The Pacific Northwest Elite: The Go-To Cascadia Law Firms

Today we turn to the Pacific Northwest in our continuing exploration of legal markets in notable tech hubs. Previously, our friends at Lake Whillans, supporters of cutting-edge entrepreneurs and businesses that find themselves in litigation or arbitration, have provided ATL readers with primers on the Silicon Valley, Boston and “The Wild West” markets. The Pacific Northwest can rightly claim its place among these centers of innovation.

1. Best Firm for One-Horned Horsey Creatures: Fenwick & West LLP

When you’re sure your pipe dream would be the next big thing if only you had investors to help get your idea off the ground, the folks at Fenwick & West are the people to talk to. With major players in the firm’s Seattle office, this shop specializes in representing emerging technology companies. Once upon a time, they even helped a tiny new business called Apple Computer incorporate. Since then, they’ve gone on to tackle the two largest venture capital financings in 2014, both for Uber, as well as the 2011 financing of Facebook—the largest in history. When the future of your emerging company is on the line, this is the firm you call.

2. Best Firm for Patenting Your Algorithm or Application: Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala LLP

When you need patent work in the Pacific Northwest, look no further than Western Canada’s largest independent IP firm. Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala was established in Vancouver in 1977 and now represents its clients’ intellectual property interests on a global scale. The lawyers in the firm’s patent group are registered patent agents with science degrees who have assisted individuals to multinational corporations in a wide range of areas, including biotech, industrial, electronics and chemicals. Whatever your patent needs, this firm can handle them.

3. Best Firm to Help You Conquer the Healthcare Industry: Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt

It’s hard to find a firm with a larger presence in the Pacific Northwest than Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt. With offices from Bend, Oregon, to Vancouver, Canada, they’ve the obvious choice for any company that needs proven legal advice in the healthcare arena. With one of the largest healthcare practices in the region, this firm understands the ins and outs of the industry’s ever-changing regulatory and legal landscape. Whether you’re a health insurance provider, pharmaceutical company, or a medical device manufacturer, this is the team you want on your side.

4. Best Firm for When You Actually Find Yourself in a Courtroom: Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan

Utter the phrase “litigation powerhouse” and Quinn Emanuel is the first firm that comes to mind. Dedicated to tackling the most complex of commercial disputes, the firm’s litigation prowess is second to none, and the litigators in the Seattle office are no exception. Capable of handling every type of litigation imaginable, these lawyers aren’t afraid to see the inside of a courtroom. Touting an impressive 88 percent win rate, this is the firm you need when your dispute actually makes it to trial and the future of your business is on the line.

5. Best Firm to Help You Avoid an HR Nightmare: Riddell Williams

With Pacific Northwest roots dating back to 1906, this Seattle firm has a strong legal handle on all aspects of employment law. In addition to resolving disputes with employees, Riddell Williams also routinely provides day-to-day counseling and training services to help clients avoid running afoul of the law. When the chips are down, they have the litigation experience necessary to defend you before courts and administrative bodies. They even have expertise in collective bargaining and union issues. If you have employment law questions, these lawyers have the answers.

6. Best Firm for Helping You Get Office Space: Foster Pepper

With Pacific Northwest roots that date back over a century, Foster Pepper boasts one of the most highly respected real estate practices in the region. From commercial shopping centers to single-family homes, these lawyers provide full-service representation in matters of any size. They’re familiar with both sides of game, thanks to a client roster that spans all aspects of real estate development and transactions. When it comes to building your business brick by brick, this firm has the real estate know-how you need to get things off the ground.

7. Best Firm to Help You Set Up Your Medical Marijuana Dispensary: Canna Law Group

With offices in Seattle and Portland, this niche practice group has been blazing the trail for regional businesses wanting to get into the retail cannabis market since 2010. Functioning as a practice group of the Harris Bricken law firm, the group has the resources of a large firm at its disposal, while offering the personalized service of a boutique firm. Their knowledge in this emerging area of law is unrivaled, from business formation to litigation. Whether you’re a grower or a retailer, if you want to make sure your budding cannabis business stays compliant with the ever-developing law, these are the lawyers you need to call.

8. Best Firm to Win the Trial Over Your Intellectual Property: Perkins Coie

Founded in 1912, this Seattle-based firm has a long history of representing innovators on the cutting edge of technology, boasting Boeing as one if its earliest clients. The firm’s intellectual property practice is more than 200 lawyers strong, and they’re no strangers to the courtroom. The Perkins IP team has successfully represented some of the world’s biggest corporations in copyright, trademark and patent litigations across all industries, from vineyards to biotech. When your intellectual property rights are on the line, this is the firm you want in your corner.

9. Best Firm for When You Need Estate Planning After Your IPO: Garvey Schubert Barer

When it comes to planning for the future, Garvey Schubert Barer is the firm to turn to in the Pacific Northwest. Nationally recognized for their superior estate planning services, the firm’s attorneys in Washington and Oregon are dedicated to seeing that your assets will be handled according to your wishes. From standard wills and trusts to navigating the complex waters of federal and state estate tax laws, these lawyers have the legal know-how to tackle even the most complicated estate planning issues. When something as important as the future of your estate is on the line, this is the firm you can trust.

10. Best Firm to Advise Minority Shareholders: Northwest Business Law LLC

With offices in Portland, Seattle and Bend, this firm has considerable depth of knowledge and experience when it comes to handling questions of minority oppression and shareholder rights. The team at Northwest Business Law understands that minority shareholder issues have major implications for the success and liability of any company. If you have questions about shareholder duties or concerns about possible minority shareholder oppression, this is the firm to call.

