About

McKean Evans is an insurance and ERISA lawyer and outdoor enthusiast.  McKean practices law at the firm Ruiz & Smart, PLLC in downtown Seattle.

McKean grew up in Maine, then attended law school and became a lawyer in Pittsburgh, PA, where he practiced for many years.  He worked for a judge right out of law school, which was a great experience because it got him out of the “ivory tower” and let him see firsthand how the law impacts actual human beings in real life.  McKean saw a lot of people suffer because they lacked the time, resources or knowledge to fight the system, but also saw a lot of injustices and problems fixed by good lawyers. Afterwards, McKean practiced in a Pittsburgh law firm where he learned, among other things, how to litigate and resolve insurance and ERISA disputes.

While living in Pittsburgh, McKean met his now-wife.  She grew up in the Pacific Northwest and always wanted to return here.  After a few visits to the PNW (warm winters! cool summers! mountains! ocean! desert! breweries!) relocating here was an easy sell.  McKean found a Seattle firm where he could continue practicing insurance and ERISA law, threw his stuff in the back of his car and drove across the country to the Northwest.