Athan P. Papailiou

Athan Papailiou is a trial and appellate lawyer who has successfully represented public and private clients in a wide array of complex disputes in state and federal courts. Raised in Oregon by his Greek family who own and operate a small restaurant, Athan takes pride in delivering smart, practical advice to clients throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

In addition to practicing law, Athan is also committed to public service and community engagement. From 2016-2019, Athan served as a member of the Board of Governors for the Washington State Bar Association. He has also spent hundreds of hours doing pro bono work.

Before launching his own law practice, Athan was a litigator at Pacifica Law Group, a spin-off of the international law firm K&L Gates. While at Pacifica, Athan represented public, private, and non-profit clients in constitutional, appellate, and governmental litigation. Athan joined Pacifica following his judicial clerkships with Justice Debra Stephens at the Washington Supreme Court and Judge Randall Howe at the Arizona Court of Appeals. As an appellate clerk, Athan drafted over 70 memorandum decisions and opinions on a wide array of issues, including the scope of the attorney-client privilege, contract disputes, and constitutional challenges.

As a first-generation college student, Athan studied political science and biology at the University of Oregon, where served as the Student Senate President. He then earned his law degree from the University of Arizona, where he was named a Dan B. Dobbs Scholar for his aptitude in tort law and he served as a Writing Fellow and member of the Arizona Law Review.

Education

• B.S., The University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
  • Dean’s Award for Leadership & Service
  • Dave Frohnmayer Scholarship
• J.D., The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
  • magna cum laude
  • Arizona Law Review
  • Dan B. Dobbs Scholar