Forest Products

As the forest products industry continues to evolve, it is increasingly crucial for companies to manage their assets and operations with long-term strategies in mind.  Whether it concerns bioenergy, innovative new wood products, carbon credit markets, shifting to a real estate investment trust (REIT), developing a timber investment management organization (TIMO), pursuing strategies for higher and better uses (HBU) or other opportunities and challenges, Perkins Coie forest products industry lawyers work with leading forest product companies, investors in commercial forest lands and other industry players to develop solutions that best fit the needs of their businesses.

Traditional Forest Industry Concerns

Of course, we assist clients with traditional forest industry concerns such as permitting, environmental compliance and reporting. But we also work with our clients on optimizing value, and on other issues affecting operations, facility and forest land management, including exchanges, sales and acquisitions. Our multidisciplinary teams have worked on major transactions involving facilities, operations and hundreds of thousands of acres of forest lands in multiple states. Our work often includes the organization of investment partnerships and limited liability companies for these complex transactions.

Advice on Technical Issues

Our attorneys are well acquainted with technical issues affecting forestry, such as fish and wildlife conservation, geology, hydrology and cultural resource protection.  When necessary, we also represent clients in agency adjudication and litigation before state and federal courts.  We stay informed about the latest developments and evolving issues involving new opportunities, such as climate change, carbon sequestration, biomass energy and other regulatory, economic stimulus and incentive programs.  Because we track the industry trends, we can readily advise clients on how these changes impact their businesses.

Counsel on Government Policies and Regulations

We also work with elected officials, agency leaders and industry associations to promote improvements in government policies, regulations and laws affecting the forest products industry.  Unfortunately, some government activities go too far, so we have been asked to respond to, and have litigated successfully against, unlawful government restrictions and have helped to defend programs and regulations that strike an appropriate balance between the interests of regulators and the regulated industry.

Broad Range of Services

Because we are part of a full-service law firm, we assist clients in a wide range of matters that can impact their businesses, including labor, occupational health and safety, litigation, product liability claims, antitrust, securities, business transactions, intellectual property and information security.

Examples of forest industry representations include:

• Endangered Species Act policy, compliance and litigation;
• Biomass energy incentive programs and regulation;
• Product liability claims involving siding;
• Environmental remediation for old mill sites;
• Sales and acquisitions of forest land;
• Federal land exchanges;
• Habitat conservation plans;
• Federal land management litigation;
• Forest fire investigation and claims; and
• Collective bargaining agreements.