Land Use Counsel (7+ years experience)

VAN NESS FELDMAN LLP•Seattle, WA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Van Ness Feldman is seeking a land use attorney with at least 7 years of relevant experience in the areas of land use, environmental, or municipal law to join our Environmental, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Real Estate team. The ideal candidate will be based in our Seattle office. Our robust land use team is well regarded for our successful representation of major private and public sector clients in permitting complex development projects. The team has significant experience interpreting and navigating state and local land use and environmental regulations and is highly sought-after for our unparalleled relationships with local, state, and federal agency officials and their attorneys, which allows us to quickly assess implications of proposed development. Providing the full-range of land use counsel—from conception through permitting to construction—our team regularly works with engineers, economists, scientists, planners, and elected officials to understand unique local circumstances in permitting all types of proposed development.

Requirements

Experience in the interpretation, compliance, and defense of actions under Washington State's planning and land use statutes including the Growth Management Act (GMA), Planning Enabling Act, Local Project Review Statute (ch. 36.70B RCW), and Shoreline Management Act (SMA), as well as other state regulations governing development, and accompanying environmental review pursuant to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA)
Experience representing clients in local and state administrative litigation proceedings, including before Hearing Examiners, City and County Councils, the Shorelines Hearings Board, Pollution Control Hearings Board, Growth Management Hearings Board and in related judicial appeals, including appeals pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act and the Land Use Petition Act.
Graduated with a JD or LLM from an ABA-accredited law school
Active admission or eligibility for admission in the jurisdiction in which the candidate will practice
7+ of experience

Nice To Haves

Multiple years of experience first-chairing land use, environmental, or related matters in the private or public sector
Strong organizational and time management skills, with attention to detail and accuracy
Excellent research, drafting, and writing skills, and ability to produce high-quality work on tight timelines
Excellent oral communication skills including the ability to communicate clearly, directly, and practically with clients and colleagues
Ability to manage matters independently and proactively drive work forward
Ability to quickly learn new issues and apply that understanding in practice

Responsibilities

Work alongside senior members of our land use team or lead our land use associates or planners on a broad range of matters for the firm’s long standing clients in the energy, public utility, municipal, commercial, and residential sectors.
Land use litigation, due diligence, securing and defending entitlements, and strategic counsel.