Stew Cogan, ADR Attorney in Issaquah, Washington
Over 50 years of legal practice
Stew Cogan Arbitrator-Mediator
Issaquah, WA
Practicing adr in Issaquah since 1976.
- 50+
- Years practicing
- 1
- Bar admission
Practices in
Are you Stew Cogan?
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Quick answer
Stew Cogan is an attorney based in Issaquah, WASHINGTON. The practice focuses on ADR. Stew has over 50 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Stew Cogan Arbitrator-Mediator.
- Based in
- Issaquah, WASHINGTON
- Experience
- over 50 years
- Known for
- ADR
- Handles ADR matters from Issaquah, WASHINGTON.
- Over 50 years of practice as a licensed attorney.
- Recognized with Lawyer of the Year — Arbitration (Seattle) (2025).
About Stew Cogan: Stew Cogan is an attorney based in Issaquah, WASHINGTON. The practice focuses on ADR. Stew has over 50 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Stew Cogan Arbitrator-Mediator.
Areas of practice
Practice areas handled by Stew Cogan
Stew concentrates on adr. Each area below outlines the kind of case Stew handles, typical outcomes to expect, and how the intake process starts.
ADR cases in Issaquah, Washington
Stew takes adr matters in Issaquah, Washington. Typical engagements include intake calls to scope the issue, review of any records or filings you already have, and a written strategy memo before Stew agrees to represent you.
Biography
About Stew Cogan — Over 50 years of Washington adr experience
Stew Cogan is an attorney based in Issaquah, WASHINGTON. The practice focuses on ADR. Stew has over 50 years of legal experience. Currently practicing at Stew Cogan Arbitrator-Mediator.
Stew Cogan is in his thirty-first year as a full-time arbitrator and mediator, following twenty years practicing primarily business, corporate, and real estate law.
Stew has arbitrated more than 300 cases and mediated more than 3,500 cases. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in both the Mediation and Arbitration categories, and is Ranked Tier 1 in both categories in the Metropolitan Seattle area. He was named by Best Lawyers as the Arbitration Lawyer of the Year in Seattle in 2016, 2020, 2022, and 2025, and as the Mediation Lawyer of the Year in Seattle in 2017, 2021, and 2025. Stew has been named a Super Lawyer for the 27 consecutive years from 1999 through 2025, and he was named a Top 100 Super Lawyer in sixteen of the last eighteen years. He has also been listed in Who’s Who Legal: Mediation every year since 2014, and is one of about 100 lawyers in the United States and two in Washington to be listed in the publication.
He is a Fellow of the invitation-only College of Commercial Arbitrators, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Distinguished Fellow of the invitation-only American College of Civil Trial Mediators (President, 2015-2017), a member of the CPR Panel of Mediators, and a Charter Member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals and the ADR Roundtable. Stew is on the Commercial Panel, the Construction Panel, the Large, Complex Case Panel, the Healthcare Payor-Provider Panel, and the Mediation Panel of the American Arbitration Association (and has been designated as a Master Mediator by the AAA); the Civil Rule 39.1 Register of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington; and the Arbitration and Mediation Panels of the American Health Lawyers Association.
He is a former President of both the King County Bar Association and the King County Bar Foundation. He received a B.A. in 1973 from the University of California at Berkeley and a J.D. in 1976 from Harvard Law School.
Stew's approach to adr cases
Stew Cogan is in his thirty-first year as a full-time arbitrator and mediator, following twenty years practicing primarily business, corporate, and real estate law. Stew has arbitrated more than 300 cases and mediated more than 3,500 cases. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in both the Mediation and Arbitration categories, and is Ranked Tier 1 in both categories in the Metropolitan…
The kind of cases Stew takes
Stew reviews new inquiries case-by-case for adr matters in Issaquah and the surrounding Washington area.
Credentials
Stew Cogan's legal education and bar admissions
Harvard University
J.D. · 1976
University of California Berkeley
B.A. (with Honors) (Phi Beta Kappa) · 1973
Jurisdictions
Stew's state bar admissions
Washington
1976 · ACTIVE
Stew studied at J.D. in Harvard University and B.A. (with Honors) (Phi Beta Kappa) in University of California Berkeley.
Law school and academic background
Stew completed J.D. in Harvard University and B.A. (with Honors) (Phi Beta Kappa) in University of California Berkeley. Formal legal training is one signal of substantive knowledge — the day-to-day practice Stew runs in Washington is where that training gets applied to real client questions.
