Jesse advises clients from individuals to FORTUNE^®500 companies on federal and state litigation, alternative dispute resolution, and regulatory compliance with a focus on endangered and protected species.

Jesse has years of broad litigation experience that he now applies to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other federal and state environmental laws. He has also advised clients in complex regulatory matters, including ESA compliance, Clean Water Act permitting, and carbon capture and sequestration.

Examples of Jesse’s experience include:

• Advising tire manufacturers and distributors in a novel ESA citizen suit alleging unauthorized take of 24 salmonid species across the western U.S.
• Serving as the lead associate for ESA and other regulatory compliance related to a proposed gravel mine in Washington.
• Assisting with a comprehensive evaluation of national renewable energy permitting to provide the Washington Department of Commerce with recommendations and improvements to its permitting regime.
• Litigating National Environmental Policy Act regulations on behalf of multiple states.

Jesse was a published biologist prior to law school. He studied the effects of insecticides on wetland ecosystems and the effects of mineral transport on amphibian populations. He applied these skills working for the United States Geological Survey and as a researcher at Purdue University.

He now bridges the gap between the scientific and legal communities using his subject matter fluency in each. Jesse also gained vocational experience doing environmental work clerking for the Department of Energy’s Bonneville Power Administration; the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resource Division, Environmental Section; the non-profit Western Resources Legal Center; and a major petroleum company.

Prior to entering private practice, Jesse clerked for the Honorable David S. Mann of the Washington State Court of Appeals, Division I. Jesse drafted bench memoranda and judicial opinions for more than 50 cases ranging from criminal convictions to complex civil litigation. Afterwards, he worked as part of a dynamic practice group of civil litigators. His broad practice included admiralty, transportation, personal injury, products liability, administrative challenges, and contract disputes.

Pro bono work continues to be an important part of Jesse’s practice. Jesse spearheads the firm’s involvement with the Latina/o Bar Association of Washington (LBAW), which has included working with LBAW’s leadership to establish a program and resources for training law clinic volunteers.

Jesse regularly lectures college students about environmental law. He has been invited to present at the University of Wisconsin, SUNY Binghamton in New York, New Mexico State University, and University of Texas El Paso.

Outside of the office, Jesse is an avid backpacker and outdoor enthusiast. He also enjoys cooking, especially southern recipes that remind him of home in the Appalachian Mountains.