Kinnon W. Williams kwilliams@insleebest.com direct: 425.450.4225 fax: 425-635-7720 Bio With a focus on eminent domain and municipal law, Kinnon is regarded as one of the leading eminent domain trial attorneys in the Washington state, having represented both public entities and private property owners in negotiations, mediation, and bench and jury trials, including successfully arguing cases before the Washington State Supreme Court. Kinnon provides special and general legal counsel to local governments including cities, fire departments, and utilities. Kinnon offers a comprehensive approach to local governments' legal needs, whether dealing with a specific legal issue or providing day-to-day counsel. Kinnon is co-author of the 2010 Washington State Bar Association Real Property Deskbook Chapter on eminent domain and is a frequent lecturer and participant in continuing legal education and trade association seminars on eminent domain and inverse condemnation. Education University of Oregon, J.D., 1986 University of Washington, 1982 Publications & Presentations Co-Author, "The Unit Rule: Misunderstood and Rightly So," October 2017 Co-Chair and Speaker, The Seminar Group - 7th Annual Eminent Domain Seminar, May 2017 Speaker, WSAMA Conference - Condemning Blight Creating PropertyCondemning Blight Creating Property, April 2017 Speaker, The Seminar Group - Special Consideration in Condemnation of Agricultural Land, February 16, 2017 Speaker, WASWD Workshop - Insurance and Indemnity for Commissioners and Employees, February 4, 2017 Co-Chair and Speaker, The Seminar Group - 5th Annual Easements and CCRs in Washington, November 4, 2016 Speaker, IRWA National Conference, Creating an Affective Relocation Appeal, Nashville, TN, June 14, 2016 Speaker, IRWA, Contracting with Consultants - How to Build a Better Contract, June 13, 2016 Author, "Appealing a Relocation Decision", Right-of-Way Magazine (March/April 2016) Speaker, KCFTO Managing Employee Discipline, September 18, 2015 Author, "Fine-Tuning the Contract", Right-of-Way Magazine (July/August 2015) Speaker, IRWA Eminent Domain Law Basics for ROW Professionals, May 13, 2015
Author, Washington State Bar Association Real Property Deskbook Chapter on Eminent Domain, (4th ed., 2012 and supplement 2015) Speaker, IRWA Advanced Business Relocation Assistance Seminar, November 19, 2014 Co-Chair and Speaker, Easements in Washington, 3 rd Annual, Seattle, Washington, October 30, 2014 Training, Records Retention, Tukwila, Washington, October 29, 2014 Speaker, Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts, Commissioners Lunch Workshop on the Basics of Property Acquisition, Tukwila, Washington, September 24, 2014 Training Open Public Records Act, Tukwila, Washington, June 30, 2014 Training Open Public Meetings Act, Tukwila, Washington, May 21, 2014 Speaker, Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts, 2014 Commissioners Workshop, Ethics for Local Government Officials. Lynnwood, Washington, January 25, 2014 Co-Chair, The Seminar Group, Issues in Condemnation, Seattle, Washington, December 5, 2013 Co-Chari and Speaker, Easements in Washington, Recent Developments in Easement Law Seattle, Washington, October 11, 2013 Speaker, IRWA Chapter 4, The Land Owner Speaks Bellevue, Washington, September2013 Speaker, Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts, 2013 Commissioners Workshop, Ethics for Local Government Officials. Lynnwood, Washington, January 26, 2013 Co-Chair and Speaker, The Seminar Group, Issues in Condemnation, Mediating the Condemnation Case & Highest and Best Use in Condemnation. Seattle, Washington, December 7, 2012 Speaker, Washington Fire Chiefs Association Legal Conference, Open Public Records Act. Yakima, Washington, October 24, 2012 Co-Chair and Speaker, The Seminar Group, Easements in Washington, Types & Peculiarities of Easements & The Process of Creating & Enforcing New Easements. Seattle, Washington, October 10, 2012 Speaker, Washington Fire Chief s Association, Public Disclosure How it Applies to Fire Departments. Yakima, Washington, May 22, 2012 Speaker, Washington State Association for Justice, How to Become a Judge, Webinar, Seattle, Washington, April 26, 2012 Speaker, Washington Association Sewer and Water District s Spring Conference, Who Pays for Fire Hydrants: An Update. Yakima, Washington, April 12, 2012 Speaker, National Business Institute, Boundary Issues and Easement Law, Resolving Boundary Disputes & Litigating Boundary Disputes. Seattle, Washington, December 8, 2011; Tacoma, Washington, December 13, 2011 Co-Chair and Speaker, The Seminar Group, Issues in Condemnation, The Process of Condemnation." Seattle, Washington December 2, 2011
