Ryan C. Thomas Counsel

Ryan Thomas provides practical, business-centered advice to support his client’s objectives. He helps navigate complex statutory and regulatory schemes in order to obtain and defend the approvals and agreements necessary to complete projects, while drafting and negotiating bespoke agreements with private and public parties. Ryan’s practice blends land use, real estate, project development, and energy law. He has experience in administrative law, and both state and federal court. Ryan understands the pressures and pace of the business community, providing guidance that is sensitive to his client’s business needs.

Land Use and Real Estate Development

Ryan’s land use and real estate development practice focuses on all aspects of project development, including preacquisition diligence, setting and implementing entitlement strategy, implementing public-private partnerships, complying with environmental laws and processes, and drafting and negotiating key agreements necessary to mitigate risk and implement business objectives. He works with the private sector and with school districts and regularly negotiates agreements with local municipalities. Ryan’s work often includes advising around Washington’s State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), the Growth Management Act (GMA), the Shoreline Management Act (SMA), the subdivision laws, and other statutory frameworks affecting the environment and development.

Energy Counsel

Ryan’s energy practice centers on the complex regulatory framework for energy companies. Ryan leverages his local and federal government knowledge to support strategic, efficient, and successful project development. He has experience advising companies with regulatory issues before the state public utility commissions and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and regularly negotiates utility franchise agreements that give energy companies the right to occupy and use rights-of-way for utility facilities.