Kris Costello

Kris represents clients in white-collar defense, government investigations, regulatory enforcement, professional licensing matters, and complex civil litigation.

Her practice is grounded in trial experience. She approaches matters from the outset with an understanding of how the evidence, legal theories, and strategic decisions would ultimately withstand trial, while also identifying opportunities for favorable resolution before trial becomes necessary.

Kris frequently represents clients whose legal problems extend across criminal, civil, regulatory, enforcement, licensing, and business matters.

She considers how decisions in one proceeding may affect another and coordinates strategy accordingly, particularly when several proceedings are moving at the same time or in sequence.

As a founder and business owner herself, Kris understands firsthand the real-time financial and practical pressures of running a business while responding to litigation or a government investigation.

Kris approaches matters as a trial lawyer, business owner, and leader, with an understanding of how legal decisions can affect operations, employees, customers, reputation, professional standing, and the ability to keep moving forward.

That lived experience informs her advocacy, her strategy with government agencies and opposing counsel, and the way she works with clients.

Kris has tried more than 50 cases in state and federal court.

That courtroom experience informs how she evaluates evidence, legal theories, risk, and strategy from the beginning of a matter. It also shapes her approach to negotiation, pre-charge advocacy, and resolution, because preparation for trial often strengthens the client’s position long before trial becomes necessary.

Kris taught trial advocacy at the University of Washington for 17 years and continues to mentor and develop lawyers interested in white-collar defense and trial work.

Kris is a longtime leader within the Women’s White Collar Defense Association. She is the founding chair and current co-chair of WWCDA’s Small Firm Initiative and co-leader of WWCDA’s Seattle Chapter.

Her leadership reflects a longstanding commitment to developing lawyers, strengthening collaboration, and expanding opportunities for sophisticated small-firm white-collar practitioners.