Summary

Preston Gates Ellis was a prominent lawyer who left an indelible mark on the history of law and Seattle, Washington. He was a founder of the law firm, Preston Gates & Ellis, which was later merged with two other firms to become the blue-chip firm, K&L Gates, LLP. In addition to his professional legacy, Ellis has been credited with helping to establish Seattle as a cultural and economic center of the American Pacific Northwest.

Ellis was born in Ohio in 1857 and attended the University of Michigan Law School. After graduating, he moved to Seattle, Washington in 1882 and opened his own law practice. Over the years, Ellis and his firm represented some of the state's most influential corporations, including railroads, shipping companies, and banks. He also acted as general counsel for the University of Washington and was a member of the Seattle School Board for 24 years.

In 1888, Ellis co-founded what would later become the law firm Preston Gates & Ellis. It soon became one of the leading law firms in the Pacific Northwest. The firm's success was due in part to Ellis' tireless work ethic and commitment to clients. He was known for offering innovative solutions to complex problems, and for finding ways to make deals that benefited both parties.

In addition to his legal career, Ellis was an important figure in Seattle's business, political, and cultural life. He served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and the Seattle Rotary Club. He was also closely involved in the establishment of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Volunteer Park Conservatory. His efforts helped to reshape Seattle as an urban center.

Preston Gates Ellis left an incredible legacy in Seattle and beyond. He was a pioneering lawyer who shaped the region's legal landscape, and also played a critical role in making Seattle a vibrant, flourishing city. Through his dedication to his clients and the community, Preston Gates Ellis helped to create a legacy that will be remembered for generations to come.
 

Preston Gates Ellis Law Firm

The Preston Gates Ellis law firm is one of the largest and most respected firms in the United States. Founded in 1892, the firm offers a wide range of services from its offices located in Seattle, London, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The firm offers legal representation in areas such as corporate and securities law, labor and employment law, intellectual property law, and international law. In addition, Preston Gates Ellis has been a leader in the legal industry, providing legal counsel to some of the largest corporations in the world.
 

Expertise & Reputation

Preston Gates Ellis is well-known for its experienced and knowledgeable legal team. The firm has some of the most experienced and respected attorneys in the industry, and its clients range from large Fortune 500 companies to small business owners. The firm has consistently demonstrated its commitment to providing excellent legal services, and has earned a reputation for providing the highest quality of legal representation and advice. With its expansive services, extensive experience, and well-known reputation, Preston Gates Ellis is renowned as one of the leading law firms in the country.
 

Legal Contributions

The attorneys at Preston Gates Ellis have a long history of making contributions to the legal profession. In addition to providing sound legal advice to its clients, the firm has been involved in a number of notable cases. The firm has represented the United States government in landmark cases such as The American Tobacco Case, the Binkley Case, the Charles Schulz Case, and the Microsoft Anti-Trust Case. Furthermore, the firm has been involved in providing professional services in a variety of other cases, such as the Exxon Valdez case, the World Trade Center Security Case, and the Microsoft-Yahoo! merger.
 

Recognition & Awards

Preston Gates Ellis has been recognized and awarded for its superior legal representation and its commitment to excellence. The firm has been named one of the top 25 law firms by Chambers USA, as well as one of the top 10 law firms by The National Law Journal. The firm has also been recognized by Who's Who Legal and Best Lawyers, and has been named one of the best law firms in the world by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers. Furthermore, in 2019 Preston Gates Ellis was named one of the best law firms in the United States by US News & World Report.

As a firm known for its exceptionally high level of legal service and professionalism, Preston Gates represents major companies with ties to the Pacific Northwest. These entities include T-Mobile, Starbucks, and Expedia.com. The Anchorage, AK, office successfully litigated for the State of Alaska regarding the Exxon Valdez oil spill fiasco. Nearly $1 billion in civil settlements was awarded to the State of Alaska in a series of rulings. It has a broad-based, diverse practice, with attorneys representing almost all specializations.

The firm's major practice areas are corporate, litigation, and municipal finance. Its municipal finance practice is one of the largest in the nation. Preston Gates was ranked 10th nationally (and second in the Western Region) among bond counsel firms by Thomson Financial Data Securities Company in 2003. Vault.com placed it 100th overall (and second in the Pacific Northwest) in its 2003 list of top law firms.

The summer associate program, much like programs at other firms, aims to give law students a real feeling of what it's like to work for the firm. The summer associates can choose from assignments in all practice areas, allowing them to learn their likes and dislikes. They also partake in various social outings, which are commonplace at most larger firms. The firm aims to employ all of its summer associates, but it does not make employment offers just to fill positions.

Preston Gates has a hiring process that is best described as rigorous. In addition to top grades, an emphasis is put upon relevant experience. Most importantly, though, a new hire must mesh well with everyone else in that particular office. This team atmosphere permeates all levels of experience and all sectors of employment. New associates are paid market value for Seattle, but that translates to the lower end most everywhere else. Attorneys are happy with the laid-back attitude of the working environment and the flexibility it allows.

The firm very much endorses and encourages pro bono work. In fact, as many as 50 pro bono hours may count towards an associate's billable hours for the year. That takes a little bit of the edge off the time crunch that most attorneys are sensitive to at major firms. Furthermore, the firm has named one of its partners as pro bono counsel, whose duties include devoting half of his time to pro bono pursuits and assisting other lawyers with their own pro bono cases.

Narrowing the gender and race gaps is something the firm focuses on. One third of all Preston Gates attorneys are women. To break that number down even further, 25% of the partners and 46% of associates are females. These are fairly high percentages relative to the rest of the industry. Correspondingly, 14% of the firm's attorneys are from minority groups. Of particular note is the fact that David Tang, one of the firm's previous managing partners, was the first Asian-American managing partner of a major law firm in the U.S.

Basically, Preston Gates is a firm where the attorneys will have time for lives outside of work. As with any other firm, those attorneys will work extremely hard while on the job but in a relaxed environment. A nice balance between life and work is achieved here.