Practice areas: Employment & Labor, Employment Litigation; view more
Licensed in Washington since: 2012
Education: University of Washington School of Law
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206-278-5708
AKW Law, P.C.
10202 5th Ave NESuite 200
Seattle, WA 98125 Visit website
Ada Smoke (f/k/a Ada K. Wong) is the founder and Managing Partner of AKW LAW, a preeminent employment law firm. She is a well-respected employment law attorney known for her sharp advocacy and deep commitment to protecting employee rights. With extensive experience litigating complex workplace matters, Ada represents employees in cases involving sexual harassment, retaliation, disability discrimination, age discrimination, sex/gender discrimination, race discrimination, FMLA violations, wage and hour violations, severance negotiations, and wrongful termination.
She is recognized for her strategic approach, meticulous preparation, and ability to translate complex legal issues into compelling narratives for judges, juries, and clients alike. Through her practice, Ada has built a reputation as a trusted advocate and thoughtful leader in the employment law community. There is no stopping her until justice is reached, whether through early resolution, mediation, or trial.
Ada is the Dean of the Keenan Trial Institute, overseeing nearly 6000 students and 100 faculty members. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the Seattle University School of Law teaching Employment Discrimination. She serves as an Arbitrator in King and Snohomish Counties and mentors law students and lawyers across the nation.
Over the course of her career, Mrs. Wong has provided representation to both employees and employers. She draws on this experience to help her passionately fight to make sure her clients' rights are upheld. Regardless of the obstacles that may exist, Mrs. Wong believes that justice should be achieved and maintained - no matter the cost. She has an AVVO "Superb" rating and was awarded the "Client's Choice Award." AKW Law was voted The Seattle Times 2025 BEST IN THE PNW GOLD WINNER.
Understanding that employment law issues are often of a personal nature, Ada takes a compassionate approach. She believes in providing her clients with individual attention and personalized advice. Throughout the legal process, she remains accessible to her clients, keeping them informed about their options and the status of their cases.
Practice areas
Employment & Labor: Employee, Employment Litigation: PlaintiffFocus areas
Employment Law - Employee, Sexual Harassment, Wage & Hour Laws, Whistleblower
- 50% Employment & Labor: Employee
- 50% Employment Litigation: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2012, Washington
Professional Webpage: https://www.akw-law.com/team/ada-wong
Bar / Professional Activity
- Washington
- American Association for Justice
- Federal Bar Association (FBA)
- Washington State Bar Association (WSBA)
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington
- King County Bar Association (KCBA)
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- William L. Dwyer American Inns of Court, Member, 2011
- Member, Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington (VABAW), 2010-2012
- Washington State Association for Justice (WSAJ)
- U.S. District Court Western District of Washington
- Washington Employment Lawyers Association (WELA)
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
- William L. Dwyer American Inns of Court, Executive Board, 2014-Present
- President-Elect, Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington (VABAW), 2014
- American Inns of Court The Bencher, Editorial Board, 2012-Present
- National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA)
- King County Bar Association Diversity Committee, 2014-Present
- President, Vietnamese American Bar Association of Washington (VABAW), 2015
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Dispute Resolution Concentration, University of Washington School of Law, 2012
Pro bono / Community Service
- Seattle University School of Law Incubator Program, Member
Educational Background
- University of California, Davis, B.A., Major: Communication
- Keenan Trial Institute, Master Graduate
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- All-Zoom Jury Trial, December 2020 (WSAJ Trial News)
- Counting Our Blessings, January 2021 (WSAJ Trial News)
- Police Officer’s Confession to Lying in Court, Suicide, and Admissibility of Statements to be Determined, February 2021 (WSAJ Trial News)
- Nine Mistakes to Avoid in Remote Video Jury Trials, March 2021 (WSAJ Trial News)