11. Best Firm to Independently Advise the Board of Directors: Tonkon Torp LLP

Since its 1974 founding in Portland, Tonkin Torp has been advising some of the region’s top companies on corporate governance matters. Whether it’s a question of disclosure obligations or dealing with complex internal investigations, these lawyers have unrivaled knowledge in the corporate arena. With a focus on regulatory compliance, they have counseled countless companies with the goal of avoiding costly investigations. When disputes do inevitably arise, they have the litigation chops to represent your interests in court and keep your business running smoothly.

12. Best Firm to Help You Make Sure You Have Capital to Keep the Lights on Until Daybreak: Cooley

Touting unrivaled access to the world’s most influential venture capital investors, Cooley has had a hand in helping thousands of billion-dollar startups and some of the world’s top innovators get their businesses off the ground. The firm is consistently recognized as the go-to shop for VC-backed companies going public. The firm brings that expertise to the Pacific Northwest, with key players in their Seattle office working on venture capital matters for local and national emerging companies through all stages of their corporate existence. These are the lawyers to consult if you’re worried about having the funds to keep your company up and running.

13. Best Firm for Trademarking the Logo You Think Is So Cool: Davis Wright Tremaine

With offices in Portland, Oregon, and Washington cities of Seattle and Bellevue, this firm has the Pacific Northwest covered when it comes to trademark law and litigation. Whether it’s securing trademark rights in the first instance or protecting those rights from infringement down the road, these are the folks to see. From technology to financial services, the team at Davis Wright Tremaine will help you develop trademark enforcement strategies that work for your business. If infringement does occur, they have the litigation chops necessary to argue your case in front of any court or trademark tribunal, on both the domestic and international fronts.

14. Best Firm for Incorporating Your Two-Person Company Because Somebody Told You There Were Tax Benefits: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Wilson Sonsini has long demonstrated a commitment to helping new businesses get off the ground. From company formation to negotiating with investors, the firm’s attorneys help emerging companies every step of the way. They’ve even developed an entrepreneurs network designed to provide up-and-coming business owners with the information and opportunities they need to succeed. The firm’s Seattle office is the go-to shop when you want client-centered service and need help making the business decisions that are crucial in the early days of launching your company.

15. Best Firm for Planning (or Avoiding) the Re-Startup: Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP

Founded in Portland in 1873, Pacific Northwest roots don’t get much deeper than those at Miller Nash Graham & Dunn. With offices in Seattle, Vancouver and Portland, the firm boasts one of the most experienced bankruptcy practices in the region. Its dedicated attorneys excel at representing distressed companies across a wide variety of industries, as well as working to protect creditor rights. Whether you’re looking to restructure a loan agreement or are facing a potential Chapter 11 filing, these are the lawyers to have by your side.

16. Best Firm to Keep You Out of E-Discovery Hell: Lane Powell

Featuring offices in Portland, Seattle and Tacoma, Washington, Lane Powell is one of the Pacific Northwest’s premier firms for handling E-discovery issues. With its dedicated Electronic Discovery, Technology, and Strategy (E-DTS) Practice Group, the firm is among the best of the best for offering strategic counseling for clients in need of efficient document management and litigation support. From document retention to trial prep, there’s no electronic data challenge too big for this experienced shop. When E-discovery is causing you a major headache, these lawyers are the answer.

17. Best Firm for When You Are Ready to Get into the Asian Market: Dorsey & Whitney

Major players in the corporate law arena, companies in the Pacific Northwest would be hard-pressed to find a firm more knowledgeable about Asian markets than Dorsey & Whitney. The firm’s Seattle and Vancouver offices have attorneys dedicated to working on transactions in both China and the Asia-Pacific region. Whether you’re a North American company operating in Asia, or an Asian company looking to invest or expand overseas, this firm has the depth of experience to advise you on any corporate needs that arise. With offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, this firm is the clear choice for anyone looking to enter the Asian market.

18. Best Firm for Designing Your Employee Benefit Plans: Stoel Rives

Possessing deep experience in all aspects of employee benefits law, the attorneys at Stoel Rives are second to none when it comes to implementing employee stock ownership plans. With offices in Portland and Seattle, the firm helps major clients throughout the country navigate the complex waters of employee benefit plans. No matter what business you’re in, these lawyers can help you implement stock option plans and other benefits programs that best suit the specific needs of your company. From retirement plans to health insurance to executive compensation, these folks have you covered for all your benefits requirements.

19. Best Firm for Lobbying Congress in Your Favor: K&L Gates

It’s hard to find a bigger player in the lobbying game than K&L Gates. Over the course of four decades, the firm’s policy group has grown from a single lobbyist to one of the largest lobbying practices at any global law firm. Focusing on the overlap of law, business and public policy, the practice group includes key players in the firm’s Seattle office, including a former U.S. senator from Washington state. When you need your voice heard on Capitol Hill, this is the firm you call.

20. Best Jack-of-All-Trades Firm for High-Growth Companies: DLA Piper

Widely lauded as one of the global leaders in corporate law, DLA Piper extends its business expertise to companies in the Pacific Northwest through its offices in Vancouver and Seattle. From emerging startups to international corporations, this firm is adept at handling the challenges that face high-growth businesses every step of the way. Whether you’re looking to raise venture capital or acquire another business, the lawyers at DLA Piper are dedicated to the success of your company. This full-service firm is the first choice for anyone looking to stay competitive in today’s market.