Outstanding New Lawyer Award: Tommy Tobin
By Amanda Simantov
The KCBA’s Outstanding New Lawyer Award honors rising attorneys who demonstrate excellence in their legal practice and make substantial contributions to the profession, the KCBA, and the community. This year’s recipient, Tommy Tobin, embodies the spirit of the award.
As Counsel at Perkins Coie, Tommy focuses on class action litigation and regulatory compliance, particularly for clients in the food, cosmetics, and cannabis industries. His work has earned national recognition, including being named one of the ABA’s “On the Rise – Top 40 Young Lawyers.” Tommy maintains a robust pro bono practice, including a federal jury trial in Arizona, for which the Phoenix Civil Litigation Panel named his trial team the 2022 Outstanding Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year.
“As Charles Sipos — one of my mentors at Perkins Coie — reminds me, it’s called the practice of law for a reason,” Tommy said. “This award is a great opportunity to reflect on the work to date and the work ahead. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate with my colleagues as this award was only possible because of my fantastic teammates, including lawyers, paralegals, and business professionals. I am constantly learning and growing from them, and I’m excited to continue to do so.
“I am hopeful that students see this award and consider how they can contribute to the legal profession, including the KCBA, as new lawyers.”
Tommy’s contributions to the profession go far beyond his litigation work. A leader in the field of food law, he edited the ABA’s Food Law: A Practical Guide, a resource for lawyers nationwide. At UCLA, he serves on the advisory board of the Resnick Center for Food Law & Policy, and he has co-taught the school’s Food Litigation seminar.
For Tommy, the subject matter is personal. “My mother would often say, ‘food is love,’” he shared. “Food is an essential part of our daily lives, and it’s endlessly fascinating to me to explore the myriad ways the law intersects with the food we eat.”
In addition to practice and scholarship, Tommy is a dedicated educator. He currently teaches a complex litigation seminar at the University of Washington School of Law, where he received a 2024 Trautman Award as an instructor.
Tommy is also a prolific writer, with published work in Bloomberg Law, Law360, and JAMA Pediatrics. In 2024, JD Supra named him its #1 author on class actions and #2 on product liability, selected from thousands of legal contributors. He’s frequently quoted as an expert by outlets like The Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, and NPR.
Even with a demanding professional life, Tommy remains deeply involved in service. He currently serves on the KCBA Board of Trustees, is a delegate to the ABA House of Delegates, and sits on the WSBA Committee on Professional Ethics. He also holds two appointments to statewide boards made by Governor Jay Inslee, and he previously served on the ABA’s Science & Technology Law Section Council.
When asked how he finds balance, Tommy’s response was grounded and simple: “Gratitude. I’m thankful for the opportunities I’ve had so far, and I’m excited for what’s next.”
That gratitude extends to his students. “My students at UCLA Law and the UW consistently motivate me,” he said. “I am excited to watch them grow as people and new lawyers. I was particularly pleased to receive emails from former students when they’ve come across facets of practice that we discussed in class. I am glad I can be part of their journey.”
What stood out most during the awards ceremony wasn’t just Tommy’s accomplishments, but his openness and humility. In his acceptance speech, he spoke about losing his mother three years ago and the support he received from his firm during her illness and after her passing. It was a powerful reminder that experiences of personal resilience are often behind professional excellence.
Tommy also spoke about the value of giving back: “As lawyers — including new lawyers — we have the opportunity to use our training for the benefit of others,” he said. “Consider what interests you — then seek out opportunities to engage with that topic at your firm, in your community, and at bar associations, like KCBA. As new lawyers, you might not have the expertise in that topic, but you have interest and time to learn. There are many opportunities for interested volunteers.”
With such a wide-ranging body of work and an approach grounded in generosity and curiosity, Tommy Tobin is exactly the kind of lawyer the Outstanding New Lawyer Award was meant to recognize. Congratulations, Tommy!
Amanda Simantov is Senior Counsel at Hughes Media Law Group and is the outgoing chair of the King County Bar Association’s New Lawyer’s Division.
