Patrick W. Ryan

Patrick W. Ryan is a partner in the firm’s Environment, Energy & Resources practice. He has over 15 years of experience advising large and small public and private clients with innovative compliance counseling, strategic assessments, negotiation and dispute resolution efforts under federal and state environmental, land use and natural resources laws.

Patrick’s practice includes state forest practices, the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”), Migratory Bird Treaty Act (“MBTA”), the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, National Environmental Policy Act, State Environmental Policy Act, Dairy Nutrient Management Act, Growth Management Act, clean air and water laws, Indian law, local land use planning, and alternative and renewable energy project permitting and development.

His recent work includes advising developers in the ongoing development of the largest solar farm in the Pacific Northwest (located in Central Washington), serving as lead counsel in the planning, siting, development, environmental impacts analysis and permitting for the project.

Recent Engagements:

• Counsel to timber companies for a wide array of issues related to forestry and use of timberlands, including compliance with the Forest Practices Act, securing and defense of forest practices permits, water rights, discharge permits, access easements and rights-of-way, property and personal injury claims, recreational use immunities, export restrictions, timber conversions and development, timberland-related contracts (logging, supply, grazing, telecommunications and others), and conservation easements
• Representation of timber companies in the sales of over $200 million of approximately 475,000 acres of timberlands throughout Washington, Oregon, and California
• Counseling in the planning, siting, environmental impact and compliance, and financing matters for the development of renewable energy facilities
• Lead counsel for ongoing closure and environmental cleanup of sawmill in Tacoma
• Lead environmental lawyer in sale of two sawmills in Western Washington
• Compliance counseling, strategic assessments, commenting, and negotiations under ESA (including Sections 4, 7, 9, 10, & 11) and/or the Clean Water Act (including Sections 402 & 404)
• Drafting corporate polices and contracting guidelines for environmental compliance, including take avoidance under ESA and MBTA
• Lead counsel for 100,000 acre Multi-Species Candidate Conservation Agreement, the nation's first multi-species, multi-party candidate conservation agreement
• Counsel for variety of Single- and Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plans throughout U.S.
• Lead outside counsel for the State of Michigan in bringing their 180-tower public safety communication system into ESA and MBTA compliance
• General Counsel for Washington's largest dairy
• Provide ESA counsel for 300 acre Washington gravel mine
• Defense counsel for corporate clients in USFWS criminal investigations under ESA and/or MBTA
• Defense counsel in the internal investigation, self-disclosure, and defense in EPA Civil and criminal investigation brought under CWA for alleged fraudulent laboratory practices
• Defense counsel  in civil and criminal EPA investigation brought under RCRA, EPCRA and CWA for waste disposal, handling and transportation practices on the North Slope
• Land use attorney on variety of matters under local and state land use and environmental review laws in Washington