Tyler L. Farmer

Tyler L. Farmer: Leading Trial Lawyer in Seattle

Tyler L. Farmer is a renowned trial lawyer recognized nationally for his exceptional skills in complex commercial litigation and a steadfast commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for his clients. Based in Seattle, Washington, Mr. Farmer has established a distinguished reputation as a strategic and results-oriented legal advocate, consistently earning top rankings with leading legal publications including Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America (Appellate, Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property), Benchmark Litigation, and Super Lawyers (Top 100). He is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and Litigation Counsel of America, demonstrating a sustained record of excellence within the legal profession.

Mr. Farmer’s career is built on a foundation of deep courtroom experience, having successfully handled a diverse range of high-stakes cases throughout the United States. His expertise spans multiple industries and legal areas, including bet-the-company litigation, employment disputes, trade secret litigation, real estate transactions, and intellectual property matters. He’s known for his meticulous attention to detail, his laser-focused approach, and his ability to remember critical information throughout even the most complex and lengthy proceedings – a characteristic that consistently impresses clients and opponents alike.

Chambers USA 2024 specifically lauds Mr. Farmer’s “significant experience representing his clients in trials,” noting that he “is a popular choice for bet-the-company litigation [and has] further experience acting on employment and trade secret disputes.” His legal team's reputation is solidified by testimonials highlighting his “very bright, concise and thorough” legal strategy – a testament to his dedication to providing his clients with the most effective defense possible.

Key Experience & Recent Case Results

As lead counsel, Tyler has spearheaded numerous complex litigation matters, demonstrating a proven track record of success across various legal domains. Here are some notable achievements:

• 2021: Enforced a minority shareholder’s rights by invalidating a purported option agreement on summary judgment and then resolved the lawsuit for immediate payment of 20 times the price stated in the invalidated agreement.
• 2022: On behalf of the City of Seattle, we defeated class certification in a putative class action arising from June 2020 protests after in-person class cert argument in WD Washington in April 2022.
• 2022: After in-person bench trial in WD Washington in March – April 2022, we obtained an order dismissing all of the petitioning tribe’s claims to have treaty fishing rights in our client’s fishing territory.
• 2020 & 2022: After a 4 week jury trial, we obtained the trial court’s dismissal of the claim against our client. This case was affirmed by the Court of Appeals after in-person argument.
• 2020 & 2021: After obtaining dismissal of a CPA claim seeking to restrict a network’s Covid-19 news coverage, Tyler argued before the Court of Appeals (via Zoom), which affirmed the trial court win.
• 2020: In federal court, we enforced a $30 mm real estate purchase sale agreement despite the buyer’s attempt to excuse performance based on Covid-19 regulations.
• 2021: In a complex Zoom arbitration following a $400 mm real estate transaction, we secured a ruling that the controlling owner had violated the governing declaration.
• 2021: In state court Nevada, we tried one of the first Covid era live jury trials regarding a complex breach of contract dispute.

Practice Areas

Tyler L. Farmer specializes in the following legal areas:

1. Appellate Practice: Strategic appellate advocacy to protect and refine legal arguments.
2. Commercial Litigation: Handling complex commercial disputes involving contracts, intellectual property, and business operations.
3. Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law: Representing property owners in disputes involving eminent domain proceedings.
4. Litigation - Intellectual Property: Protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
5. Bet-the-Company Litigation: Representing businesses in high-stakes disputes with significant financial implications.
6. Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships): Counsel on formation, governance, and disputes involving business entities.
7. Litigation - Real Estate: Complex property disputes, contract litigation, and real estate transactions.
8. Litigation - Construction: Handling disputes related to construction contracts and projects.
9. Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions: Representing parties in mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions.
10. Litigation - Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants: Protecting the rights of defendants in mass tort and class action litigation.
11. Privacy and Data Security Law: Advising and representing clients on issues related to data privacy and security.

Awards & Recognition

Tyler L. Farmer’s legal abilities and contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including:

• Recognized: Appellate Practice
• Recognized: Commercial Litigation
• Recognized: Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
• Recognized: Litigation - Intellectual Property
• Practice Area: Bet-the-Company Litigation
• Practice Area: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
• Practice Area: Land Use and Zoning Law
• Practice Area: Litigation - Construction
• Practice Area: Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions
• Practice Area: Litigation - Real Estate
• Practice Area: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
• Practice Area: Privacy and Data Security Law
• Super Lawyers 2012 - 2025
• Top 100 2015, 2019 - 2025
• Benchmark Litigation
• Local Litigation Star 2016 - 2025
• Associate Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• AV® Preeminent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Super Lawyers Top 100
• Chambers USA for Commercial Litigation

Education & Credentials

Tyler L. Farmer is a highly accomplished legal professional with extensive experience and a commitment to providing exceptional legal services. He is recognized within the legal community for his strategic thinking, courtroom skills, and dedication to achieving positive outcomes for his clients.