What We Do


We work for clients, both private and public, who build projects: high-rise office and condominium towers, urban in-fill mixed-use projects, schools, mixed-income public housing projects, medical institutions, resorts, multi-use suburban centers, regional shopping centers, industrial facilities, adaptive reuses of historic buildings, and airports. 

We are efficient. We strive to do everything necessary for the success of the project – but not more. Our clients have talented teams of non-lawyer professionals – architects, planners and engineers – who can do much of the day-to-day entitlement work, work lawyers don’t need to do. We work with the team on project strategy and implementation, where we can add most value.

We litigate in land use matters, although we prefer to settle project-related disputes without resort to courtroom proceedings. Nevertheless, when litigation is unavoidable, we are resolute advocates for our clients’ projects in state and federal courts in Washington and are proud of our long record of success.

What We Don't Do

Uniquely among land use firms in this market, we do not represent cities or agencies that regulate development. We work for private and public entities building projects. That’s all. We have three reasons for this exclusive focus:

  • First, the legal conflicts between the regulators and the regulated are unavoidable and problematic.
  • Second, working both sides of the land use aisle means your own legal arguments will come back to bite both you and your client.
  • Third, if you are representing a development project but need to worry about offending the regulating city – because it is a current or prospective client – it is difficult to be the advocate you ought to be.

In working with land use regulators, we believe it is more important to be respected than to be liked. On behalf of our development clients, we debate issues with planning directors and city councils all the time. We just don’t have to worry about representing them the following week.

And lastly, we do not represent groups opposing development projects.

      Land Use Client Work


      Image of Space Needle

      Space Needle

      Seattle, WA

      Land Use - Landmarks & Historic

      Icon of the 1962 World's Fair, a Seattle landmark.

      Image of Seattle Great Wheel

      Seattle Great Wheel

      Seattle, WA

      Land use

      Permitting of new, iconic Ferris wheel on Seattle's waterfront.

      Image of Starbucks Headquarters

      Starbucks Headquarters

      Seattle, WA

      Land Use - Office

      Represented Starbucks in its HQ development.

      Image of Expedia

      Expedia

      Seattle, WA

      Land Use - Office

      Major Phased Development in Seattle permitting up to 1.9 million square feet of office.

      Image of SODO Arena

      SODO Arena

      Seattle, WA

      Land Use

      Development of SODO Arena project.

      Image of Northgate Mall

      Northgate Mall

      Seattle, WA

      Land Use - Mixed Use

      Major Phased Development in Seattle for new phased mixed-use neighborhood with office, retail, residential, and NHL practice facility.

      Image of Madison Center

      Madison Center

      Seattle, WA

      Land Use - Office

      Entitlements for 37-story, 750,000 s.f. office building.

      Image of 200 Occidental

      200 Occidental

      Seattle, WA

      Land Use - Landmarks & Historic

      Permitting for 220,000 s.f. LEED Platinum office building, including approvals from Pioneer Square Preservation Board.

      Image of 400 Fairview

      400 Fairview

      Seattle, WA

      Land Use - Office

      Entitlements for 330,000 s.f. office building in South Lake Union, including separate permitting for rooftop bar/restaurant.

      Image of 2/U

      2/U

      Seattle, WA

      Land Use - Office

      Entitlements for 650,000 s.f. office tower on 3/4 block in Downtown Seattle, included partial alley vacation unanimously approved by City Council.

      Image of 450 Alaskan

      450 Alaskan

      Seattle, WA

      Land Use - Landmarks & Historic

      Landmarks board approvals, appeals defense, and entitlements for retail/office project in Seattle’s Pioneer Square.

      Image of Seattle Times Blocks 1120 Denny/1120 John

      Seattle Times Blocks 1120 Denny/1120 John

      Seattle, WA

      Land Use - Mixed Use

      Entitlements for four-tower residential and office development in South Lake Union. Entitlements include District Energy system, multiple code amendments, and obtaining Certificate of Approval from Landmarks Preservation Board.

      Land Use Attorneys