Jessica C. Kerr | HCMP Law Offices

Professional Overview

Jessica practices civil litigation and appellate advocacy on behalf of public, private, and non-profit clients. Her experience spans all levels of state court practice, federal trial court and appellate work, alternative dispute resolution, and administrative hearings and reviews. Jessica has a varied commercial litigation practice, and she also especially enjoys working on matters involving complex procedural questions, constitutional law, and civil rights. Prior to joining HCMP, Jessica served as a law clerk to Justice Mary Fairhurst of the Washington Supreme Court and an extern to Judge Robert S. Lasnik of the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Representative Matters

First chair representing institutional clients (including a state university) in administrative proceedings and court hearings.
Appellate experience in cases throughout Washington and other jursidictions.
Represent prominent nonprofit organizations in federal lawsuits to protect their interests their affordable housing projects.
Experience in a variety of real property disputes and litigation, including cases involving real estate purchase option issues and boundary disputes.
Serve as local counsel in cases with complex substantive and procedural issues, including commercial disputes and products liability cases.
Appointed as a Special Assistant Attorney General in a variety of cases and proceedings.

Articles and Presentations

Author, Racial Impact Statements: Considering the Consequences of Racial Disproportionalities in the Criminal Justice System, 89 Wash. L. Rev. 1425 (2014).

Professional and Civic Involvement

Washington Women Lawyers State Board of Directors - Membership Vice President (2022-2024), Immediate Past President (2021 - 2022); President (2020 - 2021); President-Elect (2019 - 2020); Secretary (2018 - 2019); Public Service Vice President (2017 - 2018)
King County Bar Association - Appellate Section: Member of Executive Committee; Secretary (2023-2024), At-Large Representative (2022-2023)
Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle (MAMAS)
University of Washington School of Law - Volunteer Professional Mentor
Washington State Bar Association
Federal Bar Association, Western District of Washington

Honors / Awards / Prior Experience

Named a “Rising Star” by Washington Super Lawyers (2017–2023)

Recognized by Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch in the field of Commercial Litigation (2023–2024)

Clerk for Justice Mary Fairhurst, Washington Supreme Court

Extern for Judge Robert S. Lasnik, U.S. District Court

University of Washington Law

Order of the Barristers
Order of the Coif
CALI Award (top grade) Torts; Legal Analysis, Research, & Writing; Civil Procedure II; Natural Resources Law; Administrative Law
Washington Law Review, Chief Notes and Comments Editor
Moot Court Honor Board
- Thomas Tang Moot Court Team; 2014 Judson Falknor 2L/3L Appellate Advocacy Champion; 2013 HCMP Appellate Advocacy Competition Finalist (of 160 participants), Best Brief, and Second Place Speaker Award; 2012 Mock Trial Second Place Speaker Award
Student Director of the Legal Writing Center
Research Assistant for book chapters on administrative law and election law

University of Puget Sound: Summa Cum Laude; Phi Beta Kappa; Dean's List

Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Kappa Phi; Mortar Board; Phi Eta Sigma (honor society for freshmen); Lambda Pi Eta (National Communication Association Honor Society)
Peer Advisor Coordinator; Course Assistant; Club Soccer President/Captain; summer research grant recipient
Northwest Communication Association “Top Undergraduate Paper”

Education

J.D., University of Washington School of Law, 2015
B.A. in Communication Studies and in Politics & Government, University of Puget Sound, 2012

Personal

Having grown up in the foothills of Mount Rainier, I enjoy many of the outdoor activities that the Pacific Northwest has to offer, from hiking and camping to fishing and razor clam digging on the coast. I embrace my family tradition of travelling to compete in barbecue competitions and I occasionally author articles in barbecue-themed publications.

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