Broad Experience
Ken Hart, Managing Partner of Larson Hart & Shepherd, PLLC, is a 1981 graduate of the University of Washington, and graduated cum laude in 1985 from the University of Puget Sound School of Law, now Seattle University Law School. Following graduation, he served as judicial law clerk for the Hon. Jack P. Schofield, retired senior judge of the Washington State Court of Appeals for Division One. Ken remembers his judicial clerkship as a tremendous learning experience, akin to a graduate school education. During his time on the Court, Ken honed his writing and analytical skills, while at the same time gaining knowledge and valuable insights into the wide and diverse range of legal issues before the Court on review from various trial court and administrative decisions.
Business Practice Emphasis
Ken’s legal practice is focused on commercial and business transactions and litigation, business startups and real estate transactions and related litigation. Both by training and inclination, Ken is a problem solver, and Ken’s approach to the practice of law is collaborative. That means helping clients to better understand whatever situation they might be confronted with and giving them the information and guidance they need to make informed decisions. It was this philosophy that fueled Ken’s desire to co-found Larson Hart & Shepherd in 1997. “We recognized the accelerating pace at which our clients were embracing technological innovation in both their business and everyday lives. We wanted to be more dynamic, more nimble and in step with these changes, which required some rethinking of how best to deliver legal services. Technology allows even a relatively small law firm like LHS to effectively handle complex transactions and legal disputes.” Business clients whose companies are not yet big enough to employ fulltime in-house legal counsel, are encouraged to out-source their legal needs to Larson Hart & Shepherd, including vendor disputes, employment issues, sales and acquisitions, and even ownership succession and estate planning — “The idea,” Ken says, “is to do our best to stay current with our clients, and to be available and responsive when the need help and advice, so that they can concentrate on running and growing their businesses.”
Professional Honors and Activities
Since his admission to practice law, Ken has been active in both the state and local bar associations, and over the years has served with distinction in various leadership roles. In 1990, Ken was honored as the Washington State Bar Association’s Young Lawyer of the Year. Ken is also a former Treasurer of the King County Bar Association. He served for three years on the Washington State Bar Association Disciplinary Board, a dedicated group of practicing lawyers and laypersons appointed by the Association to review complaints of lawyer misconduct and determine disciplinary actions when appropriate.
Ken is the former Editor of the Washington Lawyers Practice Manual and a former member to the Editorial Advisor Board for De Novo magazine. He has also served as Chairperson of the King County Fair Judicial Campaign Practices Committee, and currently serves as a Trustee of the King County Bar Association’s employee retirement fund.
Professional Details
Admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the United States Claims Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
He has extensive litigation and trial practice experience in various courts and jurisdictions in the areas of general civil litigation, commercial, banking and financial law, real estate law, and property boundary line and easement disputes. Other specialties include assisting clients in business formations, corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies, as well as negotiating and drafting partnership, shareholder and employment contracts, negotiating and documenting business purchases, sales and secured transactions. He is also a trained mediator and experienced arbitrator.
