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Distinctions & Awards

Awards and Distinctions

 

Puget Sound Business Journal’s 100 Best Workplaces in Washington

McKinley Irvin ranked #6 Best Workplace in Washington in 2025 by the Puget Sound Business Journal in the midsize company category (50-149 employees). This recognition is driven by employee feedback. Each year, PSBJ surveys employees from hundreds of businesses across Washington about their workplaces, and the results are then graded and ranked to create the final list. McKinley Irvin has been ranked in Best Workplaces since 2022.

 

Best Law Firms®

McKinley Irvin has been recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms with a ranking of Tier 1 for Family Law in the Seattle Metro area and Tier 2 for Family Law in the Portland Metro area. This marks our 15th consecutive year receiving this honor. The annual rankings identify the nation’s highest-performing law firms through a rigorous evaluation process that includes client and peer assessments of expertise, responsiveness, and civility.

 

The Best Lawyers in America®

Thirty-six McKinley Irvin attorneys have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Family Law. McKinley Irvin has received the Best Lawyers “Top-Listed in Washington in Family Law” award every year since 2016 for having the highest number of attorneys listed in Best Lawyers for Family Law in Washington State. McKinley Irvin attorneys have appeared in Best Lawyers since 2012. 

 

Four McKinley Irvin attorneys have been named the Best Lawyers Family Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Washington: Gordon Wilcox in 2012, Marc Christianson in 2015, Elizabeth Michelson in 2017, and David Starks in 2022 and 2024.

 

Chambers High Net Worth Guide

McKinley Irvin is one of only two law firms in Washington State to receive a Band 1 ranking in the 2025 Chambers High Net Worth Guide. The firm has achieved this ranking in the Chambers' Family/Matrimonial: High Net Worth category for eight years. 

 

Attorneys Jennifer Payseno and David Starks both earned top individual rankings for high-asset family law matters. The firms and individuals ranked in this esteemed global guide have demonstrated their ability to meet the complex legal needs of high net worth individuals and provide specialist advice. 

 

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)

Eight McKinley Irvin attorneys have received the distinguished honor of being named a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML): Mark Arend, Brent Bohan, Marc Christianson, Brian Edwards, Janet George, Elizabeth Michelson, David Starks, and Gordon W. Wilcox. AAML Fellows are considered the nation’s leading practitioners of family law. McKinley Irvin has proudly counted AAML Fellows among its attorneys since 2012. 
 

Martindale-Hubbell Rated AV Preeminent®

McKinley Irvin has been recognized as AV Preeminent since 2012. The Martindale-Hubbell ratings are determined by peer reviews of lawyers based on their ethical standards and legal ability. The AV Preeminent rating signifies the "highest level of professional excellence." 

 

Super Lawyers & Rising Stars

Attorneys chosen to Super Lawyers represent the top five percent of lawyers practicing in the state. As of 2025, twenty-nine attorneys from the firm’s Seattle, Kirkland, Everett, Tacoma, Vancouver, and Portland offices have been recognized as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. McKinley Irvin attorneys have been included as Super Lawyers and Rising Stars every year since 2007. Selection to Super Lawyers is based on peer reviews, independent research, and committee reviews.

 

Lawdragon

Seven McKinley Irvin attorneys were listed in The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Family Lawyers guide. The Lawdragon selection process has been designed over 30 years of researching and reporting on the legal profession to create lists and guides of the most effective legal professionals. McKinley Irvin family law attorneys have been included on the Lawdragon 500 Leading Family Lawyers list since its inception in 2020.

 

Doyle’s Guide

Three McKinley Irvin attorneys were listed in Doyle’s Guide as Leading Family, Matrimonial & Divorce Lawyers – Seattle, 2026. The firm was ranked Tier One in the Leading Family, Matrimonial & Divorce Law Firms – Seattle, 2026 list. Doyle’s Guide is a globally recognized directory that highlights top lawyers and law firms through research and peer-based surveys and reviews. McKinley Irvin was also listed in the inaugural 2025 Doyle's Guide for Washington State.

 

Avvo.com Ratings

All McKinley Irvin family law attorneys are listed and rated on Avvo.com, which assigns a numerical score based on experience, disciplinary history, professional achievements, and industry recognition. Over half of McKinley Irvin’s attorneys maintain a 10.0 "Superb" rating on Avvo.

 

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