Overview
Joe has more than 25 years of experience in local, state and federal permitting, enforcement matters and water rights.
Joe puts his past experience working for city and county agencies and EPA Region 10 to work for his clients and delivers cost-effective legal services that produce results. He works closely with consultants, developers, lenders, real estate investors and agency officials to achieve the client’s objectives.
Joe is one of the leading water rights lawyers in Washington state, providing strategic advice, permitting and litigation support to water purveyors, public utility districts, ports, industry clients and private property owners. Joe represents clients in administrative appeals and in state and federal court on a wide range of water rights and water resource matters. He has served under two gubernatorial administrations as Regulatory Performance Advisor to the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Joe’s clients include: Costco Wholesale, Inc.; Safeway Inc.; Port of Tacoma; Pierce County; King County Department of Natural Resources; King County Facilities Management Division; Skagit PUD; Asotin PUD; City of Anacortes; ICON Materials; Goodman Real Estate; Vulcan, Inc.; Beacon Capital Partners; Swedish Hospital; Harborview Medical Center; Virginia Mason Hospital & Medical Center; Triad Development; Seattle Pacific University; Madison Marquette; City of Renton; Klickitat County; Skamania County; Spokane County; City of White Salmon; Wright Runstad & Co.; City of Yelm; Olympic Property Group; Griffin Capital Corporation; and Green Diamond Resources Company.
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association, Member
- American Water Resources Association, Member
- Governor’s Regulatory Performance Advisory Committee for the Department of Ecology Regulatory Reform Initiative, Member, 2002-2014
- King County Bar Association, Member
- Washington State Dept. of Ecology Water Resources Advisory Committee
Community Activities
- JDRF Greater Northwest
- Executive Committee, 2017-present
- President-Elect, 2019-present
Services
Admissions
- Washington, 2000
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, 2010
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
Education
- J.D., Seattle University School of Law (cum laude), 2000
- Master of Public Administration, University of Washington, 1990
- B.A., State University of New York-Binghamton, 1987
Honors & Recognition
- Rising Star, Washington Super Lawyers list, 2002-2010
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, Water Resources, Research Fellow
- Broome County Association Scholarship for Academic Achievement & Community Service, Recipient
- Dean’s Academic Scholarship, Seattle University School of Law, Recipient
