Paul Heer, an associate in Foster Garvey’s Investment Management group, was presented with the 2020-21 Outstanding Young Lawyer Award by the King County Bar Association (KCBA). The award recognizes Paul for excellence in his legal practice, his demonstrated leadership in the community and the exceptional contributions he has made to the legal profession.
Paul received this prestigious honor at the KCBA’s virtual Annual Award Celebration on June 17, 2021, on an evening that brought together lawyers, judges, law professors and government leaders from across the region.
In his Investment Management practice, Paul focuses on assisting public and private institutional investors across a range of alternative investment transactions. He is recognized among his colleagues and clients as a “talented and gifted” attorney.
Paul is also known for his leadership in the equity and inclusion space. He serves as a Co-Chair of Foster Garvey’s Opportunity & Progress Council (OPC), the firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiative, through which he helps spearhead the firm’s strategic diversity initiatives. This leadership is personal to Paul, who believes that “only with true representation of diversity in thought and experience can we work through the most difficult conversations and problems, and then have full faith and confidence in the outcomes produced, whether that is creating, reinforcing, abolishing, or reshaping the law in all its iterations.”
Commitment to pro bono work is another facet of Paul’s distinguished background. Over his career, Paul has dedicated more than 250 hours annually to pro bono legal representation, and he has logged hundreds more annually in community service to Washington non-profits and undergraduate and graduate institutions. Through his work, he has been recognized for being instrumental in achieving historic outcomes in the post-incarceration space, and his work product, process and approach have been adopted by Washington organizations as a standard.
“With the grace of so many others along the way, I was shown the value of community,” said Paul Heer. What continues to drive me is the need to show respect for such sacrifice, love and care, and the need to pass on the goodwill of which I have been the beneficiary.”
About the King County Bar Association
King County was formed in December 22, 1852, and is now one of the most populous counties in the United States. The KCBA was founded in 1886 in response to attorney involvement in mob efforts to deport Chinese citizens, and it was incorporated in 1906, originally as the Seattle Bar Association. Today, the mission of the King County Bar Association is to promote and support a diverse and collegial membership; work with the judiciary to achieve excellence, equity, and accessibility in the administration of justice; and benefit the community through public service and engagement in public policy.
