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Kenneth Wendell Masters
also known as Ken Masters
About Kenneth
Biography
Ken Masters has been litigating civil appeals for about 30 years. He practices in all areas of the civil law in Washingotn's state and federal appellate courts in Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, and Olympia, including in both Supreme Courts. He is a past president of the Washington Appellate Lawyers Association, and is a Sustaining Life Fellow of both the American Bar Foundation, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. He is listed as a Top 10 Super Lawyer for Washington State since 2017, "ranked #2" in 2018 and 2020, and "ranked #1" in 2019. He was recently named Seattle's appellate "Lawyer of the Year" for 2022.
Ken also serves the bar and the public. He is proud to have been listed on the Washington State Supreme Court's "Honor Roll" for pro bona work every year since 2004, meaning he donated at least 50 hours a year in low or pro bono service.
Ken is also a contributing editor for the fourth edition of the WSBA's Appellate Practice Deskbook (2016), for which he substantiallly reworked the Brief Writing chapter. He also contributed to its third edition (WSBA 2005 & Supp. 2010). He has chaired and taught dozens continuing legal education seminars on writing and appellate practice throughout Washington. He is a past President and Trustee for the Washington State Bar Foundation. He also served as Chair of the Washington State Bar's Escalating Costs of Civil Litigation Rules Drafting Task Force (2016-2018), and as Treasurer and Governor on the WSBA's Board of Govenors (2012-2015).
Ken was born in Moses Lake, Washington, and then wandered to various places with his military family. He is married to Kara Masters, who is Of Counsel to Masters Law Group, President of the Legal Foundation of Washington and of the Coalition Ending Domestic Violence, and was also a judicial clerk for three appellate court judges. Ken and Kara met in law school. Ken was a Teaching Assistant for Kara's Constitutional Law class, but she married him anyway.
Prior to law school, Ken was a professional musician and instructor, recording, touring and teaching music for about ten years. He still plays jazz guitar and records with various groups as time permits. He was honored to play in a group that was one of five performances nominated for top honors in the northwest's premieir jazz festival, the 2015 Earshot Jazz Festival in Seattle.
Practice Areas
1
Practice Area
Appeals
100%
34 years
Fees and Rates
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Washington for 33 years
State: Washington
Acquired: 1992
No misconduct found
Location
Masters Law Group, PLLC
241 Madison Avenue North, Bainbridge Island, WA, 98110-1811
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Kenneth Wendell Masters's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
8 Client Reviews
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Showing 1 - 1 of 1 review | Communication Style
Posted by Mark | July 26, 2021 | Appeals
Ken Masters is simply the best
On my appeal, Ken Masters proved to be exactly what I’d been told he is – the best appellate attorney in Washington State. In just an hour of his time, he showed me exactly how to fix my brief, and he clarified several key procedural issues in the appeal. My brief would’ve been far weaker without his...
Kenneth Wendell Masters's Lawyer Endorsements
"have worked with Ken Masters for over 25 years. Ken always has taken time to listen to my questions and give me valuable advice regarding legal and appellate issues that frequently crop in my my complex case practice. Ken has helped me navigate thorny issues more times than I can count, and has helped me stay out of the appellate courts on countless occasions. When I need to retain counsel to handle an appeal for me, Ken is my "Go To" guy. He has capably handled numerous appeals for my clients, usually involving cutting edge issues involving reversals of trial court dismissals. He has skillfully helped me protect the rights of my injured clients with passion, vigor and a high level of resolve. Ken and Shelby present a powerful voice in the appellate courts for the cause of our clients. I give Ken my highest recommendation as a lawyer."
"I wholeheartedly endorse Ken Masters. I have worked with Ken on a number of matters, and he is an excellent appellate lawyer. When a client needs someone to handle an appeal, Ken is always my first recommendation. In addition, Ken is very generous with his time and expertise in answering questions on appellate issues and procedures."
"I heartily endorse Ken Masters. Several times I have retained Ken's assistance in defending an appeal of a successful judgment . In each occasion, Ken's help and advice has been invaluable. He is supremely knowledgeable about his field of practice. His professionalism and responsiveness are excellent. Lastly, but perhaps most important, Ken is simply a lawyer with whom it is a pleasure to work."