- Western District of Washington Local Civil Rules Update, April 2021 (WSAJ Trial News)
- Celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, May 2021 (WSAJ Trial News)
- Remote Voir Dire: Virtually Divided but Still Connected, June 2021 (WSAJ Trial News)
- Employment Protection in the Time of COVID-19, July 2021 (WSAJ Trial News)
- The Present & Future of Trial News, September 2021 (WSAJ Trial News)
- Silenced No More!, July 2022 (WSAJ Trial News)
- WSAJ’s Employment Law Deskbook, Retaliation, 2022
- WSAJ’s Employment Law Deskbook, Sex Discrimination, 2022
- Seattle University School of Law, Adjunct Professor
- Co-Chair, WSAJ CLE: "Cutting Edge Civil Rights Issues: Police Misconduct, Homeless Rights, and Prisoners' Rights," 2017
- Police Brutality and the Mentally Ill, March 2016 (WSAJ Trial News)
- Young v. United States Parcel Service, Inc.: A Small Step for Pregnant Employees, July 2015 (WSAJ Trial News)
- The Need for Clarity on Tasers-Excessive Force and Qualified Immunity, March 2015 (WSAJ Trial News)
- Johnston-Forbes v. Matsunaga and Biomechanical Testimony--Where Does That Leave Plaintiffs' Attorneys in Excluding Expert Testimony?, October 2014 (WSAJ Trial News)
- Assistant Editor, Washington State Association for Justice Trial News, 2015-Present
- Editorial Board, Washington State Association for Justice Trial News, 2014-2015
- Book Review: Case Framing, May 2016 (WSAJ Trial News)
- Legal Guide: How to Get Your Employee File in Washington, 2014
- What Is "Excessive Force?" A Look at Graham v. Connor, 2013 (WSBA NWSidebar)
- 50 Years After Gideon: Should the Right to Counsel Be Expanded?, 2013 (WSBA NWSidebar)
- Facebook Can Cost You More Than Your Lawsuit: Allied Concrete Co. v. Lester, 2013 (WSBA NWSidebar)
- WSBA Legal Lunchbox: "Over the Course of Your Legal Career - A Conversation on Professional Development & Office Management," May 2016
- WSAJ CLE: "How to Survive & Thrive in the First Years of Practice," March 2016
- WSAJ EAGLE Legal Staff Brown Bag: "A Case Walks In The Door: From Intake to Filing and Service," Sept. 2015
- "10 Things All Employers Should Know: From Hiring to Firing," April 2015
- Speaker and Presenter, WSAJ CLE: "Uncovering the Secrets of Discovery: Overall Discovery Planning & Differences in State v. Federal Discovery, 2017
- Speaker and Presenter, WSBA CLE: "Effective Tools for the 21st Century Litigator: Updates to Federal Civil Rules and Comparison to Washington's Civil Rules, 2016
- Speaker and Presenter, WSAJ WOW Conference: "Lifting Up: Powerful Ideas from WOW Powerhouses", 2016
- Speaker and Presenter, WSAJ WOW Conference: "Lifting Up: Powerful Ideas from WOW Powerhouses", 2016
- Co-Chair, WSAJ Convention: "Diversity Presentation: Cultural Competence in Trial", 2016
- Co-Chair, WSAJ CLE: "Cutting Edge Civil Rights Issues: Police Misconduct, Homeless Rights, and Prisoners' Rights," 2017
- Employer Liability for Customer or Non-Employee Harassment, 2016 (WSAJ Trial News)
- Victory in the Second Circuit: Civil Rights Law to Include Sexual Orientation Discrimination Claims Under Title VII, 2018 (WSAJ Trial News)
Honors
- Best In The PNW Gold Winner, The Seattle Times, 2025
- AVVO 10.0/10.0 Top Employment Law Attorney, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
- WYLC Local Leader Award, 2015
- Asian American Bar Association of Washington Scholarship, 2009
- Top 100, America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators, 2017
- 10 Best Attorneys - Personal Injury, American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 2018
- "Women in The Law - Top Peer-Nominated Lawyers", Best Lawyers, 2016, 2017
- AVVO 10.0/10.0 Top Civil Rights Attorney, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
- WSBA Public Incentive Award, 2014
- WSAJ Ready to Soar, 2017
- Top 100, America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators, 2018
- Rising Star, SuperLawyers, 2017
- AVVO 10.0/10.0 Top Personal Injury Attorney, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
- AVVO Clients' Choice Award, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
- University of Washington School of Law Pro Bono Honors Award, 2010, 2011
- 10 Best Attorneys - Personal Injury, American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 2017
- "Rising Star" by SuperLawyers, 2016
Industry Groups
- Disability Discrimination
- Employment
- Employment Litigation
- Pregnancy Discrimination
- Retaliation
- Sex/Gender Discrimination
- Sexual Harassment
- Wage And Hour
- Whistleblower
- Wrongful Termination
Selections
- Rising Stars: 2016 - 2026