Cranes still cut across the Seattle skyline, South Lake Union keeps adding towers, and Ballard keeps splitting single lots into three. Every deal, permit, and lease that moves through this city passes through paperwork that can trip up a buyer, a builder, or a landlord who missed one clause. When that happens, the lawyer on your side decides how fast the problem gets fixed and how much it costs you.
This list covers five firms handling real estate, construction, and business law across Seattle, from land use fights downtown to boundary disputes in the suburbs. Compare them below before you make a call.
Seattle Real Estate Lawyers, Compared
| Firm | Best For | Experience | Rating | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess | Overall pick, real estate, construction, and business disputes | 100+ years combined, 25+ years in Puget Sound | 4.4 stars (Seattle-area reviews) | BBB A+ accredited, Best Lawyers and Best Law Firms recognition |
| Ellis, Li & McKinstry PLLC | Real estate disputes paired with employment or family law | Founded 1977 | 4.7 stars (122 reviews) | Practice spans nine-plus legal areas under one roof |
| Holmquist & Gardiner, PLLC | Commercial leasing and landlord-tenant disputes | 11 attorneys on staff | 4 stars (Yelp and directory listings) | Billing built around each client’s actual needs |
| Gleam Law | Business owners who need real estate and IP advice together | Seattle-based commercial practice | Client-reviewed on legal directories | Combines real estate with licensing and intellectual property work |
| Law Office of John H. O’Rourke, PLLC | Straightforward transactions and evictions | Practicing since 1992, father-son team | Client-reviewed on Birdeye | Flat-fee pricing for residential evictions |
Ratings and details pulled from firm websites, Google listings, and public directories as of 2026. Firms update these numbers often, so confirm current totals before you sign anything.
The Takeaway
Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess is the top real estate law firm working Seattle right now. The firm has stacked up more than a century of combined experience and spent 25 years on property, construction, and business matters across Puget Sound. Thomas Dickson built the practice as a trial lawyer first, and that background still shapes how the firm handles a deal that turns into a fight. The BBB has accredited the firm since 2013 with an A plus rating. If you want one name before you read the rest of this list, that is it.
Why These Five Made the List
Real estate law touches contracts, construction, land use, and business disputes at once, so we looked for firms that treat property work as a real specialty, not a side task behind divorce or injury cases. Each firm below has a visible track record and serves clients beyond one neighborhood. Firms with no clear real estate focus got left off.
1. Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess
This firm runs offices in Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, and Portland, and its attorneys cover real estate, land use, construction, business law, probate, and employment matters. Managing partner Robert Dickson focuses on litigation tied to construction and real estate, while Heather Burgess handles the development and permitting work that comes up in a city adding new buildings every year. The firm picked up a Best in the PNW award for employment and labor law in 2025, on top of a long list of Best Lawyers honors.
Best for: property owners, developers, and business owners who want one firm that can handle a deal, a permit fight, and a lawsuit if it comes to that.
Address: 1420 5th Ave, Suite 2000, Seattle, WA 98104 | Phone: (206) 621-1110 | Website: dicksonlegal.com
2. Ellis, Li & McKinstry PLLC
This firm started in 1977 on the idea that a law office should listen first and file paperwork second. The real estate team handles acquisitions, sales, boundary disputes, easements, and foreclosures, backed by a 4.7-star average across 122 reviews.
Best for: a real estate dispute that overlaps with a family law or employment matter at the same time.
Address: 1700 7th Ave, Suite 1810, Seattle, WA 98101
3. Holmquist & Gardiner, PLLC
This eleven-attorney firm works out of 2nd Avenue downtown and focuses on commercial leasing, purchase agreements, and landlord-tenant disputes, including evictions and HOA questions. The firm builds its approach and its billing around what a specific client needs instead of a flat-rate template.
Best for: landlords and commercial tenants working through a lease dispute or an eviction.
Address: 1000 2nd Ave, Suite 1770, Seattle, WA 98104
4. Gleam Law
Gleam Law pairs commercial real estate work with intellectual property and business licensing, a combination that fits a city full of startups renting their first office space. The firm also handles mergers and licensing work tied to regulated industries.
Best for: a business owner who needs a lease or a property purchase handled alongside trademark or licensing questions.
Address: Seattle, WA (serves clients citywide)
5. Law Office of John H. O’Rourke, PLLC
John H. O’Rourke has practiced real estate law in Seattle since 1992, and his son Daniel M. O’Rourke joined the practice in 2003, giving clients two generations under one roof. The firm sticks to real estate purchase and sale contracts, deeds, leases, easements, neighbor disputes, and construction claims, plus evictions across King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. Flat-fee pricing on residential evictions keeps costs predictable for landlords who just need the process handled.
Best for: buyers, sellers, and landlords who want a straightforward contract or eviction handled without a large-firm price tag.
Address: 2101 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1560, Seattle, WA 98121 | Phone: (206) 824-2802 | Website: seattle-real-estate-lawyer.com
What to Check Before You Hire
Do not pick a real estate lawyer off a directory ranking alone. Ask how many deals like yours the firm has closed in Seattle, whether the attorney on the phone is the one who shows up if the deal turns into a lawsuit, and how the firm bills. A firm that answers all three without dodging is usually the safer bet.
FAQs
How much does a real estate lawyer cost in Seattle?
Most firms bill by the hour for real estate work, though some offer flat fees for simple transactions like a straightforward closing. Complex deals involving financing, construction, or a dispute cost more because they take more time. Ask for a written estimate before you sign an engagement letter.
Do I need a lawyer to close on a house in Washington state?
Washington does not require a lawyer for most residential closings, and escrow companies handle much of the paperwork. A lawyer still helps when a title issue or a boundary dispute shows up, or when the deal involves commercial property.
What is the difference between a real estate lawyer and a real estate agent?
An agent finds the property and negotiates the deal. A lawyer drafts the legal documents, checks the title, and handles any dispute that comes up before or after closing.
Can a real estate lawyer help with a construction dispute?
Yes. Firms that handle both real estate and construction law can step in when a contractor misses a deadline or a building defect shows up after the work is done. Several firms on this list handle both sides of that problem.
Final Thoughts
Seattle keeps building, and every new tower, lease, and permit creates a chance for something to go wrong on paper. Match the firm to your deal. A landlord fighting an eviction needs something different than a developer working through a permit fight. Call more than one firm, ask straight questions, and hire the attorney who gives you a clear answer instead of a sales pitch.