Atty. Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson

Atty. Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson

Ken Payson’s practice focuses on class action defense, other complex commercial litigation and appellate work, particularly with respect to claims under state and federal consumer protection laws. Ken represents clients from a variety of industries, including financial services, telecommunications, software, and digital media companies.

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Profile Summary

About Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson at a glance

Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson is a business, litigation, and appellate attorney based in Seattle, Washington, practicing at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. Admitted to practice in Washington, Washington State Bar Association. Educated at University of California Berkeley (J.D., 1996) and California State University East Bay (BA, 1993). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Seattle, WA and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Ken Payson’s practice focuses on class action defense, other complex commercial litigation and appellate work, particularly with respect to claims under state and federal consumer protection laws
  • Ken represents clients from a variety of industries, including financial services, telecommunications, software, and digital media companies
  • He has obtained numerous orders dismissing putative class actions or denying class certification and has successfully defended them on appeal
  • He serves as lead counsel in class actions across the nation
  • He has a particular practice focus defending so-called "blast text," "blast fax," and robocall class actions involving claims under the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and similar state laws restricting unsolicited faxes and the use of autodialer, prerecorded, or artificial voice to place texts or calls

Practice Areas Explained

Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson 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.

Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Washington →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Washington →

Appellate Practice

Appellate attorneys for civil and criminal appeals at state and federal court.

Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson is one of 86,319 appellate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse appellate 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 Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson

Where is Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson's law office located?
Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson's law practice is located in Seattle, Washington. The firm is Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson handle?
Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson focuses on business, litigation, appellate. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Washington.
Where did Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson go to law school?
Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson earned their education at (J.D., 1996); (BA, 1993).
How can I contact Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson for a consultation?
You can contact Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson 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 Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson received?
Kenneth E. "Ken" Payson's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice; Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — Advertising Law; Best Lawyers in America — Communications Law.

Education

J.D.
University of California Berkeley
- 1996
BA
California State University East Bay
- 1993

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Advertising Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Communications Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Consumer Protection Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — False Advertising
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Washington Super Lawyers, 2005-2012
- 2026

Bar Admissions

Washington, Washington State Bar Association

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