Recognition
Awards, publications, and recognition of Stew Cogan
Stew has received 9 formal recognitions from bar associations, industry bodies, and peer-review services.
Lawyer of the Year — Arbitration (Seattle)
2025
Lawyer of the Year — Mediation (Seattle)
2025
Lawyer of the Year — Arbitration (Seattle)
2022
Lawyer of the Year — Mediation (Seattle)
2021
Lawyer of the Year — Arbitration (Seattle)
2020
Lawyer of the Year — Mediation (Seattle)
2017
Lawyer of the Year — Arbitration (Seattle)
2016
Best Lawyers in America — Arbitration
2026
Best Lawyers in America — Mediation
2026
Legal awards and honors
Lawyer of the Year — Arbitration (Seattle) (2025). Lawyer of the Year — Mediation (Seattle) (2025). Lawyer of the Year — Arbitration (Seattle) (2022). Lawyer of the Year — Mediation (Seattle) (2021). Lawyer of the Year — Arbitration (Seattle) (2020). Lawyer of the Year — Mediation (Seattle) (2017).
Locations
Stew Cogan's office in Issaquah
Stew's primary office is at 5403 248th South Place SE, Issaquah, Washington, 98029. In-person meetings are by appointment; a phone intake usually comes first.
Stew Cogan Arbitrator-Mediator
5403 248th South Place SE
Issaquah, Washington 98029
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Schedule your consultationHiring guide
How to hire Stew Cogan — what to expect in your first consultation
Working with a new adr attorney should feel structured. Here's how the first two conversations with Stew usually go, from the moment you request a consult to the day representation begins.
Consultation formats and pricing
Stew charges for the initial consult. That fee is credited toward representation if you retain Stew's office.
What to bring to your first meeting
Bring any documents you already have — police reports, medical records, filed pleadings, correspondence from an insurer, a copy of the contract at issue. If you're not sure, err on the side of bringing everything; Stew will tell you what matters and what doesn't.
Questions to ask a adr attorney in Issaquah, Washington
A short list to run through before you commit: How many adr matters have you handled in the last year? What's your fee structure? Who else in the office will work on this? What's your realistic estimate of timeline and range of outcomes? How do I reach you between meetings?
Fees & payment
Fees, payment methods, and consultation options for Stew
Stew discusses fees during intake so the arrangement fits the matter. Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee options are all common in adr practice — ask which fits.
Hourly rates, contingency fees, and flat-fee options
Every adr matter is priced differently. Simple document review might be a flat fee. Injury litigation is often contingency. Complex commercial disputes usually run hourly with a retainer. Stew confirms the model in the engagement letter before any work starts.
Payment methods and payment plans
Stew's office accepts standard payment methods. Ask about payment plans if the retainer is a stretch — many adr practices work with clients on structured schedules.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about Stew Cogan
How much does it cost to hire Stew for a adr case?
Cost depends on the type of matter, the fee model (contingency, flat, hourly), and how contested the case becomes. Stew walks through the likely range during the consult so there are no surprises.
Does Stew offer a free consultation?
Stew charges for the initial consult; that fee is credited toward representation if you retain Stew's office. Some adr attorneys offer free consults — check Stew's current terms during booking.
How long do adr cases in Washington typically take?
Simple adr matters can wrap in a few weeks; disputed cases can run 6–18 months from intake to resolution, longer if the matter goes to trial. Stew gives a realistic estimate for your facts at the consult — vague answers here are a red flag.
Can Stew take my case if I'm outside Issaquah?
Stew is licensed in Washington. Matters governed by Washington law are the natural fit. Out-of-state matters are handled case-by-case, sometimes with local co-counsel. Ask during intake — Stew will tell you if the case is a fit or refer you to someone closer to your court.
What should I bring to my first meeting with Stew?
Bring every document that touches the dispute: contracts, correspondence, police or medical reports, filed pleadings, invoices, photographs, insurance letters. Also bring a written timeline of what happened, in your own words. Stew will filter what matters — over-preparing at intake is always cheaper than needing a second meeting.
Is Stew accepting new adr clients right now?
Stew's intake status shifts week to week. Submit the form; the office will confirm availability or refer the matter out.
Areas served
ADR attorneys serving Issaquah, Seattle and Spokane in Washington
Stew handles adr matters throughout Washington. Each city below is a direct link into the search page for verified adr attorneys in that community.
More counsel
Other top-rated adr attorneys in Washington
If Stew's intake is full or the fit isn't right, these adr attorneys in Issaquah handle similar matters. Every profile below is verified and open to consultations.





