Connie Sue M. Martin
Shareholder
206-407-1556 Direct
csmartin@schwabe.com
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Formatted Resume
Professional Experience
Connie Sue Martin has fifteen years of environmental law experience. Her practice focuses on environmental and natural resource litigation. She has special expertise in matters involving Indian tribes, especially resource protection and natural resource damages claims, and is regarded as one of the leading practitioners of environmental Indian law in Washington.
In the environmental aspect of her practice, Ms. Martin has represented clients in dozens of environmental matters, including citizen suits under CERCLA and the Clean Water Act, CERCLA and MTCA contribution and cost recovery cases, and challenges to land use permitting decisions and water rights. In addition to litigation, Connie Sue has also advised clients regarding compliance with state and federal environmental laws and regulations and regulatory compliance and enforcement; has assisted construction companies and a renewable energy developer regarding permitting and development on Indian reservations; has advised start-up biofuels companies regarding compliance with state and federal environmental laws; has performed environmental due diligence for numerous transactions involving both publicly- and privately-held companies; and has assisted developers in all aspects of brownfield redevelopment.
In her Indian law practice, Ms. Martin has assisted tribes in addressing solid and hazardous waste cleanup, permitting and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes, coordination and consultation with state and federal regulatory agencies, and issues related to international trans-boundary pollution. She has drafted and enforced tribal superfund ordinances for two tribes, including the development of cleanup standards more protective than federal or similar state laws in order to be protective of tribal diets and traditional activities. Connie Sue has assisted tribal governments in managing public notice and comment on controversial projects, and prepared public comment on proposed action by federal agencies. In 2006, she worked with the National Tribal Environmental Council's Superfund Working Group to develop policies for enhancing the role of tribes in superfund and in managing environmental programs on Indian reservations, and has assisted tribal governments in setting policy relating to the management of waste cleanup and disposal in areas where traditional practices are carried out. Finally, Ms. Martin represents tribes in complex civil litigation matters.
Ms. Martin writes and speaks frequently on environmental and Indian law issue and is a frequent guest lecturer at the University of Washington School of Law and Seattle University School of Law, and has been an adjunct professor at the University of Washington and Antioch University.
Professional & Community Activities
Ms. Martin is a member of the American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, where she chairs its Superfund and Natural Resource Damages Litigation Committee. She is also a member of the Washington State Bar and its Environmental and Indian Law Sections; the King County Bar Association and its Environmental Section; and the Oregon State Bar and its Environment and Natural Resources and Indian Law Sections.
Honors and Awards
AV® Preeminent, Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Best Lawyers in America - Environmental Law (2010-2011), Environmental Litigation (2011)
Seattle Metropolitan Magazine Top Lawyer - Environmental Law (2010)
Washington Law and Politics Super Lawyer - Environmental Law (2011) Admitted to Practice
Washington State Courts
Oregon State Courts
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
Federal Court of Claims
D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals
U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Education
Seattle University School of Law, Juris Doctor degree, summa cum laude (1996)
University of Hawaii at Manoa, Master of Arts degree (1993)
Rutgers University Institute of Animal Behavior, Graduate Fellow (1987-1988)
Ohio State University, Bachelor of Science degree (1987)
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