GordonDerr LLP is a preeminent Pacific Northwest law firm concentrating in Real Estate, Land Use, Environmental, Water Law, and Civil Litigation.  An intentional focus on both the pricate and public sectors provides a unique perspective that benefits a diverse clientele throughout the Region.  Land Matters.
  • Spotlight

    Congressman Norm Dicks Joins Van Ness Feldman as Senior Policy Counsel

    Congressman Dicks has joined VNF as Senior Policy Counsel and will apply his years in public service to his new role, consulting with clients on a wide range of public policy, strategic, and regulatory issues, particularly those in the environmental sector. He will work in both the DC and Seattle offices of the firm.

     

    "Van Ness Feldman has an outstanding reputation as one of the premier law firms focused on the nation's energy, environment, natural resources, and public policy matters. Like me, the firm has deep roots in both DC and the Pacific Northwest. The culture is one of collaboration among firm professionals and with clients," said Dicks. "I look forward to joining a team of top-notch professionals committed to providing solutions to those doing business in these industries."

     

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  • Spotlight

    Federal Advisory Committee Releases Draft Climate Assessment Report for Public Review

     

    The National Climate Assessment and Development Advisory Committee (NCADAC), of which VNFGD partner TC Richmond serves as Vice Chair, has concluded that the evidence for a changing climate has strengthened considerably since the last National Climate Assessment report written in 2009. Following extensive review by the National Academies of Sciences and by the public, this newly released report  will be revised by the NCADAC and, after additional review, will then be submitted to the Federal Government for consideration. 

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  • Spotlight

    Van Ness Feldman a "Best Law Firm" in Multiple Categories in US News & World Report and Best Lawyers 2013 Rankings

    Washington, DC &  Seattle, WA – Van Ness Feldman is pleased to announce the firm has again been named a "Best Law Firm" in Energy, Environment, Government Relations, Land-Use & Zoning, Litigation (environmental), Native American, Natural Resources, Real Estate and Water Law in rankings released this month by US News & World Report and Best Lawyers..

    Firm Chairman Richard Agnew commenting on the rankings said, "It is an honor to have the collective work of our professionals in the firm's core practice areas recognized among the best in the country by the clients we serve and the firm's peers in the legal industry."

    The National First-Tier Rankings featuring Van Ness Feldman as a Top Tier Natural Resources law firm will be included in US News & World Report's Money issue available in print Tuesday, November 20, 2012.  

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  • Spotlight

    13 VNFGD Members listed as 2013 Best Lawyers, Firm receives 9 First-Tier Practice Area Rankings, Jay Derr receives "Seattle Lawyer of the Year-Land Use/Zoning"


    Van Ness Feldman GordonDerr is pleased to announce that this year thirteen lawyers from the Seattle office have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2013 (Copyright 2012 by Woodward/White, Inc). Managing Member, Jay Derr, received "Seattle Lawyer of the Year-Land Use/Zoning." In addition, the Seattle office received nine Seattle First-Tier Rankings in the areas of Environmental Law , Land Use & Zoning Law, Litigation – Environmental, Litigation - Land Use & Zoning, Litigation - Real Estate, Real Estate Law, Energy Law, Native American Law, & Natural Resources Law. Firm-wide honors include a National First-Tier Ranking in Natural Resources Law and Washington D.C. First-Tier Rankings in the areas of Energy Law, Environmental Law, Government Relations Practice, Litigation – Environmental, & Natural Resources Law. 

     

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  • Spotlight

    We've Moved!

    New Location,
    Expanded Practice Areas,
    and Enhanced Team

    Same Outstanding Client Service,
    Excellent Reputation, and
    Great View of Elliott Bay

    Effective July 1, 2012, Van Ness Feldman GordonDerr's
    new address is:
    Millennium Tower
    719 Second Avenue, Suite 1150
    Seattle, WA 98104
    206-623-9372 phone
    206-623-4986 fax

    www.vnfgd.com

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  • Spotlight

    Washington Supreme Court Victory!

    On December 15, 2011, the Washington Supreme Court affirmed the right of GordonDerr's client, JZ Knight, to challenge five large residential subdivisions in the City of Yelm based on legally erroneous conditions of approval regarding the availability of water to serve the proposed developments. The Supreme Court agreed that Knight had established that the City's preliminary plat approvals were likely to prejudice her senior water rights.

    The Court not only agreed that Knight had the right to challenge the City of Yelm's approval of these subdivisions, it agreed that the City had failed to meet the water availability requirements of state law.

    The Court cited evidence presented by Knight's consultants and the Department of Ecology that Yelm had been exceeding its water rights since 2001 and described the City's evidence of water supply for these subdivisions as "conjectural."

    The Court reinstated the decision of Thurston County Superior Court Judge Chris Wickham which reversed the City's approval of the five plats and remanded the matter to the City with directions to modify the subdivision approvals to conform to the water availability requirements of state law.

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