Pacifica Law Group is delighted to announce that Christopher Sanders is joining the staff of King County Executive Girmay Zahilay as General Counsel. As a member of Executive Zahilay’s Leadership Team, Sanders will advise the Executive, King County Executive Office, and other groups within the executive branch on legal matters, litigation, and legal issues pertaining to county business, among other duties.
The appointment carries forward Sanders’ commitment to public service and community leadership. Prior to joining Pacifica in 2022 as a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group, he worked as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Washington, and previously served as a public defender in King and Pierce Counties. He serves currently on the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission, and previously chaired the Washington State Bar Association Disciplinary Board. Sanders is a past-president of the Loren Miller Bar Association, and a 2025 recipient of the Puget Sound Business Journal’s “40 under 40” award.
At Pacifica, Sanders has worked on behalf of public and nonprofit clients to ensure equal access to justice for indigent defendants in Washington, defend voter-approved gun safety measures from legal challenges, protect emergency access to abortions, and defend Washington State agencies from litigation arising from COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
“Christopher is a talented attorney with a deeply held belief in helping others through his work and community leadership,” said Pacifica Managing Partner Denise Stiffarm. “All of us at Pacifica are proud of Christopher, and we are excited for him to assume this new role with Executive Zahilay serving the people of King County.”
With this appointment, Sanders joins a legacy of Pacifica attorneys entering public service. Nick Brown is currently the Attorney General of Washington; Kymberly Evanson is a judge in the U.S. Federal District Court for the Western District of Washington; Taki Flevaris is a King County Superior Court judge; Greg Wong is Seattle’s Deputy Mayor of External Relations; and current Pacifica partner Matthew J. Segal previously served as a King County Superior Court judge.
