Overview
Some of Peter Hawkins’ most compelling cases have been the ones that did not look particularly strong at first. Peter is a meticulous litigator who knows that an initial narrative can change when the evidence receives a closer look. He digs into documents, tests assumptions, and searches for the details others may have overlooked. Throughout his career, he has found that the fact capable of changing a case is often already in the record. The difference is finding it and knowing how to use it.
Peter did not enter law school expecting to become a trial lawyer. With an undergraduate background in literature and philosophy, he arrived at the University of Virginia School of Law interested in public policy and international human rights. An internship at a law firm changed his direction. Litigation engaged him immediately, and he has spent his career handling disputes ranging from employment claims and contract matters to complex commercial cases.
One early case became a defining example of how Peter works. He inherited an employment matter that appeared, at first, to have difficult facts. Rather than accepting that assessment, he worked through the documents and found evidence showing that the employee had been treated unfairly and that another supervisor had recognized what was happening. The case ultimately resulted in a win for the client. It reinforced Peter’s belief that challenging cases often turn on disciplined factual development rather than first impressions.
At Seattle Litigation Group, Peter represents employees, employers, businesses, and individuals in employment law, commercial litigation, contract disputes, and other civil matters. His experience ranges from focused disputes involving a single workplace to complex litigation lasting years, including a matter that culminated in a seven-month jury trial.
Peter’s Approach to Litigation
Peter describes his style as thorough, methodical, and results-oriented. He thinks of legal problems as puzzles and looks for the factual or legal reframe that can change the shape of a dispute. That may mean identifying an overlooked document, challenging an assumption, or finding a more efficient path to the client’s objective.
He is also settlement-minded when settlement serves the client. Peter does not believe a case should be prolonged simply because litigation can continue. His focus is on using the process strategically, controlling unnecessary cost, and pursuing the outcome that makes the most sense for the client.
- Employment Discrimination, Food Safety Inspector. Inherited a matter viewed as particularly challenging and used detailed document review to identify evidence of targeted mistreatment and supporting supervisor conduct. The case ultimately resulted in a win for the client.
- Complex Commercial Litigation, Seven-Month Jury Trial. Worked on a commercial dispute that lasted approximately eight years and concluded after a seven-month jury trial, requiring sustained management of a large and complicated factual record.
- Employment and Contract Disputes. Represents clients in matters ranging from individual workplace disputes to commercial and contractual litigation, with an emphasis on identifying the strongest available theory and building the evidence to support it.
- Washington State Bar Association, Member
- King County Bar Association, Member
Outside the office, Peter plays saxophone with a concert band, with a particular affinity for jazz. He also enjoys spending time with friends and the considerably less structured pursuit of keeping up with his cat.
Recognition
