Sensei Thomas Burke

Tom Burke has been an attorney for over 30 years. His practice focuses on civil litigation and appellate work, with an emphasis on employment law, personal injury, and real estate disputes. Tom's practice has spanned the globe, including successfully representing clients in the Supreme Court of Alaska and the International Court of Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland. Tom Burke graduated from the University of Washington in 1972, then started the MBA program but shifted to law school when the University of Puget Sound Law School opened its doors. He graduated in 1975 and was admitted to the Washington State Bar in 1976.

Tom has been deeply involved in the development of Karate as an international Olympic-level sport. He has served as the Vice Chair, Pan American Sports Council, for the United States Olympic Committee, and is a past President of the USA National Karate-do Federation, the National Governing Body for the sport of Karate in the United States. He has also been the General Counsel for the World Karate Federation, the International Federation for the sport of Karate; General Counsel, Pan American Karate Federation, the Continental Union for the sport of Karate in the Americas; and General Counsel, USA National Karate-do Federation, the National Governing Body for the sport of Karate in the United States. Tom was also the Team Leader for the United States National Karate Team in the 2004 Pan American Games.

Tom has devoted a great deal of his time to pro bono activities, including advising non-profit organizations and serving as general counsel for them. He has a long standing commitment to the well-being of abused and neglected children, and was awarded the Soukup Award by the King County Superior Court for outstanding litigation services to dependent children. He is the past Board Chair for the Washington State Court Appointed Special Advocate Association, having served three terms on their Board of Directors.