Biography

Eric is a leading energy and natural resources attorney in the Pacific Northwest.

He assists renewable and traditional energy companies, as well as major energy consumers, to navigate the complex legal and regulatory systems governing the nation’s energy industry. With more than 30 years of experience, Eric has successfully represented clients in litigation and regulatory matters, ranging from the U.S. Supreme Court to proceedings before federal and state agencies. Before entering private practice, Eric served as Assistant General Counsel at Snohomish County (WA) Public Utility District, one of the largest publicly-owned utilities in the U.S., and as a trial attorney at the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Eric’s litigation experience includes successfully representing Snohomish County Public Utility District in a series of lawsuits arising from the Enron crisis involving action at every level of the federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as administrative litigation resulting in an order requiring Enron to disgorge more than $1 billion. He has also litigated dozens of matters in the federal and state courts. These include federal court challenges to the landmark federal orders restructuring regulation of the electricity, natural gas, and oil pipeline industries in the U.S. and critical regulatory and Constitutional issues in the Washington courts, including several matters before the Washington Supreme Court.

Eric guides clients through transactions involving renewable and traditional energy facilities, energy and derivatives trades, environmental concerns, engineering and construction services, early-stage and traditional financing, risk management, and government grants and tax incentives. He assists clients with energy and infrastructure transactions throughout Washington, including wind generation, hydroelectric, and renewable energy projects as well as the contracts governing sales of power and transmission from the Northwest’s huge federal hydroelectric and transmission systems. He has put together transactions involving financing, engineering services, construction of buildings and similar facilities, and energy and commodity trades.

Eric also assisted with landmark litigation in both the state and federal courts as well as successfully litigated claims involving liability for hazardous waste contamination and assisted developers to reclaim and redevelop brownfields sites.

Education

  • University of Kansas  (B.S., with High Honors, 1984)
    • Biology
  • Stanford University  (J.D., with Honors, 1987)
    • Order of the Coif
    • Stanford Law Review, Member
    • Stanford Environmental Law Society, President and Editor
    • Stanford Public Interest Law Foundation, Vice President
    • Olaus & Adolph Murie Award for Writing in Environmental Law

Bar Admissions

  • Washington
  • Idaho
  • District of Columbia

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • U.S. Court of Appeals - D.C. Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals - First Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals - Second Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals - Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court – Western District of Washington
  • U.S. District Court - Idaho

Professional Affiliations

  • Northwest Environmental Business Council, Member
  • Energy Bar Association, Member
  • Board of Directors, NatureBridge (Olympic National Park Campus)
  • Seattle Rotary No. 4, Sustainability Committee

Honors & Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America©, a Best Lawyers® publication, recognition in Environmental Law (2018-2024)
  • Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, Washington Super Lawyer (2014-2023)
  • Everett (WA) Area Chamber of Commerce, Employee of the Year (2005)
  • American Public Power Association, James E. Donovan Award for Individual Achievement (2005)
  • American Public Power Association, Recognition for Achievement in Legal Field (2004)
  • Public Power Council Special Award (2004)