Pallavi Wahi

Practice Areas

Pallavi is the managing partner of the Seattle office of our firm and previously served as co-US managing partner, overseeing 25 offices across the United States. A highly sought-after litigator and trusted advisor, Pallavi represents national and international clients in high-stakes commercial litigation, with a focus on corporate, healthcare and technology issues.

Pallavi serves as a trusted and strategic advisor to some of the world’s most recognized brands. Her strategic work spans a wide range of jurisdictions and business matter areas and frequently involves cross-border issues in multi-faceted, high-value challenges. Her clients include T-Mobile, Lockheed Martin, Smartsheet, BECU, Google among others.

Pallavi’s experience is widely acknowledged by leading legal authorities. She is ranked in Chambers USA for General Commercial Litigation in Washington State and has repeatedly been listed in Washington Super Lawyers for Business Litigation. Her other accolades include recognition as an “IP Star” by Managing Intellectual Property, listing in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial and IP Litigation, and inclusion in the Legal 500 United States for Commercial Litigation. The Indian Business Law Journal has consistently featured her in its prestigious “A-List: International”, spotlighting top India-focused lawyers at global firms. She has also been named to the Indian Corporate Counsel association’s Most Trusted Lawyer list.

Her leadership extends beyond her legal practice. Pallavi was named one of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in the United States by the Business Journals and honored as a 2024 MCCA Rainmaker for her exceptional commitment to client service. She has been a long standing presence in the Puget Sound Business Journal’s “Power 100” which honors the region’s top 100 most influential business leaders. Among her other honors, Pallavi has been recognized as a “Woman of Influence,” a 40-under 40 All-Star, and one of the Most Influential People of 2021 by Seattle Magazine. She also has been honored to be on the Lawyers of Color “Power List” and the “Nation’s Best List” that celebrates minority attorneys who have demonstrated excellence in leadership. She has been recognized as one of Washington’s “Top 15 Business Women” by the National Diversity Council and has been given the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award from the King County Bar Association.

In addition to her legal practice, Pallavi is deeply committed to the business and civic community. Pallavi was recently appointed deputy chair of the Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco: a vital role in shaping monetary policy, promoting economic stability and representing the interests of the 12th District. This appointment follows a three-year term on the Seattle branch for the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. She is also an active board member for the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce where she previously served as chair. She has also served on the boards of the Woodland Park Zoo and API-Chaya, a domestic violence prevention organization.

Professional Memberships

Director, Seattle Branch Board of Directors of The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Chair, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Member, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s Community Development Roundtable (CDRT)

Member, Board of Directors, Woodland Park Zoo, Executive Committee

Member, Industry Advisory Board, Global Business Law Institute at the University of Washington School of Law

Member, International Women’s Forum

Past Member, Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee, King County Bar Association

Past Member, Board of Trustees, King County Bar Foundation

Deputy Board Chair, Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Past Director, Seattle Branch Board of Directors of The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Immediate Past Chair, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (Chair 2022-2023), current member of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Member, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce’s Community Development Roundtable (CDRT)

Member, Industry Advisory Board, Global Business Law Institute at the University of Washington School of Law

Member, International Women’s Forum

Chair, Seattle Advisory Committee, Cambridge in America

American Bar Foundation Fellow

Past Member, Board of Directors, Woodland Park Zoo, Executive Committee

Past Member, Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee, King County Bar Association

Past Member, Board of Trustees, King County Bar Foundation

Past Member, Advisory Board of Directors, Washington Council on International Trade - Seattle

Past Member, Advisory Board, South Asian Bar Association of Washington (past president, first woman president)

Past Trustee, Seattle Repertory Theatre

Past Member, Board of Trustees, Washington State Bar Association Young Lawyer Division

Past Member, Washington State Young Lawyer Division Committee for Diversity (Chair 2005-2006, Co-Chair 2006-2007)

Chaya, South Asian domestic violence prevention organization

Publications

Co-author, Washington Lawyer’s Practice Manual, Evidence Chapter (2020–present)

"Opinion: It's time for lawyers to lead," Puget Sound Business Journal, 23 September 2021

Opinion piece, “I Am Proud to Lead as My Authentic Self,” Puget Sound Business Journal, April 2021

“Top 5 Summer Tips: Navigating Racial Diversity,” LexisNexis Summer Associate Resource Kit, July 2020

“Investing In India? Time To Rethink Structures,” Law360, 3 June 2016

Co-author, "Internet Law Chapter," Washington Lawyer’s Practice Manual, 2010

Co-author, "Protecting Your Online Brand," presented at the National South Asian Bar Association Annual Convention, 29 June 2007

Co-author, "Navigating the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy," Chapter 4, WSBA 11th Annual Intellectual Property Institute, Cutting Edge Updates, Opportunities and Issues, March 2006

Education