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Malaika M. Eaton


McNaul Ebel Nawrot & Helgren PLLC

Recognized since 2024

Seattle, Washington

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation

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Malaika Eaton is a trial lawyer who has served as a member of the Litigation and Trial Practice since joining McNaul Ebel in 2008. She is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, recognized as "the preeminent organization of trial lawyers in North America."

Malaika’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation such as professional malpractice, securities, business and shareholder disputes, intellectual property, class actions, insurance, real estate and antitrust litigation in both federal and state courts. She has significant experience in appellate litigation, including interlocutory appeals and expedited appeals in federal and state courts.

Malaika has a successful track record of representing numerous clients in jury trials, bench trials, and arbitrations, including as lead counsel. She has represented clients in the Supreme Court of the United States and has served as lead counsel before the US Court of Appeals, where she established a reputation for achieving successful outcomes for her clients.

Before joining McNaul Ebel, she practiced at Heller Ehrman LLP. She also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Thomas G. Nelson of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. During law school, she served as the articles editor for Cornell Law Review.

Malaika is a socially active leader in her field who is committed to using her talents and insight to benefit her community. She has earned numerous awards for her pro bono service, including Heller Ehrman’s annual Richard E. Guggenheim Award, which was awarded in recognition of her “exceptional commitment” to pro bono work.

In addition, Malaika sat on the Board of Directors for Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle and served as president of Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association USA. She is a founding member of the steering committee for the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy, and she has served as faculty for a number of Washington State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education seminars.

Malaika is a dedicated bike commuter, rain or shine. When she is not representing her clients or biking, she enjoys skiing, snowshoeing, swimming, kayaking, baking, and doing her best to keep up with her three very active kids.

Contact & Links
Location
  • One Union Square, Suite 2700
    600 University Street
    Seattle, WA 98101-3143
Demographics
  • Gender: Female
Education
  • Cornell University, J.D., graduated 2002
Bar Admissions
  • Washington, Washington State Bar Association, 2002
Court Admissions
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • US Court of Federal Claims
  • US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
  • US District Court for the Western District of Washington

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
  • Commercial Litigation
Awards:
    • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow & State Chair of Washington State Committee
    • Ranked by Chambers & Partners
    • Rated AV Preeminent (4.9/5.0) by Martindale-Hubbell
    • Recognized by Best Lawyers™ in 2024 for Commercial Litigation
    • Rated Superb by Avvo
    • Selected by Washington Law & Politics as a Rising Star and a Super Lawyer
    • Top 100 Washington Lawyers (2018 - 2023)
    • Top 50 Women Washington Super Lawyers (2018 - 2023)
    • Named a Washington State Super Lawyer (2023)
    • Richard E. Guggenheim Award, Heller Ehrman LLP
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Arbitration
  • Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants

Publications

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