Selander O'Brien PLLC

What Selander O'Brien PLLC does

Selander O'Brien PLLC is a Seattle-based boutique law firm co-owned and operated by husband-and-wife principals Ken Selander, Jr. and Jeannie O'Brien. Founded in 2005 as the successor to Ken Selander's 1985 solo practice, the firm provides legal representation across two practice lines: personal injury litigation (covering car, motorcycle, bicycle, truck, boating, and pedestrian accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, elder abuse, dog bites, and child injuries and abuse) and estate planning and probate (wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, trusts, and estate administration). The firm is headquartered in a single office in the historic Columbia City neighborhood of south Seattle's Rainier Valley, deliberately relocated from downtown to deepen community ties.

The firm's service delivery is direct and attorney-led, with all matters handled by the two named partners supported by paralegal staff. Personal injury matters are accepted on a contingency fee basis at 33% of recovery for standard cases and 40% for complex matters such as roadway design defects and products liability; the firm advances all case costs and is repaid only from settlement proceeds. Estate planning is offered through fixed-fee packages ($800 for a single individual, $1,200 for a married couple) with no incremental charges for client communication, plus $300/hour billing for complex estate work involving trusts, LLCs, and gifting. Probate services are billed hourly at $300 (attorney) and $120-$160 (paralegal), with separate court filing and publication fees.

Customer acquisition is driven by community presence, free consultations, free auto insurance reviews, and word-of-mouth referrals in south Seattle. Marketing channels include a comprehensive website, organic social media presence (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+), prominent client testimonials, and active participation in local neighborhood and bar associations. The firm holds documented results including settlements ranging from $500,000 to $3,000,000, and is recognized through Super Lawyers (top 5% of Washington State attorneys), Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and WSAJ Eagle membership.

Name

Selander O'Brien PLLC

Legal name

Selander O'Brien PLLC

Website

https://selanderobrien.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Selander O'Brien PLLC is a Seattle boutique law firm co-owned by attorneys Ken Selander, Jr. and Jeannie O'Brien, providing contingency-fee personal injury representation and fixed-fee estate planning and probate services to individual clients across Washington State.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Personal Injury & Insurance Defense (BPAHAAAM)

Keywords

• Personal injury law
• Estate planning services
• Probate administration
• Contingency fee representation
• Wrongful death litigation

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Personal Injury - Contingency Fees: The firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis where the attorney fee is contingent upon obtaining a favorable settlement or verdict. Standard cases earn 33% of recovery; complex cases (roadway design, products liability) earn 40%. Fees are only charged at case conclusion and case costs are advanced by the firm.
2. Estate Planning & Probate - Hourly Billing: Estate planning packages billed at fixed rates (single $800, married couple $1,200). Complex estate planning with trusts, LLCs, property transfers billed at $300/hour. Probate matters billed at $300/hour attorney rate, $120-$160/hour paralegal rate.
3. Transfer on Death Deeds: Fixed fee of $300 plus recording fee for Transfer on Death Deeds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Selander O'Brien PLLC is a boutique Seattle law firm providing personal injury representation (motor vehicle, bicycle, motorcycle, truck accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, elder abuse, child injuries and abuse) and estate planning/probate legal services (wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, estate administration). Personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis (33% standard, 40% complex), while estate planning is offered at fixed package rates and probate at hourly billing.

Product overview

Selander O'Brien PLLC is a boutique Seattle law firm offering three core legal service lines: Personal Injury legal representation (covering motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, elder abuse, dog bites, and related matters); Child Injuries and Abuse legal services (including childhood sexual abuse, daycare injuries, foster care abuse, and wrongful death of a child); and Estate Planning and Probate services (including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and estate administration). The firm operates on a contingency fee basis for personal injury cases, with additional offerings including free insurance reviews for prospective clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Personal Injury Legal Services Legal representation for individuals injured due to negligence, covering car accidents, motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, bicycle accidents, boating accidents, dog bites, elder abuse, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death. Cases handled on a contingency fee basis (33% standard, 40% complex).
• Child Injuries and Abuse Legal Services Legal representation for children who have suffered injuries or abuse, including childhood sexual abuse, daycare injuries, foster care abuse, position of trust abuse, toy safety incidents, and wrongful death of a child. 5% of net attorney's fees on these cases are donated to child abuse prevention charities.
• Estate Planning Services Comprehensive estate planning including wills, financial powers of attorney, healthcare powers of attorney, healthcare directives (living wills), trusts, tax planning, and community property agreements. Packages priced at $800 (single) or $1,200 (married couple), with complex matters at $300/hour.
• Probate Services Legal assistance with estate administration after death, including collecting and managing estates, paying debts and taxes, and distributing property to heirs. Billed at $300/hour attorney rate and $120-$160/hour paralegal rate.
• Transfer on Death Deeds Fixed-fee service preparing and filing Transfer on Death Deeds for real property, billed at $300 plus recording fee.

