The King County Bar Association was shocked and saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of former King County Bar President, Kim Tran. Her legal career was punctuated by extensive pro bono work, and her commitment to diversity exemplified the Bar’s mission then and now.
Kim was the first woman of color to be President of KCBA. Her tenure from 2015 to 2016 focused on strengthening the fundamentals of the organization: strategic planning, updating and amending the by-laws, and tackling the controversies around the new Juvenile Justice Center, leading to the formation of the Bar’s juvenile justice reform task force. Her focus was on making sure the Bar’s foundation was solid and forward-looking, all while carrying and then delivering twin boys with grace and good humor.
Kim’s interest in the law began in high school where she participated in mock trial competitions. Her team went to nationals two years in a row. Her mock trial coach, and her inspiration to become a lawyer, was Paul J. De Muniz, who went on to become the first Hispanic American to be elected to Oregon office and chief justice on the Oregon Supreme Court.
After college, Kim joined Stafford Frey Cooper and developed an employment law practice. She became the hiring attorney as a senior associate and transformed the firm into one of the most diverse in Seattle in terms of gender, race and national origin.
In 2005 Kim, along with Mike Heath, organized the first Statewide Diversity Conference, which spotlighted what diversity in the law means, raised cultural competency in the legal profession, and facilitated camaraderie among diverse attorneys. Her commitment to other organizations is a defining characteristic of her career, particularly the Asian Bar Association of Washington, the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington, the Asian Counseling & Referral Service, and KCBA.
Michelle Pham, on behalf of the Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington (VABAW), noted Kim’s unwavering support of Vietnamese American law students and attorneys as a VABAW member, mentor and friend. “She was a pioneer who many of us looked up to and aimed to follow in her footsteps as leaders in the community.”
One of Kim’s most personally meaningful activities was volunteering as a naturalization teacher to immigrants applying for US citizenship. In 10 years of service 100% of her students passed their civics exam and became US citizens. She counted this highly rewarding experience as one of the privileges of her life.
After Leaving Stafford Frey Cooper, Kim went on to join Seattle City Light in 2010 and Microsoft in 2012. Most recently she worked as GitHub’s in-house employment law attorney where she was the Head of HR legal. She continued to serve KCBA in many ways in between and after her terms on the Board of Trustees, from 2009-2011 and again from 2013-2016. Her condition for accepting the appointment as Chair of the Nominations Committee was prioritizing diversity over high-profile, and she sought nominations of those whose work showed brilliance, integrity and reflected the diverse legal community that make up the organization.
Fellow Trustees from her times on the KCBA Board have universally praised her accomplishments, intelligence, decency, and the wonderful positive energy and huge smile she brought to every meeting and event she attended.
King County Bar is proud to have been a small part of Kim’s extensive career. Our deepest condolences and warm wishes go out to her family.
