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Ellie

Ellie Perka

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With nearly 20 years’ experience resolving high-stakes contentious construction disputes, Ellie Perka is ranked as one of the top construction lawyers in Washington.

Her entire practice is devoted to representing clients in the construction industry: public entities, contractors, developers, and institutions. She has helped clients resolve disputes on many of the region’s most notable construction projects, including the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement / SR 99 tunnel project; the $350M project to replace Seattle’s timber seawall; and the $2B Washington State Convention Center expansion project.

Ellie’s broad client base and extensive experience make her uniquely able to understand and adapt to clients’ needs and interests. Her experience includes resolution of change order and payment disputes, delay claims, errors, omissions, liens, and drafting and negotiating complex construction contracts, plus a host of other issues unique to the construction industry. Chambers® USA observes that Ellie is “savvy,” with an “excellent command of the industry” and a “star in the courtroom.”

In addition to her Chambers® USA ranking, she has been selected for The Best Lawyers in America© (Construction Litigation, Construction Law, Employment Law) and as one of America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators®. Thomson Reuters has selected Ellie as a “Washington Super Lawyer” and her high-profile work has attracted national media attention including coverage in the Washington Post, CNN, Bloomberg, and Reuters. She was also recently selected to join the prestigious American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Construction Arbitrators.

Representative Matters include:

Appointed as Special Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for second-most populous county in Washington in private arbitration and on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit concerning disputes over delays and changed work with the general contractor/construction manager (GC/CM) hired for a wastewater treatment plant expansion project.
Lead counsel for city in King County, Washington in superior court action against four major utility companies for reimbursement of increased construction costs and utility-caused delays incurred as a result of utilities’ failure to properly relocate utility lines in a timely manner, blocking a major roadway project. After successfully defeating motions to dismiss, successfully negotiated favorable settlement in favor of the city with all four defendants.
Representation of contractor in $800M bid protest appeal at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims which included substantial motions practice and a highly-contested hearing implicating President Trump’s national emergency declaration on the Southern Border, Proclamation 9844.
Successful defense of contractor against more than $50M in alleged delay and increased construction costs in AAA Arbitration regarding a fatal explosion that occurred during a hospital expansion project and destroyed a portion of the work; panel awarded client entirety of its requested contract balance, change orders, and attorneys’ fees.
Prevailed in obtaining court-ordered injunction and negotiated consent decree on behalf of contractor client in a series of high-profile anti-harassment lawsuits in Washington and Oregon.
Obtained temporary restraining order on behalf of joint venture of multinational construction firms after the joint venture was terminated for convenience on preconstruction phase of $2B GC/CM alternative publics work project.

Professional Experience

Ahlers Cressman & Sleight

Danielson Harrigan Leyh & Tollefson

Washington State Court of Appeals, Division II, Law Clerk to the Honorable Joel M. Penoyar

Community Involvement

Washington State Bar Association, Construction Section, Executive Committee, Treasurer

Construction for Change, Board of Directors

King County Bar Association, Washington Women Lawyers, Board Member

American Bar Association, Forum on Construction Law

National Association of Women in Construction, Member

Design Build Institute of America, Member (2017-Present)

William L. Dwyer Inn of Court, Barrister Member

Thought Leadership

August 15, 2024News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2025 Recognizes 128 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
July 31, 2024News
Fifty-seven Lane Powell Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers in Washington for 2024
Awards & Honors
June 14, 2024Event / CLE
Revolutionizing E-Discovery With Artificial Intelligence
Washington State Bar Association Construction Law Section
June 6, 2024News
Lane Powell Ranked Again Among Top Firms in 2024 Chambers® USA
Awards & Honors
May 31, 2024Event / CLE
COVID-19 Impact Claims – An Overview
The Seminar Group | Seattle, Washington
August 17, 2023News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2024 Recognizes 123 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
July 31, 2023News
Forty-seven Lane Powell Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers in Washington for 2023
Awards & Honors
June 1, 2023News
Lane Powell Again Ranked Among Top Firms in 2023 Chambers® USA
Awards & Honors
December 22, 2022News
Perka Joins American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Arbitrators
Awards & Honors
September 29, 2022Event / CLE
Experts: Heroes or Villains?
American Bar Association | Memphis, Tennessee
August 18, 2022News
The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 Recognizes 90 Lane Powell Attorneys
Awards & Honors
July 14, 2022News
Forty-four Lane Powell Attorneys Recognized by Super Lawyers in Washington for 2022
Awards & Honors
June 10, 2022Event / CLE
Construction Law Section Annual Seminar
Washington State Bar Association | Virtual
September 3, 2021Publication
In Rare Construction Law Ruling, Washington Supreme Court Affirms $9 Million Jury Verdict and Provides Guidance on the ‘Spearin Doctrine’
Construction Legal Update
June 11, 2021Publication
Washington State Convention Center’s Massive Addition 'Topping Out'
Lane Powell Live | Podcast
January 25, 2021News
Perka Joins Commercial Litigation and Construction Teams
Firm Announcement
August 2018Event / CLE
Integrated Project Delivery Overview
The Seminar Group Annual Washington Construction Law Seminar | Seattle
May 2018Event / CLE
Contract Termination
The Seminar Group Bidding Public Works and Construction Contracts Seminar | Seattle
November 2017-2019Event / CLE
Employment Law Principals and Updates
National Association of Electrical Contractors, Superintendents Course | University of Washington, Seattle
September 2017Event / CLE
Employment Updates in the Construction Setting: Hot Topics and Emerging Issues
The Seminar Group Annual Washington Construction Law Seminar | Seattle
2017Publication
Alternative Delivery Systems
Washington State Bar Association Construction Law Deskbook
2017Publication
Damages
Washington State Bar Association Construction Law Deskbook
May 2015Event / CLE
M/W/DBE Certification Overview and Updates
Washington State Bar Association Construction Law Section Annual Seminar | Seattle
November 2015-2017Publication
Employment Law Basics
National Electrical Contractors Association
December 2014Event / CLE
Proposed Changes to the Disadvantaged Enterprise Program in Washington State
National Association of Women in Construction | Seattle
September 2014Event / CLE
The Pros and Cons of SDI Policies
The Seminar Group | Seattle
September 2014Event / CLE
The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program in Washington State
National Association of Women in Construction | Seattle
February 2014Event / CLE
WSDOT’s Drastic Move to Exclude Women-Owned Businesses from DBE Program
National Association of Women in Construction Puget Sound Chapter | Seattle & Tacoma, Washington
2014Publication
Construction Law
King County Bar Washington Lawyers Practice Manual
October 2013Event / CLE
Contracts for General Contractors
Department of Labor & Industries | Spokane, Washington
October 2013Event / CLE
Contracting on Public Projects
Department of Labor & Industries | Spokane, Washington
September 2013Event / CLE
Expert Witness Skills Workshop
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Practices & Industries

Commercial Litigation
Construction
Government Law

Education

Seattle University School of Law, J.D., cum laude
University of Washington, B.A., Honors Geography Program

Admissions

Washington
Oregon
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Civilian Board of Contract Appeals
U.S. Court of Claims

Honors

Chambers® USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, Construction (2023-2024)

The Best Lawyers in America©, Construction Litigation (2021, 2025); Construction Law (2023-2025); Employment Law - Management (2025)

"Washington Super Lawyer," Thomson Reuters, Construction Litigation (2022-2024)

America's Top 100 High Stakes Litigators® for Washington (2020)

“Washington Rising Star,” Thomson Reuters, Construction Litigation (2014-2015)

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