Pamela A. Okano

2023 Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers list

2022 Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice and Insurance Coverage lists

2016 Best Lawyers for the Pacific Northwest, Appellate Practice and Insurance Law

2013 The American Lawyer Top Rated Lawyer in Appellate Law list

Practice

Ms. Okano focuses her practice on appeals and insurance coverage matters.

Appellate

Ms. Okano has represented parties or amici in appeals before the Washington Supreme Court, Washington Court of Appeals, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the Alaska and Montana Supreme Courts, and the Idaho Court of Appeals. She has also briefed appeals before the United States Supreme Court. Her appellate practice involves a wide range of cases including professional liability, insurance coverage, bad faith, tort, commercial, employee discrimination, and contract matters.

Insurance Coverage

Ms. Okano provides clients with opinions and advice on insurance coverage and bad faith matters, drafts policy provisions, and handles coverage and bad faith cases on appeal. She has dealt with a broad spectrum of coverage issues including construction defects, employment, discrimination, advertising injury, personal injury, sexual harassment and abuse, property damage, automobile liability, professional liability, first-party property and collapse, underinsured motorist, fraud, and bad faith.

Background

Ms. Okano is admitted to practice in the State of Washington; the United States District Court of Washington, Western and Eastern Districts; the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; and the United States Supreme Court.

She is a member of the following professional organizations:

  • Washington State Bar Association
  • Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
  • Northwest Insurance Coverage Association
  • Washington Appellate Lawyers Association

Ms. Okano is a frequent speaker on appellate and insurance matters. Speaking engagements have included:

  • Washington Defense Trial Lawyers Insurance Law seminar (1993-2015)
  • ABA Tort & Insurance Practice Section Annual Meeting (1999)
  • ABA Tort & Insurance Practice Section/Property Insurance Law Committee seminars (2004, 2006)
  • King County Bar Association seminars (1991, 1993-95, 1999)
  • Washington State Trial Lawyers Association seminars (1993, 1996-1998)
  • Northwest Insurance Coverage Association seminars
  • CPCU Society, Lake Washington Chapter, meetings
  • Pincus Professional Education, State & Federal Appeals: Winning in Either Venue (2011)

Publications

  • What Do We Cover? Read the Policy!, 36 The Brief 12 (American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section Winter 2007)
  • Coverage Uncovered: A Periodic Update of Washington Insurance Coverage Law, www.wdtl.org (2000-Present)
  • Co-Author, Washington Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Deskbook (Supp. 1995 & 1998)
  • Co-Author, Washington Civil Trial & Evidence Manual (4th Ed. 1994)
  • Co-Author, Washington Civil Practice Deskbook, ch. 12 (1993)
  • Co-Editor, Washington Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Deskbook (Supp. 1998)

Community Service Activities

  • 65th Street Change Gang
  • 65th Street Change Gang KIVA Lending Team captain
  • Seattle P-Patch Site Coordinator
  • Woodland Park Zoological Society Birnbaum Zoobright Award Panel

honors and awards

In addition to the honors listed above:

  • 2010-2022 Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers list
  • 2014-2021 Best Lawyers in America
  • 2010-2012 Thomson Reuters Top 50 Women Lawyers list
  • 2001-2009 Washington Law & Politics Super Lawyers list
  • 2008 Washington Law & Politics Top 10 Washington Appellate Lawyers list
  • AV rated by Martindale Hubbell