Lindsay Thane helps individuals and businesses of all sizes throughout the Northwest resolve disputes and navigate permitting processes through strategic and substantive counsel on water rights, natural resource, and environmental issues. Lindsay’s environmental compliance and due diligence work, coupled with her experience litigating disputes and negotiating solutions with regulatory agencies, helps her identify the distinctions that are critical to reaching her clients’ goals.

During law school, Lindsay was an extern for Magistrate Judge Jeremiah Lynch of the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana. Lindsay also served as an intern with the Solicitor’s Office for the Department of the Interior in Portland, Oregon, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance in Washington, D.C., and for former Montana Senator Max Baucus in Washington, D.C.

Experience

• Achieved a favorable jury verdict in a negligence and contract dispute involving a failure ‎to deliver irrigation water that caused crop losses.‎
• Advised a private water company in a sale to a large utility company, including ‎conducting a water rights due diligence analysis, integrating findings into the purchase ‎and sale agreement, and providing continued advice on water right compliance.‎
• Assisted a large U.S. coal producer in multi-state acquisition of coal assets by navigating ‎state and federal environmental permitting requirements.‎
• Assisted applicants in obtaining water rights (storage, groundwater, surface water), ‎transfers, permit amendments, extensions, and groundwater modifications from the ‎Oregon Water Resources Department.‎
• Represented companies in resolving enforcement actions from the Oregon Department of ‎Environmental Quality and negotiating a regulatory path for continued operations.‎

Memberships

• Oregon State Bar, Environmental & Natural Resources Law Section, Member
• Montana State Bar, Water Law Section, Member

Awards

• American Bar Association (ABA) National Negotiation Competition, semi-finalist (2016), competitor (2015‎)
• ABA Regional Negotiation Competition, champion (2014, 2015‎)
• University of Oregon Libraries’ Undergraduate Thesis Research Award (2014)

News

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

Publications

Brooks v. Byler, ENR Case Notes, Vol. 40, Oregon State Bar Environmental & Natural Resources Law Section, July 2020

Contributing Author, Water Resources Chapter, “Environment, Energy and Resources Law—The Year in Review,” American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources, 2016 and 2018

“Public Water District Bylaws: Untangling the Rules,” Water Gram, Idaho Rural Water Association, December 2018

“Waters of the United States: Churning with No Certainty Yet,” Water Gram, Idaho Rural Water Association, June 2018

National Wildlife Foundation v. National Marine Fisheries Service, ENR Case Notes, Vol. 29, Oregon State Bar Environmental & Natural Resources Law Section, April 2017

Speaker, “Public Meetings Laws & Procedures,” Oregon Association of Water Utilities, Seaside and Sunriver, Oregon, August 2017 and March 2018

Community Activities

• Oregon State Bar Environmental & Natural Resources Section, Executive Committee (2022–present)
• Women in Environment Board Member (2019-present)
• Women in Environment Portland Mentoring Committee Chair (2019-present); member (2018-present)

Services