Gretchen Suzanne Obrist
Keller Rohrback L.L.P. • Seattle, WA
Class ActionPersonal Injury
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Contact
Email
gobrist@kellerrohrback.com
Phone
(323) 613-2790
Address
Seattle, WA, US
Professional
About
Gretchen Suzanne Obrist is a seasoned attorney based in Seattle, WA, with over two decades of experience in complex litigation, focusing on class action, employee benefits, and litigation. As a member of Keller Rohrback’s nationally recognized Complex Litigation Group, Gretchen is dedicated to advocating for clients facing intricate and high-stakes legal challenges. Gretchen specializes in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) cases, particularly fiduciary breach and prohibited transaction claims. Her groundbreaking work has played a pivotal role in addressing excessive fees in the retirement savings industry, securing justice for plan participants who have encountered pension reductions and misleading practices. Notably, she achieved a significant victory in the Eighth Circuit in Braden v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., reversing a dismissal in an excessive fee case and contributing to landmark challenges against major companies like Washington Mutual and JPMorgan. Her extensive legal expertise also encompasses consumer protection, financial fraud claims, civil rights issues, and qui tam relator representation. Gretchen has been instrumental in class action lawsuits related to the mortgage securities collapse, demonstrating her commitment to holding entities accountable for their actions. Gretchen earned her Juris Doctor with High Distinction from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 2005, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree with distinction from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. An active member of the legal community, she serves as the Plaintiff Co-Chair of the ABA Employee Benefits Committee’s Fiduciary Responsibility Subcommittee and has published numerous articles while frequently speaking at industry conferences.
Credentials
Education
2005 University of Nebraska College of Law JD - Juris Doctor, With High Distinction, Order of the Coif 1999 University of Nebraska, Lincoln BS - Bachelor of Science, With Distinction, UNL Honors Program
Languages
English
Recognition & Involvement
Awards
2010 Rising Star, Washington Super Lawyers 2005 Outstanding Law Student Award, National Association of Women Lawyers 2004 Theodore C. Sorensen Fellow (2004–2005), Theodore C. Sorensen / University of Nebraska College of Law 2004 Robert G. Simmons Law Practice Award (first place), University of Nebraska College of Law
Publications
2016 Pension & Benefits Blog, Bloomberg BNA “Class Action Suits on Plan Fees Steam Ahead 2014 Pension & Benefits Daily (Bloomberg BNA) Contributer, Attorneys Reflect on 40 Years of ERISA's Biggest Court Rulings" 2014 Pension & Benefits Daily (Bloomberg BNA) Erin M. Riley and Gretchen S. Obrist, The Impact of Fifth Third Bancorp v. Dudenhoeffer: Finally, a Court Gets it Right! 2013 ERISA Litigation Tracker - Litigator Q&A, The Bureau of National Affairs (BNA) ‘Class of Plans’ Actions Could Be Next Wave of ERISA Litigation, Gretchen Obrist Says 2013 Washington Appleseed Contributing editor and writer for the Foreclosure Manual for Judges: A Reference Guide to Foreclosure Law in Washington State
Associations
2011 - Present U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington Admitted to Practice 2011 - Present U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Admitted to Practice 2011 - Present U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Admitted to Practice 2010 - Present The William L. Dwyer American Inn of Court Member 2010 - Present U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Admitted to Practice
Speaking
2018 ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law Prescription Drug Program Trends and Litigation 2017 Western Pension & Benefits Council Spring Seminar Litigation Issues in Health and Retirement Plans: a Plantiff’s Class Action Attorney’s Perspective 2017 National Institute on ERISA Litigation Fiduciary Litigation Update 2016 ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee Will Class Actions Live After This Supreme Court Term? 2014 Western Pension & Benefits Council, 2014 Spring Seminar, Seattle, WA What’s New in Fiduciary Litigation?
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Updated: May 25, 2026