Pierce, Kathleen E.

Kathleen is a Tacoma native and enjoys practicing law in the community where she grew up, attended school and chose to make her home following law school. She has lived in both Gig Harbor and Tacoma and her practice regularly involves crossing the bridge to represent clients who live and work on the Peninsula.   She is a passionate advocate for her clients, many of whom are childhood friends and neighbors. 

According to Kathleen, who has been with Morton McGoldrick since 1982, Tacoma is still a close-knit community, and there are hometown advantages when it comes to understanding local issues, communities, and perspectives.  She finds it interesting to practice in her home town where so many families and people are connected to each other and to the community.  Practicing in the local community in both federal and state courts for over 25 years has given her valuable insight that can only be gained from that type of local experience.

Most of Kathleen’s clients are small businesses of 10 to 60 employees, individuals, non-profit associations and Homeowner’s Associations all in the South Sound. She also has represented national companies that need representation in Pierce County, and franchises that need a local attorney.

Kathleen’s practice emphasizes commercial and real estate litigation, business and contract disputes, and employment litigation including wrongful discharge, discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, whistleblower and wage and hour cases.

To these areas she brings a strong academic background, including a University of Puget Sound degree in Economics and Finance, and a J.D. from the University of Washington Law School. She’s also a member of the Washington State and Tacoma—Pierce County Bar associations.  She is admitted to practice in the Western and Eastern districts of the Federal District Court of Washington, all courts of the State of Washington and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Morton McGoldrick has always been the right fit for Kathleen.  For her it was the just the right size and continues to be a firm that is able to address the many and varied legal issues facing their clients.  She explains that she is very proud to be affiliated with Morton McGoldrick, explaining that, “I respect and admire all of my coworkers and I would not want to work anywhere else.  We have a team approach and we collaborate to bring the best of our professional expertise to bear on the issues facing our clients.  We consistently obtain favorable results and we enjoy a good reputation in the community and in court.”

Outside of work, Kathleen is married and has three children. She enjoys travel and sports. She has served on the Board of the Tacoma Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, Tacoma Art Museum’s Activities Committee, volunteered on the Zoobillee Committee for the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, and was a former member of Rotary 8.  She regularly provides pro bono services on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of South Puget Sound and the Pierce County Aids Foundation. 

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Practice Areas:

• Real Estate Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Employment Law