Atty. Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li

Atty. Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li

Skip spent his first 16 years living in Asia, Australia, and Latin America, and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. He still does extensive work in other parts of the world.

Seattle Seattle 55 yrs experience 55 year
Call (206) 258-6360 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li at a glance

Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li is a Member based in Seattle, Washington, practicing at Ellis, Li & McKinstry PLLC. They have 55+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1971. Their practice focuses on business, real estate, m&a, securities, and international. Admitted to practice in Washington (1971) and U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington (1971). Educated at University of Washington (J.D., 1970) and University of Pennsylvania and Seattle Pacific University (B.A., 1966). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of Washington State Bar Association. Serands clients in Seattle, WA and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Skip spent his first 16 years living in Asia, Australia, and Latin America, and speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese and Spanish
  • He still does extensive work in other parts of the world
  • This gives him a unique global perspective for his professional and community activities
  • Early in his career Skip was deeply involved in politics, and from 1973 to 1976 served as legal counsel to Washington Governor Dan Evans
  • After that experience, Skip returned to Seattle and founded the firm in January 1977, intent on building a first class law firm made up of men and women who cared deeply about clients, each other, and our community
  • He has a broad range of legal experience, having started his career in a time when lawyers were generalists, and there were few specialists in the profession
  • That background helps him bring a breadth of knowledge to counseling clients, whether they are building a rapidly growing business, contemplating a major real estate transaction, or starting a non-profit organization
  • He has been voted a “Superlawyer” by his peers for a number of years in Law & Politics, a lawyers’ publication
  • Skip is profoundly thankful for the freedom and opportunity he found in this great country
  • He loves Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, and is always grateful to return here after traveling
  • Publications Peer-reviewed articles: "A Current Church State Battleground: Requiring Clergy to Report Child Abuse,"Journal of Church and State, Fall 1990
  • "Religious Speech in Public Schools: A Case Study in Contradictions,"Journal of Church and State, Summer, 1995
  • From 1998 to 2009, Skip wrote op-ed pieces as a columnist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on a wide range of political, cultural and social issues
  • Here is his farewell article shortly before the paper was shut down
  • Professional and Community Involvement In 1982 Skip began pursuing a dream of helping the rural poor in developing countries to buy their own farmland and to build economic self-sufficiency through farming that land
  • That dream has blossomed into a non-profit organization known today as Agros International
  • Agros has helped create over 42 communities so far in rural areas of Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Mexico
  • In a number of these communities, people who could never have dreamed of owning their own farm land have successfully repaid their land loans and received title to their land
  • Skip’s book on his life journey and how it tied into the work of Agros, Buy This Land, was recently published and available on Amazon.com He is an avid reader of historical fiction and Walt Kelly's Pogo comic strips
  • He has a passion for Mozart's operas and great classical music
  • Skip and his wife have four children, three beautiful granddaughters, and one very good-looking grandson

Practice Areas Explained

Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Washington →

Real Estate Law

Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.

Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li is one of 316,149 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in Washington →

Mergers & Acquisitions

Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li is one of 49,731 m&a attorneys indexed nationally. Browse m&a attorneys in Washington →

Securities Law

Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li is one of 64,529 securities attorneys indexed nationally. Browse securities attorneys in Washington →

International Law

International law attorneys for cross-border transactions, trade, foreign investment, and treaties.

Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li is one of 40,133 international attorneys indexed nationally. Browse international attorneys in Washington →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Washington

Practicing law in Washington. Legal matters in Washington are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Seattle are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Washington state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Washington brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Washington courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Washington attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Seattle or all attorneys in Washington.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li

Where is Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li's law office located?
Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li's law practice is located in Seattle, Washington. The firm is Ellis, Li & McKinstry PLLC. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li handle?
Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li focuses on business, real estate, m&a, securities, international. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Washington.
How long has Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li practiced law?
Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li has 55+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 1971.
Where did Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li go to law school?
Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li earned their education at (J.D., 1970); (B.A., 1966).
How can I contact Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li for a consultation?
You can contact Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li received?
Chi-Dooh (Skip) Li's notable recognition includes: AV Preeminent.

Education

J.D.
University of Washington
- 1970
B.A.
University of Pennsylvania and Seattle Pacific University
- 1966

Awards

AV Preeminent

Bar Admissions

Washington
Admitted: 1971
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
Admitted: 1971

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