Kevin J. Hamilton

Kevin J. Hamilton

Seattle, WA recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007
Perkins Coie LLP

240 Best Lawyers awards

Perkins Coie LLP logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Civil Rights Law Commercial Litigation Employment Law - Management Labor Law - Management Litigation - Labor and Employment

Biography

Kevin J. Hamilton focuses his practice on labor and employment counseling and litigation. Mr. Hamilton has addressed, through counseling, negotiation, or litigation, a broad range of key issues critical to the modern workplace. Mr. Hamilton has particular experience with non-competition, trade secret, multiple plaintiff and class action litigation. Mr. Hamilton chairs the firm's nationally-recognized Retail & Consumer Industry practice, including more than 200 lawyers throughout the firm who focus on issues across the spectrum confronting the retail and consumer products industry.

Mr. Hamilton has worked closely with a wide variety of clients on employment-related issues, including Starbucks, Microsoft, Vulcan Inc., Experience Music Project, Eddie Bauer, The Boeing Company, Intellectual Ventures and Puget Energy, among others.

In addition, Mr. Hamilton has particular experience with election and political law, including recounts, election contests, redistricting, campaign finance issues, and the administration of elections. Mr. Hamilton has represented numerous candidates in statewide recounts, including Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton (2010), Minnesota Senator Al Franken (2008), Washington Governor Christine Gregoire (2004), and Washington Senator Maria Cantwell (2000). Mr. Hamilton represented both Senator Franken and Governor Gregoire as trial counsel in election contests in 2005 (Gregoire) and 2009 (Franken). Other election law clients have included Jay Inslee for Governor (2012), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (2004 and 2010), U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (2000, 2006, 2012), Darcy Burner for Congress (2006 and 2008), Suzan DelBene (2010), Washington Families Standing Together (supporting Referendum 71, 2009), King County Executive Dow Constantine (2009), and various other federal, state and local candidates. Mr. Hamilton has been involved in redistricting litigation in Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, Ohio, Virginia, New York and Florida.
Perkins Coie LLP

240 Best Lawyers awards

Perkins Coie LLP logo

Overview

  • French

  • Georgetown University, J.D., graduated 1985
  • University of Washington, BA

  • Washington, Washington State Bar Association

  • American Employment Law Council - Member
  • American Law Institute (ALI), - Member
  • Georgetown University Law Center Alumni Board - Member
  • King County Redistricting Commission - Member
  • Principles of Election Law; American Law Institute - Advisor

  • United States Court of Appeals
  • French
  • Washington, Washington State Bar Association
  • American Employment Law Council - Member
  • American Law Institute (ALI), - Member
  • Georgetown University Law Center Alumni Board - Member
  • King County Redistricting Commission - Member
  • Principles of Election Law; American Law Institute - Advisor
  • Georgetown University, J.D., graduated 1985
  • University of Washington, BA
  • United States Court of Appeals

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Civil Rights Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Civil Rights Law Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2015 - Litigation - Labor and Employment
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Civil Rights Law, Seattle (2023)
  • Civil Rights Law, Seattle (2020)
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Seattle (2015)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Civil Rights Law
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Labor Law - Management
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Litigation - First Amendment
  • Mining Law
Special Focus:
  • Management
Awards:
  • Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
  • Listed in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, "Best Lawyers"
  • Listed in Corporate Counsel, "Labor & Employment Law," 2008
  • Listed in Washington Law & Politics, “Washington's Super Lawyers," 2003 - 2013
  • Listed in Chambers USA, “America’s Leading Labor and Employment Lawyers,” 2012 - 2014
  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow

Case History

Cases
  • Other Court Admissions
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington

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