Michael E. McAleenan
An active litigator throughout his career, Michael’s trial practice includes both state and federal courts, and all types of litigation, including construction, trade secrets, property, corporate, employment matters, and significant personal injury claims. He is also experienced in alternate dispute resolution proceedings including arbitrations and mediations, both as an advocate and as an neutral.
For over twenty-six years, Michael has tried cases to juries, judges, arbitrators, and governmental agencies, representing both plaintiffs and defendants. Locally, Michael has argued cases before the Washington Supreme Court, the Washington Court of Appeals, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Washington Shoreline Hearings Board, administrative law judges, and various hearing examiners.
Michael has successfully represented international and Fortune 500 companies in class action litigation, racketeering, and anti-competitive practice claims. His practice has included construction law matters involving contractors, suppliers, public and private owners, developers, engineers, and architects. Michael also has substantial experience in general business law, representing emerging and established businesses in a variety of matters, including:
- Formation and dissolution of business entities
- Contract preparation, including purchase and sale, shareholder, investor rights and voting agreements
- Employment and labor issues
- Other general business matters
His personal injury practice involves:
- Prosecution and defense of catastrophic injury
- Wrongful death
- Motor vehicle collisions
- Government liability
- Civil rights
- Professional negligence and malpractice
- Products liability
Michael was the youngest attorney to become a Shareholder at Smith Alling, P.S. He is currently the firm’s President and sits on the management committee.
Michael is a longtime Pacific Northwest resident with an Australian background. Outside of work, he devotes his time to his family, Golden Retriever, travel, and auto racing.
Representative Clients
- State Farm Insurance
- True Blue, Inc.
- Labor Ready Northwest, Inc.
- Wells Fargo Bank
- The World Boxing Association
- The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs
- Philadelphia Insurance Companies
- United States Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee Mark Waldron
- Cal Portland Company
- Rochester Farms
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
- Washington State Bar Association
- Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association
- Washington Defense Trial Lawyers
- Washington State Association of Justice (formerly WSTLA)
- Rental Housing Association of Washington
- Shareholder
- President
Contact Me:
Practice Areas
- Business Law
- Construction Law
- Business Litigation
- Employment Law
- Labor Law
- Trade Secrets
- Real Estate / Property Law
- Corporate Law
- Personal Injury
- Catastrophic Injury
- Wrongful Death
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Government Liability
- Civil Rights
- Professional Negligence
- Medical Malpractice
- Products Liability
- Class Action Litigation
- Antitrust / Anti-Competitive Practices
- Racketeering
- Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Arbitration
- Mediation
Education
- Seattle University School of Law, Seattle, Washington
- J.D. - 1999
- Washington State University
- B.A. - 1996
- Arizona State University
- 1992
Bar Admissions
- Washington
- U.S. District Court Western District of Washington
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court

