Professional Biography
Image of Tommy Tobin

Thomas (Tommy) Tobin Counsel

  • Seattle

    D +1.206.359.3157

    F +1.206.359.4157

    Seattle

    1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900

    Seattle, WA 98101-3099

    +1.206.359.3157

    TTobin@perkinscoie.com

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Overview

Thomas Tobin’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and class action matters involving statutory, constitutional, and regulatory issues in a range of industries, including food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, and cannabis. In the food and beverage sector, Tommy has experience defending false advertising claims and consumer protection claims for well-known international corporations. He regularly writes articles on food law and policy issues and is chair of the American Bar Association’s Food, Cosmetics and Nutraceuticals Committee. Tommy recently edited the American Bar Association’s Food Law: A Practical Guide, a resource book for practitioners to assist them in meeting the unique needs of food and beverage clients across various domains of legal practice.

Tommy’s litigation background includes drafting complaints, dispositive motions, and other filings in high-stakes litigation as well as participating in depositions and case strategy. He also has experience assisting with internal investigations.

Maintaining an active pro bono practice, Tommy has represented clients in administrative appeals for public benefits, including food stamps, disability benefits, and veteran benefits. For three years, he taught a food law and policy module at the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy. With Perkins Coie Partner David Biderman, Tommy now teaches the seminar “Food Litigation: Consumer Protection, Regulation, and Class Actions” at UCLA Law.

Prior to joining Perkins Coie, Tommy served as a law clerk to the Hon. Max O. Cogburn, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. In 2012, Tommy was awarded the George Mitchell Scholarship for travel to the island of Ireland. He holds degrees from Stanford University, Harvard Law School, and the Harvard Kennedy School. While earning his J.D., he served as president of the Harvard Food Law Society, was an online editor for the Harvard Law & Policy Review, and worked as a teaching fellow in the Harvard Economics Department.

Food Litigation News blog image

Food & Consumer Packaged Goods Litigation

Serving up legal insights on food and beverage labeling and nutritional content.

VISIT THE FOOD & CONSUMER PACKAGED GOODS LITIGATION BLOG

Cannabis blog image

Cannabis Legal Highlights: The 411 on 420

Your Guide to the Legal Present and Future of the Cannabis Industry

Visit the Cannabis Legal Highlights blog

Professional Recognition

  • Named in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, 2024
  • Member of trial team that received the District of Arizona’s Pro Bono Firm of the Year award, 2023
  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2023
  • Listed on the "Top 40 Young Lawyers On the Rise" List, American Bar Association, 2022
  • JD Supra Readers Choice Top Author: Product Liability, 2021, 2022
  • J. Shan Mullin Annual Community Leadership and Service Award, Perkins Coie, 2022
  • D.C. Bar Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2017, 2018, 2020 (High Honors)
  • Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association (WMACCA) Corporate Scholar, 2012
  • Special Recognition Award, U.S. Department of Justice: Environmental Enforcement Section, 2008

Professional Leadership

  • Serve Washington: Washington State Service Commission (Appointed by Governor), Commissioner, 2021 present
  • Hunger-Free America, Board of Directors

  • American Bar Association

    • Section of Science & Technology Law

      • Chair - Food, Cosmetics and Nutraceuticals Committee

      • Member - Section Council

    • Center for Professional Responsibility

      • New Lawyer Steering Committee

  • Food & Drug Law Institute’s Cannabis-Derived Products Committee

Community Involvement

  • Prescription Drug Assistance Foundation, Director of the Board of Directors, 2021 – present

Related Employment

  • Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Washington, D.C., Associate, 2017 - 2019
  • UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy, PPIA Program, Instructor of Law, 2016 - 2018
  • Principles of Economics (Ec10), Harvard Economics Department, Teaching Fellow, 2014 - 2016
  • U.S. Department of Justice: Environmental Enforcement Section, Undergraduate Intern, 2008

Clerkships

  • Hon. Max O. Cogburn, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, 2016 - 2017

Experience

News

Insights

RELATED INFORMATION

Bar and Court Admissions

  • Washington
  • California
  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • New York
  • Oregon
  • South Carolina
  • U.S. Tax Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington

Education

  • Harvard Law School, J.D., 2016, Technical Editor, Harvard Journal on Legislation
    Online Editor, Harvard Law & Policy Review
  • Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, M.P.P., 2016, PPIA Fellowship
  • Stanford University, B.A., History & International Relations, University Distinction, 2010