Our attorneys have significant experience handling difficult and complex legal issues, including disputes involving the spotted owl, salmon and other endangered species, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, government contracts, and a host of public and private lands issues. Our success in this arena is due in great part to the high caliber of our attorneys, who bring to the table a thorough knowledge of the law coupled with a thorough knowledge of environmental and natural resources science. We also have a forester on staff to assist us in serving our clients’ needs. A few of the cases we have handled in this field include:

• Negotiation of a $25 million Forest Service land acquisition in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area on behalf of landowners whose land was downzoned as a result of the National Scenic Area designation; A $3 million verdict on behalf of SDS Lumber Company in the first inverse condemnation property takings case involving the northern spotted owl to go to trial; The largest settlement on record in the State of Washington against negligent parties involved in an oil spill off the Washington coast; and
• Representation of various counties in several western states in a variety of disputes over management of the National Forests.

Attorneys who practice in this area include:

• Mike Haglund
• Scott Horngren
• Mike Neff
• Shay Scott
• Julie Weis