Brad A. Meryhew

Attorney Brad A. Meryhew is the founder and owner of The Meryhew Law Group, PLLC, in Seattle, Washington. Nationally recognized as among the top trial lawyers in the country, Mr. Meryhew devotes his practice to defending the rights and liberties of those accused of sexual misconduct in criminal proceedings. He has become a recognized authority in defending sex crime allegations, as well as advocating for more just and reasonable legislation and policies regarding convicted sex offenders.

Mr. Meryhew is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound/Seattle University School of Law where he finished cum laude and a member of the Law Journal. He began his legal career as a public defender with Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons (SCRAP) in Seattle. At SCRAP, he worked in the felony trial unit and as a member of the management team.

In 2003 Mr. Meryhew entered private practice focused exclusively on the representation of adults and juveniles charged with sexual misconduct in state and federal courts. He has since represented well over 1,000 individuals on sexually related offenses. Mr. Meryhew tried his first felony offense to a jury verdict on a sex offense in 1998 while with the public defender’s office. He has since tried scores of felony sex offenses to a jury verdict in King, Pierce, Snohomish, Clallam, Skagit and Whatcom Counties. He also appears regularly representing individuals accused of sexual misconduct in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington and has represented persons accused of sex offenses in the Superior Courts throughout Washington, including King, Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, Island, Pierce, Thurston, Grays Harbor, Cowlitz, Clark, Kittitas, Klickitat, Kitsap, Douglas, Yakima, Benton, Spokane and Stevens counties.

Mr. Meryhew currently serves as the Chair of the Washington Sex Offender Policy Board, where he has been a member for 12 years. Mr. Meryhew regularly testifies before the Legislature regarding legislation that affects the sex offender management system in a variety of ways. 

Over the course of his 24 years in practice, Mr. Meryhew has successfully handled numerous high-profile sex offense cases for a broad range of clients, from teachers and coaches to group home counselors, day care operators and elected officials. He has achieved a strong record of success at felony jury trials, and is known for his skill and success with these cases particularly.

Mr. Meryhew has served on the Washington State Sex Offender Policy Board continuously since 2008 representing the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Washington Defender Association. He currently serves as Chair of the Sex Offender Policy Board as they prepare a report for the Legislature and the Governor regarding Less Restrictive Alternative placements in the community for Sexually Violent Predators. He has conducted numerous lectures and seminars before various professional legal organizations throughout the country regarding sex offenders' rights and the sex offender management system and sex offender registry requirements. Mr. Meryhew developed a method for preparing clients for spychosexual evaluations that was published in Champion magazine of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawers. From his efforts, he has become a champion for making logically sound and evidence-based legislation and policy regarding sex offender registries and many aspects of sex offender policy in Washington. 

In recognition for his outstanding professionalism and dedication to his cause, Mr. Meryhew received a certificate of appreciation in 2008 and 2010 from the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for his contributions to sex offender policies and legislations. He has also received numerous pro bono awards from the Washington State Bar Association for his selfless service to others, and he has earned top client ratings from Martindale-Hubbell and other peer review sources. In addition, he has received 10 out of 10 client ratings on Avvo.

Mr. Meryhew attended Western Washington University for two years before completing his undergraduate studies at The University of Utah, where he graduated in 1980. He then worked as an instructor for two years while attending graduate school in  political communications from the University of Maryland, College Park, from 1981 to 1983.

Upon deciding to pursue his legal career, he attended the University of Puget Sound School of Law (now Seattle University School of Law) and obtained his Juris Doctor cum laude in 1994. While there, he was a member of the school's law review and student bar association, as well as an active participant in its moot court. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Mr. Meryhew is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers the Washington Defenders Association, the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers, and the Washington Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers.