Kelly Lawton-Abbott
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Kelly Lawton-Abbott is a Partner with SSM and leads the Washington market, serving as outside general counsel to technology companies navigating growth, innovation, and risk. She works closely with in-house legal and business leaders to deliver practical, business-minded legal advice that supports product development and business growth while protecting the business’s assets.
Kelly represents clients across the tech industry, with a particular focus on companies integrating Generative AI features and Large Language Models into enterprise and commercial offerings. She brings an entrepreneurial mindset to her legal strategies, helping organizations manage risk while continuing to innovate. As strategic product counsel, Kelly advises growth, late-stage, and public companies on the legal considerations of deploying Generative AI systems, addressing data privacy concerns, and maintaining regulatory compliance. She is known for translating complex legal requirements into clear, actionable guidance that business and product teams can actually use. Kelly enjoys working as an extension of her clients’ teams, partnering with in-house legal and cross-functional stakeholders to build a solid legal foundation that protects company assets while supporting long-term business growth. Beyond her client work, Kelly actively supports the Seattle startup and technology ecosystem. She has served as Co-City Leader for Founders Live Seattle and has hosted panels for Seattle Tech Week. A graduate of Seattle University School of Law, Kelly also serves as an Adjunct Professor teaching IP Licensing. Her teaching reflects the same practical approach she brings to her legal practice, grounding legal concepts in real-world contracting and product considerations. Kelly has been recognized as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” every year since 2020, an honor awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys under the age of 40. Born and raised in Southern California, Kelly now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and husky, Nymeria. Outside of work, she enjoys hikes with her dog, exploring art, and escaping to the mountains for a weekend getaway. EDUCATION
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
PRESS MENTIONS
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