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Klien D. Hilliard

I provide thoughtful and innovative solutions to reach clients’ goals by actively listening and collaborating to see projects succeed and resolve disputes. I believe zealous advocacy stems from a thorough understanding of the clients’ objectives and by providing dedicated and comprehensive support to advance those objectives and reach successful and cost-effective resolutions. Quotation mark
Klien D. Hilliard
Klien D. Hilliard
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About Klien

Klien Hilliard is an associate on the firm’s construction practice team who represents general contractors, subcontractors, developers, and property owners throughout the Pacific Northwest on a wide range of projects from commercial construction, public road and utility projects, hotels, apartments, and federal procurement. She advises private and public sector clients including representation before state, federal, and local agencies.

Klien’s experience includes both litigation and successful alternative dispute resolution of construction matters. In a recent complex dispute, Klien successfully obtained full recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs through strategic briefing and motion practice. Additionally, Klien’s practice also includes advocacy for state and federal small, minority, and women-owned business programs, advising clients on certification, eligibility issues, and appeals.
     

Representative Experience

  • Prior to Joining Miller Nash LLP Plus
    • Represented a public works contractor in a jury trial, successfully obtaining full recovery on breach of contract and indemnification claims.

    • Successfully appealed decertification of a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Woman/Minority-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE).

Services

Education

  • J.D., Seattle University School of Law, magna cum laude, 2020
    • Executive Editor of Lead Articles, Seattle University Law Review
    • Executive Vice President, Seattle University School of Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Board
    • CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Legal Writing II
  • B.S., University of Arizona, magna cum laude, 2016

Bar Admissions

  • Oregon, 2021
  • Washington, 2020

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims

Activities

Professional Plus
  • Association of Women and Minority Businesses, Member 
  • Washington State Bar Association, Member
    • Construction Law Section
    • Labor & Employment Law Section
  • Oregon State Bar, Member
  • National Association of Women in Construction, Puget Sound Chapter, Member
  • Associated General Contractors of America, Washington Chapter, Member
  • Risk Management Society, Washington Chapter, Member

Recognition

  • Selected for inclusion as a Washington Super Lawyer—Rising Star, 2024-present

Insights from Klien

  • “Construction Law, Bonding & Insurance,” Association of Women & Minority Business, Contractors’ Day Conference (Mar. 2024)
  • “The Subcontractor Listing Law,” The Seminar Group, Bid Protests on Public Works Projects Seminar (Mar. 2023)
  • Tadych v. Noble Ridge and Its Impacts on Contractual Limitations of Liability,” Washington State Bar Association, 2022 Fall Real Property CLE, copresenter (Dec. 2022)
  • “Top 10 Misconceptions in Washington Construction Insurance,” The Seminar Group, Northwest Insurance Law Seminar, copresenter (Oct. 2022)
Collaborations

Outside the Office

In her spare time, Klien can be found baking, playing board games, or running around and exploring with her dog.

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