What Helsell Fetterman does

Helsell Fetterman LLP is a private mid-sized law firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with a secondary office in Bellevue. Founded in 1890, the firm has operated continuously for over 135 years and currently fields approximately 39 attorneys supported by roughly 13 paralegals, 12 legal secretaries, and 3 administrative staff. The firm is organized as a Washington State limited liability partnership and is led by Managing Partner Kameron Kirkevold.

The firm delivers legal services across 17+ practice areas, including aviation, banking and finance, business law, elder law, employment, environmental, estate planning and probate, health care, insurance coverage, insurance defense, land use, litigation (commercial disputes, products liability, trials, appeals), maritime, real estate, taxation, technology and data privacy, and trust and estate litigation. The practice is best known for medical malpractice defense and insurance coverage, both holding Band 1 rankings in Chambers USA 2025 and 2026. There is no proprietary technology platform; client services are delivered by attorneys through direct engagement.

The business model is professional services billing, primarily time-based hourly rates set by engagement agreement, with no public rate card, subscription, or productized offering. The go-to-market is relationship-driven: client acquisition flows through professional referrals, bar association networks, peer recognition (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers, 425 Magazine), the LawPact international referral alliance (membership since October 2012), and direct outreach. Customer segments are diversified across B2B (financial institutions, healthcare providers, insurers, aviation companies, property developers) and B2C (high net worth individuals, elder law clients, employees), with no disclosed anchor clients or panel positions.

Name

Helsell Fetterman

Legal name

Helsell Fetterman LLP

Website

https://helsell.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Helsell Fetterman is a Seattle-based mid-sized law firm, founded in 1890, with 39 attorneys delivering 17+ practice areas including medical malpractice defense, insurance coverage, and litigation, serving Pacific Northwest businesses and individuals through a relationship-driven, hourly-fee model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Billing: The firm generates revenue by charging clients for legal services rendered. As a traditional law firm, billing is primarily time-based (hourly rates) for litigation and transactional work, with fee arrangements varying by practice area and matter complexity. Revenue is entirely service-based with no product, subscription, or licensing components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Helsell Fetterman is a mid-sized Pacific Northwest law firm providing comprehensive legal counsel and representation across 17+ practice areas spanning litigation (medical malpractice defense, insurance defense, commercial disputes, trials, appellate) and transactional matters (business law, real estate, estate planning, taxation, banking and finance). The firm serves businesses, organizations, and high-net-worth individuals in Washington State and, via the LawPact international network, nationally and internationally.

Product overview

Helsell Fetterman is a mid-sized Pacific Northwest law firm offering comprehensive legal services across 17+ practice areas including Aviation, Banking and Finance, Business Law, Elder Law, Employment, Environmental, Estate Planning and Probate, Health Care, Insurance Coverage, Insurance Defense, Land Use, Litigation, Maritime, Real Estate Litigation, Real Estate Transactions, Taxation, Technology and Data Privacy, and Trust and Estate Litigation. The firm operates as a traditional law firm providing legal counsel rather than a software product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aviation Law Legal counsel for aircraft owners, operators, FBOs, and management companies on aviation transactions, financing and leasing, FAA/DOT regulatory compliance, and aircraft tax matters.
• Banking and Finance Law Representation of banks and financial institutions on commercial lending, loan documentation, troubled debt workouts, creditor rights in bankruptcy, foreclosure, and regulatory matters.
• Business Law Legal services for small to mid-sized businesses and closely held companies covering business formation, M&A, contracts, employment agreements, succession planning, and intellectual property.
• Elder Law Representation of elderly individuals and their families on guardianship proceedings, estate disputes, and capacity matters.
• Employment Law Counsel to employers and employees on employment discrimination, wrongful termination, wage and hour compliance, and EEOC representation.
• Estate Planning and Probate Estate planning, probate administration, trust formation, and wealth transfer services for high-net-worth individuals and families.
• Health Care Law Representation of physicians, hospitals, and health care facilities in medical malpractice defense, licensing and disciplinary disputes, hospital privileges, and HIPAA compliance.
• Insurance Coverage Law Counsel and litigation for insurers and policyholders in coverage disputes, bad faith claims, and insurance policyholder representation.
• Insurance Defense Defense representation in construction defect, personal injury, and professional liability matters for insurance carriers and insureds.
• Commercial Litigation Trial and appellate representation in commercial disputes, class actions, products liability and other personal injury matters, and complex civil litigation.
• Real Estate Transactions Legal representation for individuals and companies in commercial real estate transactions, acquisitions, sales, and leasing.
• Environmental Law Counsel to property owners, developers, and businesses on environmental compliance, contaminated property transactions, cleanup negotiation, and enforcement defense in Washington State.
• Trust and Estate Litigation Litigation of trust and estate disputes, fiduciary matters, and contested guardianship proceedings under Washington's TEDRA.
• Taxation Tax counsel to businesses and individuals on tax planning and disputes with the Internal Revenue Service and the Washington State Department of Revenue.

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• LawPactcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2012LawPact is an international network of small- to mid-sized independent law firms. As a member of LawPact, Helsell Fetterman offers expanded legal options to its clients, providing access to quality legal services nationally and internationally through partner firms in Los Angeles, Toronto, New Delhi, and over half of U.S. states as well as the UK, Germany, Hong Kong, Brazil, India, and Australia. LawPact membership upholds values of personal attention, regional expertise, and cost effectiveness.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bullivant Houser Bailey PC: Pacific Northwest-headquartered mid-sized firm with strong insurance coverage, professional liability, and litigation practices. Direct overlap with Helsell Fetterman's insurance defense and litigation groups.
• Foster Garvey PC: A Seattle-based mid-sized full-service law firm (formed from the merger of Foster Pepper and Garvey Schubert Barer) of comparable size and Pacific Northwest footprint, serving similar business, real estate, litigation, and government matters. Most direct comparable for Helsell Fetterman's positioning.
• Cairncross & Hempelmann PS: Seattle-based mid-sized law firm with overlapping real estate, land use, business, and litigation practices. A direct regional competitor for the same Pacific Northwest mid-market client base.
• Reed McClure LLP: Seattle-based mid-sized firm with overlapping tort defense, insurance, and healthcare practices. Direct competitor in medical malpractice defense and insurance coverage work.
• Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson PLLC: Seattle-based mid-sized firm emphasizing business, real estate, and estate planning work. Direct competitor in the Pacific Northwest mid-market legal services space.
• Stoel Rives LLP: Pacific Northwest-rooted mid-sized full-service firm with strong litigation, business, and energy/environmental practices. Overlaps with Helsell Fetterman in litigation, environmental, and business law for regional clients.
• Lane Powell PC: Seattle-based mid-sized law firm with a comparable multi-practice platform (litigation, business, real estate, employment) serving Pacific Northwest clients. Directly competes for the same mid-market and institutional client base.

Broad incumbents

• Perkins Coie LLP: Major Pacific Northwest-founded national full-service firm with broad litigation, corporate, IP, and technology practices. Larger scale competitor for sophisticated corporate and litigation matters.
• Davis Wright Tremaine LLP: Larger Seattle-headquartered national law firm with deep media, healthcare, and litigation practices. Competes for the same regional clients but operates at greater scale across multiple U.S. offices.
• K&L Gates LLP: Large global law firm with a substantial Seattle office, offering full-service capabilities across corporate, finance, and litigation. Competes for larger Pacific Northwest mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/helsell
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Helsell-Fetterman/320135294701862
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/101862

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Helsell Fetterman