Molly A. Terwilliger
Molly Terwilliger is a trial lawyer who represents local and national corporations in arbitrations, mediations, and state and federal bench and jury trials. She advises clients on a wide range of intellectual property, labor and employment, and complex commercial matters, where she leverages ediscovery tools to manage the collection and production of electronic documents. On the labor side, Molly handles wage and hour class actions, discrimination and sexual harassment claims, wrongful termination matters, and sensitive workplace investigations. On the intellectual property side, she represents clients in matters of trade secret misappropriation; breach of contract; copyright, trademark, and trade dress infringement; and unfair competition.
Intellectual Property
- First chair in a successful two-week arbitration defending a former sales agent against claims for trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and unjust enrichment brought by a former supplier
- Defended a corporation against claims of copyright, trademark, and trade dress infringement, as well as unfair competition, in a successful bench trial in the Western District of Washington
- Obtained favorable settlements of numerous matters asserting and defending against claims of trademark infringement and unfair competition, including domain-name disputes
- Local counsel in numerous patent cases pending in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington
Labor & Employment
- Obtained favorable a jury verdict in favor of a municipal employer on claims for wrongful termination in violation of public policy for engaging in protected union activity in King County (Washington) Superior Court; successfully defended the verdict on appeal
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of an employer on sexual harassment claims filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of a chief executive and employer on claims for breach of severance agreement and willful nonpayment of wages in King County Superior Court; successfully defended the judgment on appeal
- Defended employers in wage and hour class actions brought in state and federal court
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of an employer on claims of age and disability discrimination filed in King County Superior Court; successfully defended the judgment on appeal
- Conducted confidential workplace investigations for private companies and municipalities involving claims of discrimination and unfair treatment
- Negotiated numerous settlements relating to employee departures
Other
- Obtained a favorable settlement of claims for trade secret misappropriation brought by former employer against former employee and new employer
- Obtained dismissal in both state and federal court of claims brought by pro se litigant against a municipal water district
- Obtained a favorable settlement in the pro bono representation of a domestic violence victim in a Section 1983 litigation relating to the initiation of a dependency for her minor child
- Authored amicus curiae briefs on behalf of Legal Voice and the ACLU of Washington in matters involving the termination of victims of domestic violence’s parental rights
- University of Wisconsin Law School, 1998, J.D., cum laude, Order of the Coif
- Northwestern University, 1994, B.A., History, Departmental Honors
- Washington
- Clerkship to Judge Marsha J. Pechman of the US District Court for the Western District of Washington (1999 - 2001)
- Clerkship to Chief Justice Barbara Durham of the Washington Supreme Court (1998 - 1999)

Recommended, Intellectual property: Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters), The Legal 500 US (2023, 2024)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, Seattle (2023–2026)
Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Seattle (2023–2026)
Member, Practice Group of the Year, Intellectual Property, Law360 (2024)
President, Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington
Past member, Legal Committee, ACLU of Washington Foundation
Past president and board member, Legal Voice, an organization that champions economic, social, and legal equality for women and girls
