Thomas Tobin
Thomas Tobin

Thomas Tobin

Counsel

Seattle | Portland

206.359.3157
tommy.tobin@ashurstperkins.com

Introduction

Tommy represents clients in complex litigation and regulatory compliance, with a focus on the food, consumer goods, and cannabis industries.

Thomas Tobin represents well-known consumer brands and other clients in false advertising and labeling matters and provides regulatory counseling regarding product labeling.  

Tommy edited the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Food Law: A Practical Guide, a resource book for practitioners to help them meet the needs of food and beverage clients across various legal practice areas. He is active in the ABA as a member of the House of Delegates, and is a trustee of the King County Bar Association.  

Tommy maintains an active pro bono practice, including a federal jury trial in Arizona, where the trial team won a pro bono lawyers of the year award.  

Education & credentials

  • Harvard Law School, J.D., Technical Editor, Harvard Journal on Legislation
    Online Editor, Harvard Law & Policy Review, 2016
  • Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, M.P.P., PPIA Fellowship, 2016
  • Stanford University, B.A., History & International Relations, University Distinction, 2010
  • Washington
  • California
  • District of Columbia
  • Oregon
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • New York
  • South Carolina
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. Tax Court
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Washington, D.C., Associate, 2017-2019
  • UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy, PPIA Program, Instructor of Law, 2016-2018
  • Principles of Economics (Ec10), Harvard Economics Department, Teaching Fellow, 2014-2016
  • U.S. Department of Justice: Environmental Enforcement Section, Undergraduate Intern, 2008
  • Hon. Max O. Cogburn, Jr.U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina

Professional recognition

  • Recipient of the King County Bar Association's Outstanding New Lawyer Award, 2025

  • Named in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, 2024-2026; Commercial Litigation, 2026

  • Member of trial team that received the District of Arizona’s Pro Bono Firm of the Year award, 2023

  • Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation 

  • Top 40 Young Lawyer, American Bar Association "On the Rise," 2022

  • JD Supra Readers' Choice Top Author: Class Action – 2024 (#1 out of 2,500 contributors); Product Liability – Top 10 in 2021 and 2022, #2 out of 1,000 contributors in 2024

  • J. Shan Mullin Annual Community Leadership and Service Award, Perkins Coie, 2022

  • D.C. Bar Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2017, 2018, 2020 (High Honors)

  • Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association (WMACCA) Corporate Scholar, 2012

  • Special Recognition Award, U.S. Department of Justice: Environmental Enforcement Section, 2008

Impact

  • Advisory Board, UCLA Law Resnick Center for Food Law & Policy, 2019-present
  • Serve Washington: Washington State Service Commission (Appointed by Governor), Commissioner, 2021-present
  • American Bar Association (ABA) Member, ABA House of Delegates, 2025-present Food, Cosmetics and Nutraceuticals Committee, Section of Science & Technology Law, Former Chair Section of Science & Technology Law, Member - Section Council, 2018-2022 New Lawyer Steering Committee, Center for Professional Responsibility, Member
  • Oregon State Bar, Member - Oregon House of Delegates, 2025-present
  • Law360, Washington State Editorial Advisory Board Member, 2023-2025
  • Washington State Bar Association, Committee on Professional Ethics, 2024-2025
  • Hunger-Free America, Board of Directors
  • Food & Drug Law Institute’s Cannabis-Derived Products Committee
  • Food & Drug Law Institute (FDLI), Former Member of Multiple Committees
  • Prescription Drug Assistance Foundation, Board of Directors, 2021-present
  • Represented commercial real estate brokerage in multiple cases in different federal and state jurisdictions alleging tortious interference arising from the hiring of commercial real estate brokers formerly employed by a bankrupt competitor.*
  • Counsel for multiple pharmaceutical companies defending nationwide antitrust class action suits brought by direct and indirect purchasers of certain drugs challenging the so-called "reverse payment" settlement of Hatch-Waxman patent litigation.*
  • Represented several pro bono clients in administrative appeals for public benefits, including food stamps, disability benefits, and veteran benefits.*

*Prior Experience

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