Quinlan, Thomas P.

Thomas P. Quinlan has had a diverse and varied practice. Early in his career, he gained trial experience practicing criminal law as both prosecutor, and later, as a defense lawyer. Now he is a civil trial attorney, who counsels his clients on developing strategies to successfully resolve conflicts. Mr. Quinlan represents clients in state superior courts, as well as federal courts. His clients include individuals and small business owners. He practices primarily personal injury litigation, bankruptcy litigation, construction and real property litigation, as well as business organization and corporation commercial transactions law. That includes resolution through mediation, arbitration, and court or jury trials.

Mr. Quinlan's results include settlements in excess of one million dollars, and verdicts of over six figures. His clients are referred to him through other clients, lawyers, and judges. He has accepted court appointed representation in complex estate litigation. He has represented other lawyers, judges and their family members. Mr. Quinlan is the managing shareholder of the presently a six-attorney firm.

A Judge Advocate General (JAG) in the United States Army Reserve, Mr. Quinlan is a recognized specialist in the legal rights of members of our armed services. He has pioneered recognition in the legal and judicial communities of federal and state laws designed specifically to protect the credit, employment, and family well being of our service members. He and the firm have represented service members having returned from duty due to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan in regards to their re-employment rights and financial affairs. His firm has spearheaded successful efforts to lobby the legislature for amendment of Washington's veterans rights act.

Mr. Quinlan has received the preeminent "AV" peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell—the highest honor they award. The "AV" rating indicates that Mr. Quinlan's peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence, based on his very high ethical standards and his legal ability, as adjudged by his knowledge of the law, creativity in analyzing issues, ability to communicate effectively, judgment in case management, and overall experience. Not all attorneys are the same—the "AV" rating is an indication of Mr. Quinlan's superior legal skills, which directly benefit our clients.

Mr. Quinlan is a Tacoma native. He graduated from the Seattle University School of Law (formerly University of Puget Sound School of Law) in 1991. He graduated in 1986 from the University of Puget Sound. After completing his undergraduate studies and prior to his law school tenure, Mr. Quinlan was employed in the family contracting business as the construction project superintendent. There, he learned the value of dedicated hard work, the niceties of the employee/employer relations, as well as the importance of proper business management.

In his spare time, Mr. Quinlan enjoys life on the small farm where in partnership with his father, sister, and cousins, he raises thoroughbred race horses. He has become an avid horseback rider and is a member of the Washington Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

Mr. Quinlan has served as Judge pro tempore for the city of Fife and the town of Fircrest. Other lawyers have elected him in a variety of different leadership positions in the Pierce County Bar Association and the Washington State Bar Association. He is the past President of the Tacoma-Pierce County Young Lawyers' Section. He was the first President of the Washington State Bar Association Young Lawyers' Division for the new millennia. As such, Mr. Quinlan represented approximately, 6,800 young lawyers to the association's governing body, the Washington State Bar Association Board of Governors.

Mr. Quinlan has authored various articles in De Novo, the Washington Young Lawyer's Division publication, the Bar News, the Washington State Bar Association's publication, and the Trial News, the publication sponsored by the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. Moreover, he has served as presenter and teacher at a number of continuing legal education courses involving trial skills, construction law disputes, and bankruptcy adversarial matters, and service members' rights.