Speaker, Mercer Island City Council Chambers, Government & Redevelopment & Redevelopment in the Modern World: The Limitation of Government in the Redevelopment Process. Mercer Island, Washington, November 2, 2011 Co-Chair and Speaker, The Seminar Group, Eminent Domain, The Process of Condemnation, " Seattle, Washington December 3, 2010 Speaker, Washington Fire Commissioners Association Annual Conference, Asset Transfer A Case Study. Pasco, Washington, November 27-29, 2010 Speaker, National Business Institute, "Road Easement Law From A to Z. Seattle, Washington, November 1, 2010 Speaker, Thurston County Fire Protection District No. 6, Just Cause Discipline. East Olympia, Washington, April 14, 2010 Co-Author: Eminent Domain Section of the Washington State Bar Association Real Property Deskbook, 2010 Speaker, Rubic, LLC, "Succeeding in Tough Times," Seattle, Washington, March 2009 Speaker, International Right of Way Annual Conference,, "Relax You're Just Testifying," Las Vegas, Nevada, January 2009 Speaker, National Business Institute, "Road and Access Law: Researching and Resolving Common Disputes," Seattle, Washington, December 2008 Co-Chair, Law Seminars International, Relocation Issues in Eminent Domain Conference, Seattle, Washington December 2008 Speaker, National Business Institute, "Road and Access Law: Successfully Handling Disputes," Seattle, Washington, August 2008 Speaker, Washington State Bar Association, "Winning Strategies: Success in the Practice of Law," Seattle, Washington January 2008 Speaker and Co-Chair, Law Seminars International, Government Takings: A Comprehensive Workshop, Seattle, Washington December 2007 Speaker, International Right of Way Association Region 7, "Valuation of Critical Areas Following Citizens Alliance and Futurewise," Bellevue, Washington, September 2007 Speaker, Fire Chiefs Station Style Conference, "Taking the Fear Out of Land Acquisition," Denver, Colorado, April 2007 Speaker, Washington State Bar Association, "You Asked For It: The Essential Guide For Solo and Small Firm Practitioners," Seattle, Wash. February 2007 Speaker and Co-Chair, Law Seminars International, Government Takings Conference, The New Face of Public-Private Partnerships: Navigating Tepid Waters Following Kelo and the 'Sinking Ship' Decision," and Litigating the Eminent Domain Case: Discovery through Verdict, Seattle, Washington December 2006 Author, Taking Fear Out of Land Acquisition, Fire Chiefs Magazine, Denver, CO. (May 2007) Co-Chair and Speaker, Law Seminars International, Government Takings: The Latest on Eminent Domain and "In Effect" Takings Law Conference; spoke on "Smartening up of Government: Trend Toward Taking Limited Usage Rights Rather Than the Entire Property," Seattle, Washington December 2005 Speaker, Washington Association of Sewer & Water Districts, City District Relationships, Yakima, Washington, Spring 2002 Speaker, Washington State Bar Association, "Administrative Hearings: What Judges Really Want to Hear," Seattle, Washington, November 1998 Speaker and Program Chair, Advising and Defending Public Officials, Bastyr University, Kenmore, Washington, December 1996 LEOFF II Disability Supplement Procedural Manual, Copyright 1989
Hand in Hand, Mano en Mano, with the Peace Corps Latin American Caribbean Region, Government Printing Office, 1981 Bar/Court Admissions Admitted, Washington, 1986 Professional & Civic Involvement King County Washington Bar Association Treasurer, 2014-2017 Judicial Conferencing Committee, Co-Chair 2012-2013 Judicial Fair Campaign Committee, Chair 2012-2013 Judicial Evaluation Committee, Co-Chair, 2010 Washington State Bar Association Solo and Small Practice Section Board, 2007 2014 Washington Fire Commissioners Association Washington Fire Chiefs Association Evergreen Health Care Foundation, Vice Chair and Board Member International Right of Way Association Member/Facilitator The Washington Center, Washington D.C. Alumni Advisory Board - Previous Honors, Awards & Special Recognition Selected, Super Lawyer, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, 2013-2016 Representative Matters Arthur T. Lane, et al. v. The City of Seattle, Washington State Supreme Court Decision, No. 80204-1 October 16, 2008. Successfully litigated in Washington State Supreme Court on behalf of King Fire Protection Districts 2, 4, 11, 16 and 20, to establish that hydrant costs cannot be imbedded in water utility rates and that those costs are the responsibility of the general municipal government. Unanimous (9-0) decision. City of Lynnwood v. Video Only, Inc. 118 Wn. App. 674, 77 P.3d 378 (2003), review denied January 7, 2004. Successfully argued in a challenge to public use and necessity in an eminent domain action that the project must be considered as a whole and not be limited to the single property named in the suit) King County Fire Protection Districts Nos. 16, 36, and 40 v. The Housing Authority of King County, 123 Wn. 2d 819, 1994. Won a unanimous (9-0) decision in which the Supreme Court held that held that benefit charges imposed by Fire Protection Districts are not taxes and that the Housing Authority must contract with Fire Protection Districts for fire protection services. On behalf of the City of University Place, negotiated acquisition of more than a dozen, separate parcels of real estate with a value of approximately $8 million within a three month period for an economic revitalization project, University Place Town Center. All parcels were acquired without resort to litigation.
Negotiated a crucial, fire and emergency medical service agreement between King County Fire Protection Districts 44 and 46 (Mountain View Fire and Rescue, serving Auburn) and the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. Knowledge of state and federal law was essential, as was the ability to work cooperatively with the fire service, tribal legal council, numerous municipal boards, and the U.S. Attorney s Office in a highly charged political environment. Negotiated and facilitated a highly complex asset transfer including millions of dollars in facilities and equipment from King County Fire Protection District 40 to the City of Renton, and developed financial plan allowing city and fire department a mutual benefit under the law. Personal Enjoys bicycling, hiking, golfing, theater and spending time with family.