Atty. Michael T. Pfau
Michael Pfau, a Seattle-based lawyer with a national practice, has devoted a significant amount of his 30-plus year career to helping childhood sex abuse victims find justice, compensation, and closure through the legal system. He has brought hundreds of successful lawsuits on behalf of children—and adults who were sexually abused as children—against the predators and perpetrators that have hurt them, including the powerful institutions that ignored, covered-up, or acted in secrecy for years, even decades.
Profile Summary
About Michael T. Pfau at a glance
Michael T. Pfau is a personal injury, class action, product liability, and civil rights attorney based in Seattle, Washington, practicing at Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC. Admitted to practice in Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association, Washington, Washington State Bar Association, and District of Columbia, U.S. Supreme Court. Educated at The University of Michigan Law School (—, 1991) and Boston College (—, 1987). Recognitions include Lawyer of the Year — Civil Rights Law (Seattle) (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Civil Rights Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs (2026). Serands clients in Seattle, WA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Michael Pfau, a Seattle-based lawyer with a national practice, has devoted a significant amount of his 30-plus year career to helping childhood sex abuse victims find justice, compensation, and closure through the legal system
- He has brought hundreds of successful lawsuits on behalf of children—and adults who were sexually abused as children—against the predators and perpetrators that have hurt them, including the powerful institutions that ignored, covered-up, or acted in secrecy for years, even decades
- With a national reputation for success, Michael and the PCVA legal team are frequently contacted by abuse survivors throughout the United States for help
- They also assist, advise, or join with other law firms and lawyers on child sex abuse cases where substantive knowledge and firepower are required to litigate against influential and powerful institutions
- Michael’s approach to his work is not that of an ordinary personal injury lawyer, making him a highly sought-after advocate for child sex abuse victims
- The skills and experience needed to handle these complex, layered, and often emotionally charged cases are highly specific
- He understands child sex abuse lawsuits from start to finish
- He acknowledges that everybody has a unique story, and everybody experiences the trauma differently
- Sexual abuse is an individual trauma—not a mass tort
- As such, his firm treats each individual with the respect he or she deserves
- Michael has personally tried over 50 cases in front of juries, judges, and arbitration panels and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for survivors through trial verdicts or settlements
- He has prevailed against the Catholic Church, the Mormon Church, the Boy Scouts of America, and other state and national institutions
- He has successfully represented individuals who have endured sexual abuse in their homes, neighborhoods, schools, youth organizations, and daycares, including significant victories against the State of Washington Department of Social and Health Services in foster care cases
- In claims against human trafficking operations, such as the website backpage.com, Michael and his team were instrumental in shutting down its operation and obtaining compensation and closure for some of the individuals it harmed, with other cases ongoing
- Michael knows that for most abuse survivors, justice is not just about compensation
- Many come forward to feel heard and to effect change
- Over the years, Michael has played a significant role in amplifying those voices to make a difference
- And while he can’t guarantee specific results, most of the people he represents “walk out the door” at the end of the case feeling glad they “walked in the door” at the beginning
- Michael is active in his community, notably with charities that reach out to and assist poor and marginalized people
Practice Areas Explained
Michael T. Pfau's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Michael T. Pfau handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Michael T. Pfau is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in Washington →
Michael T. Pfau is one of 26,424 class action attorneys indexed nationally. Browse class action attorneys in Washington →
Michael T. Pfau is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in Washington →
Civil rights attorneys for discrimination, police misconduct, constitutional rights, and civil liberties cases.
Michael T. Pfau is one of 70,245 civil rights attorneys indexed nationally. Browse civil rights 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.
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