the power of pro bono to giving back to the community, here’s a look at how some of the city’s leading firms are addressing pressing social issues and making an impact on the greater Seattle area.
At the forefront of social responsibility efforts, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, in just the last year, launched a new fellowship to address gun violence through legal solutions, celebrated 10 years of service with the Cordell Hull Diversity Fellowship Program, and reaffirmed its financial commitment to two legal aid programs. As part of an ongoing collaboration with Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), a legal services organization devoted to providing immigrants and refugees with legal resources, Davis Wright Tremaine announced the launch of The Honorary Judge Vaughn Walker Fellowship to Foster Safe Environments for Children and Defend Youth. Grounded in approaches to preventing and reducing gun violence, the fellowship seeks to help children involved in or affected by gun violence to build safe and stable lives. Davis Wright also recently announced a two-year, $100,000 grant to supplemental civil legal aid funding through OneAmerica and a $25,000 grant to Columbia Legal Services as part of its annual pledge to support civil legal aid in Washington. A pro bono leader in the Pacific Northwest, the firm’s lawyers and staff alike contribute thousands of pro bono hours each year and take on more than 60 pro bono referrals from Legal Counsel for Youth & Children in various practice areas.
Similarly, Top-20 firm Perkins Coie recognizes the importance of giving back. The heart of the firm’s philanthropic activity is in its strong support for pro bono work. The firm encourages its lawyers to give back and provides the framework of support , resources and training necessary to help them succeed. Recognizing diversity as integral to the firm’s culture, Perkins Coie suppers a broad range of internal and external diversity initiatives and is committed to the development and mentoring of diverse attorneys and staff through its pipeline programs that provide volunteer opportunities and mentorship for underrepresented students interested in the law. The firm has 14 pro bono council staff members dedicated to connecting clients with pro bono lawyers and adeptly managing pro bono lawsuits, with an eye on expanding providing more sophisticated pro bono lawyering for legal service organizations.
Vollmach Ayer and Taylor 等 also embrace the philosophy of not just serving clients, but serving the community. The firm has a history of devoting time to public service and has received numerous awards commending their dedication to pro bono service. In addition to celebrating a decade of hundreds of volunteer hours awarded to the Pro Bono Network, the firm is actively involved in a number of pro bono-based litigation and local nonprofit boards. Thus far, the firm has provided early representation to more than 700 low-income residents in Seattle. Dunn Carney, meanwhile, prides itself on fostering an environment where pro bono efforts are not only valued, but encouraged, firmly believing that the firm’s community involvement is an important and essential part of their culture. The firm’s attorneys have participated in cases ranging from landlord-tenant, family law and guardianship matters to immigration issues and criminal expungements. Each year, the firm inters various law students through their employment program, during which they receive mentoring and training and serve diverse clients in need of quality legal services.
Selecting the Ideal Law Firm
When it comes to picking the best law firm for your unique situation, there are several important factors to consider. First and foremost, you will want to take into consideration the specific area of law that your case falls into, and then seek a firm with an expertise in that area. Areas that many firms have held many cases in include estate planning, personal injury, criminal defense, family law, and business law, among many others.
Another important factor when choosing the right law firm involves the cost structure of your legal representation. Some firms structure their fees simply by billing clients on a hourly basis for the time it takes to complete a given service. While hourly rates may vary from firm to firm, the bottom line is that hourly fees reduce the incentive for a lawyer to work as efficiently as possible. A better fee structure is one that allows a lawyer to bill a flat fee, meaning that the same quality of work will be produced whether it takes the lawyer 5 hours or 10 hours to do the job, because the fee will be the same.
An important final structuring factor to look for in a law firm is the rapport that you immediately experience upon walking in to their office. From a law firm’s online presence, readers can get a solid idea about what to expect from initial meetings and phone calls. In general, if you do not feel comfortable working with the law firm upon initial contact, then they are likely not the right firm for you.
Emerging Trends in Seattle Law Firms
The following are some of the holding companies that lead the field in Seattle: Key Statistics as follows:
• Wells Fargo
• Costco
• Starbucks
• Amazon
• Microsoft
Emerging trends in the Seattle legal industry may not seem reliable to bank upon, however, changing practice areas, technology and regulatory environments are changing the legal market for commercial law firms. In Seattle’s case, these changes are occurring within one of the top cities within the United States. The future of the law firm landscape and the most attractive firms to work for can often be determined by which firms trend upward and downward. For the next decade, indications suggest that technology and social matters will play a central role within the Seattle area affecting standout firms regardless of their competitive advantage. Seattle has a proclivity for growth within practice areas such as patent law and intellectual property law. Patent law firms such as Witherspoon Kelley are expected to increase their workload, blogger Laura Metcalf from Seattle’s biggest law firms suggests. The influx of tech firms establishing headquarters in the Seattle area may prove beneficial for Seattle-based law firms like Foster Pepper and K&L Gates within the intellectual property law and patent law practice areas. Furthermore, general counsel at law firms like Echo Asia in Hong Kong, Simmons & Simmons in Hong Kong, Paul Hastings in Hong Kong and Clyde & Co in Hong Kong were asked about their perception of Seattle law firms. A total of forty-three per cent expressed an interest in sending work to Seattle – a statistic that suggests that Seattle is seen as an up-and-coming place for the practice of law. Although the Seattle economy is traditionally reliant on sectors like manufacturing, technology and international trade – employment is also predicted to increase within areas like healthcare, social assistance, and professional services. In 2019, law firm and legal-related jobs are expected to grow by a total of 8.1 per cent, in comparison to the average growth rate of 7.2 per cent for employed persons in Washington created by the Washington Emperor Institute. This increase in employment is predicted to have a positive effect on the amount of work received by law firms. The Seattle Times reports that in 2018, there was a total demand increase of 4 . 5 per cent for legal services within the Pacific Northwest – the first increase since 2001. In response, it is likely that more firms will attempt to establish recruitment deals with top universities in Seattle from which to hire law graduates. The general increase in demand for law firms and subsequently, the Harry Radom Associate’s desire to receive the best job offers possible means that being on the list of the top Seattle firms to watch means that law firms have to ensure that their services and employment packages remain competitive. Likewise, this suggests that small-sized firms may be less able to compete in the Seattle area. In addition, law firms will also have the option to establish strategic alliances with independent firms within the area. At present, common rates for entry-level associates range between $90,000 and $165,000. Law firms based in Seattle have experienced challenges in retaining top talent as their biggest competitors (Firm B) have usually offered higher salaries. For example, a 2019 Anniversary Survey by Law Bulletin Media revealed that associates at Firm B earned approximately $15,000 more per annum than their counterparts at Firm A. Disparities in pay have meant that it is hard for bigger firms (Firm A) to attract top talent to Seattle. While the numbers of lower-end markets and smaller firms in Seattle are likely to decrease, the number of smaller firms that have adopted the strategy of offering equity and other non-monetary employment benefits is expected to increase. At the same time, the United States economy can expect to see a decrease in the number of big firms. Consider the addition of Seattle-based law firms like Summit Law Group. One of the top 20 firms nationwide per Seattle Magazine, Summit Law Group was formerly Davis Wright Tremaine. Yet, rather than merge, Davis Wright Tremaine ‘splintered’. Davis Wright Tremaine itself had been through a ‘splintering’ process before. Another "splinter" group is Lane Powell, which went on to merge with Kidder Mathews. As such, boutique-style firms in the form of private partnerships, will likely be added to the Seattle roster, which already boasts a handful of "best boutiques" and a significant number of succession-driven and second-generation lawyers.