Buying or developing major projects in the West is complicated—I can help.
How I represent clients at Schwabe
As a real estate and environmental attorney, I advise on large and complex energy, natural resources, and infrastructure projects in the West. Much of my work is in the rural industries, requiring a suite of sensitive approvals and often involving contaminated property or government-owned lands. Whether acquiring, entitling, or financing a project, I help garner momentum and provide guidance through the overlapping transactional, regulatory, and political risks unique to every project.
I grew up on an island in Southeast Alaska, where I developed my lifelong love of the outdoors. Before law school, I was an electrical engineer and then served as a combat engineer officer in the Marine Corps. An avid outdoorsman and mountaineer, I spend much of my time in the wilder parts of the West, usually with my three dogs, Copper, Cypress, and Chief, and often chasing upland birds or fresh powder, depending on the season.
I play where I work, and I am proud of the work I do to support the industries providing important economic and environmental support for local communities throughout the Western United States.
Experience
Transactional
- Assisted developer on site control and financing for ten-figure renewable energy project
- Advised mining company on eight-figure acquisition of a partially entitled lithium project
- Assisted developer in acquisition of nine-figure renewable energy portfolio
- Assisted owner on sale of eight-figure exploration stage mining project
- Assisted developer on acquisition and entitlement of eight-figure contaminated industrial property
- Advised lender on Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act risks on wind project as loan collateral
- Assisted developer with purchase of contaminated marina, including structuring deal to segregate risk associated with known contamination
- Assisted foreign hard rock mine operator on eight-figure cross-border alternative financing agreement
- Negotiated on behalf of a landowner for more than a million dollars in additional rent for a solar project
- Assisted timberland company on sale of several hundred thousand acres of timberland
Permitting
- Negotiated with lender on behalf of aggregate mine operator to secure eight-figure loan
- Advised on transmission development across federal lands
- Negotiated with many different state and federal agencies on a range of issues
- Prepared and obtained land use authorizations applications for projects involving Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, and Department of State Lansd
- Advised municipal corporation on ten-figure infrastructure project including public-private financing agreement negotiations and compliance with the National Environmental Protection Act
- Negotiated on behalf of operator with Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) regarding purported lapse of aggregate mine permit
- Assisted client in obtaining prospective purchaser agreement for contaminated industrial property that still had tens of millions of dollars in outstanding cleanup to complete
- Advised developer on land use concerns for battery energy storage system on fee land in Indian country
- Advised clients on compliance with federal and state environmental, including National Environmental Policy Act; Endangered Species Act; Migratory Bird Treaty Act; Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act; Clean Water Act; and Clean Air Act
- Advised developer on potential impacts of traditional cultural values under the National Historic Preservation Act for renewable development project
- Advised developer on land use permitting for development of renewable natural gas facilities in Washington and Oregon
- Advised developers on purchase of landfills and other brownfields for solar development
Education
- Harvard Law School, Juris Doctor degree (2021)
- University of Tennessee, Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, Sociology/Criminal Justice, cum laude (2012)
Admissions
- Oregon State Courts
- Utah State Courts
- Washington State Courts
Memberships
Harvard Cabin Advisory Board, Board Member (2020-present)
Oregon Solar and Storage Industries Association, Utility Subcommittee Member (2024-present)
Services
Community Activities
- Future Farmers of America, volunteer (2023-present)
- North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association, volunteer (2021-present)
- Casa Hogar Luz Alba orphanage, volunteer; Arequipa, Peru (2013)
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