Perkins Coie Adds Former Federal Judge Abdul Kallon to Litigation and Labor & Employment Practices in Seattle

Kallon presided over complex civil and criminal cases during judicial tenure and will represent clients with challenging litigation needs.

SEATTLE (September 6, 2022)—Perkins Coie is proud to announce that former federal judge Abdul Kallon has joined the firm's Litigation and Labor & Employment practices as a partner in Seattle. Kallon joins Perkins Coie after serving as a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama for the past 12 years.

Kallon will bring his extensive experience and unique perspective as a practitioner and former jurist to assist clients with challenging litigation needs. He will also serve as an advisor on federal court advocacy.

"We're thrilled to welcome Judge Kallon to the firm as a member of our thriving national litigation practice," said Jessica Everett-Garcia, the firmwide chair of Perkins Coie's Commercial Litigation practice group. "Judge Kallon's experience as a federal judge, as well as his private practice experience prior to his years on the bench, will be invaluable both to our clients and in our ongoing efforts to develop next-generation litigation talent."

"Judge Kallon established an impressive track record of sound rulings during his many years as a federal judge with other courts relying on his judicial reasoning," said James Williams, the managing partner of Perkins Coie's Seattle office. "It's rare to be able to hire a member of the judiciary of Judge Kallon's caliber and age, and we're excited he chose to join Perkins Coie."

"Employment litigation, including wage-and-hour class and collective actions, continue to dominate the litigation 'dockets' for so many of our clients across the country," said Ann Marie Painter, the firmwide chair of Perkins Coie's Labor & Employment practice. "Judge Kallon's range of litigation and counseling experience as well as his deep perspective from years as a jurist will be a great asset to our clients."

During his time on the bench, Judge Kallon presided over a broad range of civil and criminal cases, including complex employment and commercial litigation and cases focused on constitutional rights. Judge Kallon served on the Judicial Conference Committee on Financial Disclosures, the Federal Judicial Center's Advisory Committee on District Judge Education, and as a mentor judge for newly appointed judges.

"Perkins Coie is known as a leading law firm to global brands, major technology companies, and innovators, and was attractive to me because of the breadth of its client work, its leadership, and its diverse and inclusive culture," said Kallon. "I'm looking forward to working closely with my many new colleagues at Perkins Coie and to contributing to the firm's reputation for legal excellence."

Kallon was nominated to the federal bench by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2009. He started his legal career as a clerk for Judge U.W. Clemon of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Prior to joining the bench, he was a partner with Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, where he focused on litigation and labor and employment issues during his 15 years at the firm.

Kallon received his Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College.