Matt J. O'Laughlin - Seattle, WA
Attorney at Maloney O’Laughlin PLLC
Employment Law Lawyers in Seattle, WA
200 W. Mercer St. Suite 506 Seattle, WA 98119
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
24
Years
Experience
Seattle Employment Law Lawyer
Updated: 03/10/2026
Areas of Practice
- Employment Law
Attorney Information
Overview
Matt has devoted his career to exclusively representing employees who have been treated unfairly by corporations and the government, whether through discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Treating clients with the dignity and respect they deserve is one of Matt’s highest priorities. Equally important, Matt is committed to obtaining full justice for his clients.
Over the course of two decades, Matt has established a winning record of both large verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. His success comes from an understanding that his cases are not about him, but about his clients’ stories and righting the wrongs that have been done to them. He knows that the law can be intimidating and confusing to everyday people. That is why Matt carefully guides his clients through every step of the legal process, protecting and empowering them to ensure the process is a positive one.
Matt is repeatedly ranked as one of the leading attorneys in the field of employment law. He has been recognized as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers. Since 2016, his peers have continuously recognized him with the distinction of Super Lawyer. He has also obtained a rating of 10 out of 10 by the peer- and client-reviewed organization AVVO. In 2023, he was appointed by the Washington Board of Governors to serve on the Washington State Bar Association’s Court Rules and Procedures Committee. Matt’s writings also have been published on a wide variety of topics and he has been a contributing editor for one of the American Bar Association’s authoritative treatises on employment law for many years.
On a more personal level, Matt believes deeply in the service he provides to his clients. From a very young age, he learned the importance of protecting our civil rights. In the 1960s, his father answered Dr. King’s call to all clergy in the United States to come to the South to stand for civil rights. Continuing this family tradition, Matt provides fearless and unrelenting advocacy on behalf of his clients in their pursuit of equal justice under the law.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- Super Lawyer, Employment Litigation (Plaintiff) (2016-present)
- National Association of Distinguished Counsel, Nation’s Top 1%
- AVVO Rating (Peer and Client Reviewed): 10/10 “Superb”
- James Madison Award (For Excellence in Constitutional Law)
Other Sources of Feedback About Matt J. O'Laughlin
Included on the 2026 Washington Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Washington Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law,
Kansas City,
Missouri, 2002
J.D.
Law Review: UMKC Law Review, Articles Editor
-
University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law,
Kansas City,
Missouri, 2002
-
Non Legal Education
-
University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1997
B.A.
Honors: With Honors
Major: Political Science
-
University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1997
Classes and Seminars
-
“Shifting Workplace Discrimination Law: Emerging Trends and Strategies,” WSBA Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, 2025
-
UMKC, Guest Lecturer – Constitutional Law
- Webster University, Guest Lecturer – First Amendment Law
Pro Bono Activities
- Neighborhood Justice Center Volunteer
Published Works
Articles
-
Contributing Editor, Wage and Hour Laws, A State-by-State Survey, American Bar Association Section of Labor & Employment Law, (2014-2021)
-
The People Can Do No Wrong: An Examination of State and Eleventh Amendment Sovereign Immunity for Missouri's School Districts, 74 U.M.K.C. L. Rev. 883 (2006)
Bar Admissions
- Washington, 2015
- Kansas, 2010
- Illinois, 2004
- Missouri, 2002
- U.S. District Court Western District of Washington
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit
Other Affiliations
- Washington State Bar Association, Court Rules and Procedures Committee
- Pacific Coast Labor & Employment Law Conference, Planning Committee
- National Association of Employment Attorneys
- Washington Employment Lawyers Association
- Washington State Association for Justice
- WSAJ, Court Rules Committee
- King County Bar Association
Photo
Contact
200 W. Mercer St.
Suite 506
Seattle, WA 98119
Phone: 206-536-2338
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.pacwestjustice.com
Hours: Monday-Friday: 9am – 5pm
Disclaimer
Your Profile? Update Now
When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.