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Experience
Honors
2022
Lawyer of the Year (Seattle appeals), Best Lawyers in America
2021
TOP 10 LAWYERS IN Washington State, Super Lawyers
2019
TOP 10 ("ranked #1), SUPER LAWYERS
2016
Lifetime Acheivement Award, America's Top 100 Attorneys
2016
Top 100 Attorneys, Law & Politics Media
2016
Best Lawyer, Appellate Practice, Best Lawyers in America
2015
Top Teir Metro., Appellate, Best Lawyers in America
2015
Best Lawyer, Appellate Practice, Best Lawyers in America
2015
Top 100 Washington Lawyers, Law & Politics Magazine
2014
Top 100 Washington Lawyers, Law & Politics Magazine
2014
Top Teir Metro -- Appellate, Best Lawyers in America
2014
Best Lawyer, Appellate Practice, Best Lawyers in America
2013
Appellate Practice, Best Lawyers in America
2013
Top 100 Super Lawyer, Washington Law & Politics Magazine
2013
Top Teir Appellate, Best Lawyers
2012
Top Lawyers in Washington, Seattle Business Monthly
2012
Top Teir Appellate, Best Lawyers
2012
Super Lawyers, Washington Law & Politics Magazine
2012
Top 100 Super Lawyers, Washington Law & Politics Magazine
2010
Fellow, American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
2009
Top 10 Appellate Lawyers, Washington Law & Politics Magazine
2008
Top 100 Washington Lawyers, Washington Law & Politics Magazine
2007
Super Lawyers, Washington Law & Policitcs Magazine
2006
Super Lawyers, Washington Law & Politics Magazine
2005
Super Lawyers, Washington Law & Politics Magazine
2004
Super Lawyers, Washington Law & Politics Magazine
2003
Super Lawyers, Washington Law & Politics Magazine
2002
Super Lawyers, Washington Law & Politics Magazine
2001
Super Lawyers, Washington Law & Politics Magazine
2000
Rising Stars, Washington Law & Politics Magazine
1999
Rising Stars, Washington Law & Politics Magazine
1992
Am. Jur. Awards (x3), Amercian Jurisprudence
Work Experience
2011 - Present
Founder, Masters Law Group, PLLC
1998 - 2010
Owner, Wiggins & Masters, PLLC
1995 - 1998
Attorney, Edwards, Sieh, Smith & Goodfriend, P.S.
1994 - 1995
Judicial Clerk to Judge Elaine Houghton, ret., Washington State Court of Appeals
1993 - 1994
Attorney, Burgess Fitzer, P.S.
1992 - 1993
Attorney, Albertson & Smith
Associations
2016 - Present
Washington State Bar FoundationTrustee
2005 - Present
KCBA Appellate Law SectionMember
2003 - Present
Washington Appellate Lawyers AssociationMember
1998 - Present
Washington State Association for JusticeMember
1998 - Present
Kitsap County Bar AssociationMember
1995 - Present
King County Bar AssociationMember
1992 - Present
Washington State Bar AssociationMember
1992 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember
2014 - 2015
Washington State Bar AssociationTreasurer
2012 - 2015
Washington State Bar AssociationGovernor, 1st Dist.
2009 - 2012
Washington State Bar AssociationChair, Rules & Procedures Commitee
2008 - 2009
KCBA Appellate Law SectionPresident
2007 - 2013
Washington Appellate Lawyers AssociationPresident
2004 - 2005
KCBA Judicial ScreeningCo-Chair
2001 - 2003
Washington State Bar AssociationChair, Amicus Committee
2001 - 2015
American Judicature SocietyMember
Sample of Legal Cases
Jaimes v. NDTS Const., Inc., Washington State Court of Appeals No. 73148-3-I (June 6, 2016)
Won
In re Custody of S.F.-T.C., Washington State Court of Appeals No. 32367-6-III (Feb. 9, 2016)
Won
Arp v. Riley, Washington State Court of Appeals No. 72613-7-I (Dec. 28, 2015)
Won
In re Adoption of H.L.S., Washington State Court of Appeals No. 46807-7-II (Dec. 15, 2015)
Won
Dept. of Lab. & Indus. v. Rowley, Washington State Supreme Court No. 91357-9 (March 17, 2016)
Won
Gould v. North Kitsap Bus. Park, LLC, Washington State Court of Appeals No. 46358-0-II (Jan. 19, 2016)
Won
LIghtner v. Shoemaker
Reversed and remanded
ADA Motors v. Butler,
Reversal and remand.
Crews v. AVCO Corp., Washington State Court of Appeals No. 70756-6-I (2015)
affirmed
Tan v. Le, 177 Wn.2d 356 (2013), cert. denied (Jan. 13, 2014)
Win
In re Parentage of Infant Child F.
Win
PACCAR v. Lisby
Win
City of Seattle v. Jones
Win
Piel v. City of Federal Way
Win
Education
1992
University of Puget Sound School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1984
Metropolitan State College of Denver
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2016
Advanced Appellate Seminar
Chair, and Moderator re: Settlement on Appeal
2016
AAAL Annual Meeting, Seattle
Brief Writing Moderator
2015
Judges and Lawyers in Conversation
Chair, Appellate Practice
2015
From Runnymede to the Temple of Justice – the Continued Relevance of Magna Carta and Tips on Appellate Advocacy
The Purpose of Each Brief on Appeal
2015
Family Law 101
Ethical Challenges in the Family Law Case
2014
Tacoma Pierce County Bar Convention
Appeals -- Everything You Wanted to Know
2014
SU Ready for Trial Siminar
Great Legal Writing
2014
Kitsap County Bar Convention
Appellate Update
2013
Advanced Appellate Seminar
E-Briefing & Court Rules
Publications
2016
WSBA Appellate Practice Deskbook
Contributing Editor
2005
WSBA Appellate Practice Deskbook (3rd ed. & 2010 Suppl.)
Contributing Editor
1998
Wash. Prac., Appeals
Co-author
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers