Justin Avellar

Justin Avellar is the founder and owner of Avellar Law, where he helps entrepreneurs and nonprofits in the greater Seattle area with practical, business-minded legal advice. Clients describe him as conscientious and easy to work with. One reviewer on ContractsCounsel noted that he took the extra time to make sure all of their questions were answered. At Launch, Justin works on direct client work and government-funded TA programs.

Justin grew up in New England, outside of New York City, and earned his bachelor's degree in history, cum laude, at Tulane University in New Orleans. He says his time there brought lifelong friendships and eye-opening experiences with the justice system, poverty, and inequality. He then moved to Chicago for his law degree at the University of Chicago, which US News ranked the #3 law school in the country in 2024. During his second and third years, he spent a large part of his time interning at the university's Abrams Environmental Law Clinic, where he learned how to work with regulators and gained a grounding in environmental law.

After graduation, Justin and his wife moved to New York City, where he practiced at Sidley Austin LLP, ranked #11 among U.S. law firms by Vault. He worked in commercial litigation, white collar defense, and securities enforcement for some of the world's largest financial institutions. That work gave him practical skills and a close understanding of risk mitigation and securities rules, which he still draws on in his transactional practice. When the pandemic hit, he and his wife, who is a Pacific Northwest native, decided the region suited them better. Justin wanted to make a difference locally, which would have been harder at a larger firm, so he opened his own practice.

Today, Justin focuses on transactional work, helping people with a vision turn it into an organization that runs well. He writes contracts, drafts financing and lending documents, applies for tax exempt status, negotiates employment agreements, and advises on business formation, corporate governance, trademarks, and the purchase or sale of businesses. He has left disputes behind, though he says that background makes him a better transactional lawyer.

Outside of work, Justin is board president of Seattle REconomy, the nonprofit that runs the NE Seattle and Shoreline tool libraries. He enjoys gardening, baking bread, and spending time outdoors with his spouse and two dogs.