Stephen E. DeForest
Principal
Steve represents and advises businesses about a variety of employment-related issues, including compensation and benefits, qualified retirement plans, non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements, employee welfare plans, and ERISA related matters. Steve has been practicing law in Seattle for over 40 years. He also counsels business clients with respect to contracts, leases, real estate, and employment matters. He currently is on the arbitration roster of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), as a public arbitrator, having previously served for many years as an arbitrator for the New York Stock Exchange prior to its consolidation with FINRA in July 2007.
Education and Admissions
Steve received his B.A. from Yale University, summa cum laude, in 1955, and his J.D. from Harvard Law School, cum laude, in 1960. He is admitted to practice in Washington, and before the U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Memberships
King County Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association
Professional and Community Activities
Steve is a past President of the King County and Washington State Bar Associations. His affiliations also include the King County Public Defenders, Trustee, 1975-1977; Washington State Bar Association, Board of Governors, 1987-1990; United Way of King County, Board of Directors, 1975-1979, and Executive Committee 1975-1979; and the Nature Conservancy of Washington, Board of Trustees, 1993-2001, Chair, 1999-2000, and member of the Leadership Council, 2008-. He has served in numerous positions as a member of the King County Bar Association Drug Policy Project since 2001. Currenlty he is a member of the Board of Trustess of the Magnolia Community Club.
Awards and Recognition
Steve received the Helen Geisness Award, in recognition of his contributions to the King County Bar Association, in 2003. He has been named in Avvo’s “Top Lawyers in Washington” in Employee Benefits, as featured in Washington CEO magazine, and one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in First Amendment law.
