Practice Areas: Eminent domain, State, local & municipal, Real estate; view more
Licensed in Washington since: 1986
Education: University of Oregon School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2023 Details
Attorney Kinnon W. Williams is Of Counsel to Foster Garvey PC. At the firm, he focuses his efforts on representing the interests of business owners, company leaders and municipalities throughout Washington state in matters related to the following:
• Eminent domain
• Dispute resolution
• Municipal law
• Real estate
Mr. Williams began his legal career in 1986 after earning his law degree from University of Oregon School of Law and his admission to the Washington State Bar Association. However, his education did not end when he finished law school. He went on to graduate from the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, and annually co-chairs a seminar on eminent domain.
Over the course of Mr. Williams' his legal career, he has earned the respect of both his clients and his peers. In addition to having served as lead trial counsel in numerous cases, he is a regularly requested guest speaker, both locally and nationally, and he has written a number of articles on various legal topics involving eminent domain, impact fees, easements and open government. He has successfully worked on legislation to make the eminent domain process fairer to landowners and is also the author of the Washington State Bar Association’s Real Property Deskbook Chapter on Eminent Domain.
In addition to Mr. Williams' work on behalf of his clients, he actively works within the community. He currently serves on the Board of the Washington State Bar Foundation, a WSBA Delegate to the American Bar Association and most recently served as a commissioner to the King County Charter Review Commission.
Practice areas
Eminent domain, State, local & municipal, Real estate: businessFocus areas
State, local & municipal litigation
- 70% Eminent domain
- 20% State, local & municipal
- 10% Real estate: business
First Admitted: 1986, Washington
Professional Webpage: https://www.foster.com/people-kinnon-williams
- Washington Super Lawyers list, 2013-2021
- Selected as Super Lawyer, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, 2013- 2018
- "Pulling it All Together: Preparing for an Appraisal Trial," The Seminar Group
- "Eminent Domain Basics for Fire Districts," Washington Fire Commissioners Association Annual Conference, 10.24.19
- "The Evolution of Floating Easements: Shifting Scheduling Risks to Property Owners," 9.27.19
- "Eminent Domain: Legislative Changes to Protect Business Owners," The Seminar Group
- "Mass Relocation and Navigating Cultural Conflicts: Displacement of Immigrant and Refugee Communities," Annual Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Seminar, Palm Springs, CA, January 24-26, 2019
- "Liabilities Related to the Use and Ownership in Easements," 7th Annual Easements and CCRs in Washington, 11.16.18
- "Stigma Damage: Washington State," Appraisal Institute Fall Conference
- The Seminar Group's 8th Annual Eminent Domain Seminar
- "How to Have a Happy Vacation – The process for vacating rights of way," Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys, Whistler, B.C., Canada, 5.3.18
- "Living With Lenders: Their Opportunity to Participate and Owner Counsel’s Right to a Fee," Annual Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Seminar, Charleston, SC, January 25-27, 2018
- Washington Eminent Domain Law In a Rapidly Changing Region, King County Bar Association Bar Journal, 5.19
- County Charter Review Commission Proposing Changes to Housing, Inquest Rules and Office of Law-Enforcement Oversight, King County Bar Association Bar Journal, 7.19
- Gentrification: Good or Bad – Differences in Perspective, King County Bar Association Bar Journal, 11.19
- Author, Washington State Bar Association Real Property Deskbook Chapter on Eminent Domain, (4th ed., 2012 and supplement 2015)
- Author, Taking Fear Out of Land Acquisition, Fire Chiefs Magazine, Denver. CO. (May 2007)
- Contributor, Washington Fire Chiefs newsletter, 2011, 2012, 2013
- Speaker, "Ethics for Municipal Officials," Washington Association of Sewer and Water Districts, 2014
- Program Co-Chair & Speaker, "Easements in Washington" Seattle, Seminar Group, 2013
- Program Co-Chair & Speaker "Issues in Condemnation" Seattle, Seminar Group, 2013
- Speaker, 81ST Washington Fire Chiefs EXPO, "Municipal Ethics," "Social Media & the Fire Service," 2013
- Speaker, "The Process of Condemnation," Seminar Group 2010
- Speaker, "Road Easement Law from A to Z," National Business Institute, 2010
- Speaker, Fire Chief Magazine's National Station Style Conference, Denver Colorado
- Speaker and Facilitator, International Right of Way Association, numerous seminars
- Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, Super Lawyer Honoree, 2013 - 2018
- The Unit Rule: Misunderstood and Rightly So, was presented to the Seattle Chapter of Appraisal Institute in an effort to assist appraisers in understanding the finer points of the Unit Rule (or Undivided Fee Rule). This rule is often confusing in the application, can lead to unjust results, and is a legal fiction that is rarely used in most modern acquisitions where the condemning authority can not or chooses not to acquire the entire fee. Presented to the Seattle Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, The Unit Rule: Misunderstood and Rightly So, Appraisal Institute - Seattle Chapter
- National Institute of Trial Advocacy, 2001
- University of Washington, B.A. in Political Science, 1982
- Washington State Bar Foundation Board Trustee
- Appointed Delegate to the American Bar Association , 2021
- Served as a Commissioner on the King County Charter Review Commission tasked with reviewing and suggesting amendments to the King County Washington Charter. Â
- Evergreen Health Care Foundation, Vice Chair and Board Member, 2009-2017
- King County Fire Protection Districts Nos. 16, 36, and 40 v. The Housing Authority of King County, 123 Wn. 2d 819, 1994
- City of Lynnwood v. Video Only, Inc. 118 Wn. App. 674, 77 P.3d 378 (2003), review denied January 7, 2004
- Arthur T. Lane, et al. v. The City of Seattle, Washington State Supreme Court Decision, No. 80204-1 October 16, 2008
- Washington State Bar Association Delegate to the American Bar Association , 2021
- Washington State Licensed Real Estate Instructor
- Washington State Bar Association, Solo and Small Practice Section Board, 2007-2014
- Washington Fire Commissioners Association
- Washington Fire Chiefs Association
- The Washington Center, Washington D.C. Alumni Advisory Board - Previous
- King County Washington Bar Association, Judicial Fair Campaign Committee, Chair, 2012-2013
- King County Washington Bar Association, Judicial Evaluation Committee, Co-Chair, 2010
- King County Washington Bar Association, Judicial Conferencing Committee, Co-Chair, 2012-2013
- King County Washington Bar Association, Treasurer, 2014-2017
- King County Washington Bar Association, Finance Committee, 2018-2019
- King County Washington Bar Association, Awards Committee, 2020-present
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
- Cities
- Commercial Property Owners
- Ports
- Retail Restaurants
- Telecommunications
- Utilities
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2013 - 2023