Quantifiable outcome

• $3,000,000 foster care abuse settlement against State of Washington/DSHS
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ)coreOthersKen is an Eagle member of WSAJ, which protects a fair justice system and the right to trial by jury, and fights to ensure that those harmed can obtain justice in courtrooms. Membership provides professional development, advocacy support, and network access.
• Super LawyerscoreOthersKen Selander has been named a Super Lawyer multiple years - a recognition conferred on only the top 5% of attorneys in Washington State. The designation provides credibility and visibility.
• King County Bar Association (KCBA)coreOthersBoth Ken and Jeannie are members of KCBA, which promotes a just and accessible legal system and profession, and strives to benefit the community through its Foundation.
• Washington State Bar Association (WSBA)coreOthersBoth attorneys are members of WSBA, which serves the public and members of the Bar, ensures the integrity of the legal profession, and champions justice.
• American Association for Justice (AAJ)coreOthersFirm is a member of AAJ, which is committed to promoting a fair and effective justice system, particularly for those injured by the misconduct or negligence of others.
• Brain Injury Association of Washington (BIAWA)minorOthersKen Selander started and led a monthly brain injury support group in Burien, Washington. Firm handles brain injury cases and supports BIAWA's mission of increasing public awareness and support for those affected by brain injury.
• Million Dollar Advocates ForumcoreOthersFirm is a member of this prestigious group of trial lawyers who have won million dollar verdicts and settlements. Indicates proven track record of significant case outcomes.
• Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America (APITLA)coreOthersKen is a member of APITLA, a national organization committed to making highways safer. Provides specialized expertise in trucking accident litigation.
• Trial Lawyers CollegecoreOthersKen is a Trial Lawyers College graduate. The organization is dedicated to training and educating lawyers to obtain justice for individuals and protect their rights from corporate and government oppression.
• BluePathminorOthersFirm is a proud member of BluePath, which helps businesses create disability-friendly environments and respectful services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• Trust & Will: Direct-to-consumer online estate planning service offering wills and trusts at fixed prices. Comparable as an emerging digital alternative targeting the same entry-level estate planning customer as Selander O'Brien's $800/$1,200 packages.
• Willful: Online wills and estate planning platform. Comparable as an emerging low-cost digital channel competing for the same simple-will customer the firm serves with its fixed-rate packages, although it does not currently serve Washington State.

Broad incumbents

• Rocket Lawyer: Online legal platform providing subscription-based wills, powers of attorney, and document services. Comparable as a technology-enabled alternative to the firm's estate planning packages, competing on accessibility and price.
• Morgan & Morgan: Largest U.S. plaintiff personal injury law firm with massive paid-marketing spend and a national footprint. Comparable because it competes for the same auto/truck/motorcycle injury matters, but operates with vastly greater scale, technology, and acquisition budget.
• Hagens Berman: National plaintiff firm with Seattle presence known for major verdicts. Comparable because it competes for high-stakes personal injury and tort work in Washington, though its portfolio skews more toward class actions than Selander O'Brien's individual PI focus.
• LegalZoom: Online consumer legal services platform offering wills, estate planning, and business filings. Comparable because it competes directly with Selander O'Brien's fixed-fee estate planning packages on price and convenience for low-complexity matters.

Others

• Avvo: Online legal directory and Q&A marketplace connecting consumers with attorneys. Comparable because it functions as a customer acquisition and discovery layer for PI and estate planning clients evaluating firms like Selander O'Brien.

Direct peers

• Davis Law Group: Seattle-based plaintiff personal injury and insurance dispute firm. Comparable because it is a similarly positioned local PI practice competing for the same motor-vehicle, injury, and insurance-negotiation matters in the Puget Sound market.
• Tario & Associates, P.S. Seattle-area plaintiff personal injury firm handling vehicle accident and wrongful death cases. Comparable because it targets the same motor-vehicle and serious-injury plaintiff segment in the Seattle metro on a similar boutique scale.
• Schroeter Goldmark & Bender: Seattle plaintiff-side trial firm with a personal injury and catastrophic injury focus. Comparable because it competes head-to-head for high-value PI cases and shares the same contingency-fee, trial-ready reputation model in Washington State.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/selanderobrien
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Selander-OBrien-Attorneys-PLLC/173892939330411
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/profile/view?id=25059603

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Selander O'Brien PLLC