T.C. has over 20 years' experience representing state and local governmental agencies in Washington and Arizona. Her practice focuses on environmental law, land use, and water law, with an emphasis on policy. With expertise working with program staff and appointed and elected leaders, T.C. is able to facilitate a wide range of discussions with and among governmental agencies. She has broad experience in natural resource policy, the operation of large organizations, and associated laws and regulations as well as the framework within which governmental organizations and private partnerships must make decisions for long-term planning and for immediate requests of public and private users.

Prior to joining GordonDerr, T.C. was Senior Counsel for the Attorney General's Office-University of Washington Division. There, she represented the University in the areas of environmental, land use, real estate, and administrative law. As an AAG, T.C. also represented the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington Department of Ecology in state and federal trial and appellate courts. In addition to her AG experience, T.C. served as Chief Counsel to the Arizona Department of Water Resources and as a Special Assistant to the Governor (WA) regarding federal water resource legislation for the Yakima River basin.

Representative Experience

  • Provides land use and environmental permitting to several municipal, county, and state governments, and industrial, residential, and mixed-use development companies for projects throughout the State of Washington, with a focus on State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and Climate Change, including participation in the State SEPA Implementation Working Group which advises the State Climate Action Team.
  • General Counsel for Cascade Water Alliance. Cascade is a nonprofit corporation composed of municipal corporations and special-purpose municipal corporations within an Interlocal Agreement for the purpose of its Members working together to plan, develop, and operate a water supply system and regional assets that will meet Cascade's Members' current and future drinking water needs.
  • General Counsel for Building Changes. Building Changes is a nonprofit corporation working to end homelessness.
  • Represented the University of Washington in the areas of environmental law (SEPA, NEPA, Sound Transit, water quality, storm water, hazardous waste management and cleanup, wetlands and shoreline management, landfill closure, and clean air permitting); land use (planning and development of Tacoma, Seattle, and Bothell campuses, and off-campus research facilities); real estate (Metropolitan Tract and Safeco Tower properties); health and safety laws; export control regulation; and open public meetings including lead representation of the Henry Art Gallery, the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, and KUOW and KEXP.
  • As King County Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, Transit and Water Quality Section, provided legal counsel to the Department of Natural Resources in legal matters including environmental issues related to planning, construction and operation of waste water treatment plants, water supply issues, electrical utility regulation, bio-solids regulation, and SEPA.
  • Served as Chief Counsel to the Arizona Department of Water Resources, providing legal counsel to the Director and supervising the Department's legal staff of eight attorneys in all legal matters, including federal and state court litigation, administrative review matters, interstate negotiations, Indian water rights negotiations, endangered species act issues, grants programs, contracting, state and federal legislation, and personnel matters. Served in policy management position in supervising three work units that planned for and regulated water use; oversaw the design and execution of studies, programs and projects to implement water resource management plans; and oversaw long-range planning activities, conservation assistance, water quality, and recharge programs.
  • As Special Assistant to the Governor, Washington State, negotiated federal water resource legislation with Congressional delegation, Indian tribes, agricultural interests, environmental groups, and federal agencies in the Yakima River Basin; and worked with media, local governmental entities, state legislature and general public.
  • Represented Washington Department of Fisheries and Department of Wildlife (now a combined department) in state and federal trial and appellate courts, in administrative hearings, and in legislative, rule-making and enforcement matters. Areas of concentration were SEPA, NEPA, Shoreline Management Act, endangered species issues, marine mammal protection issues, wildlife and fisheries habitat protection, and Indian law issues.
  • Represented Washington Department of Ecology in state and federal trial and appellate courts, in administrative hearings, and in negotiations. Areas of concentration were federal pesticide laws (FIFRA), federal Superfund and hazardous waste laws (CERCLA, MTCA, and RCRA), and the state and federal Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act.

Education

     Law Clerk, Justice Robert Brachtenbach, Washington State Supreme Court, 1984-1985
     Gonzaga University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude,
     1984
     Whitman College, B.A., Biology, 1978

Awards & Recognition

     "Best Lawyer," The Best Lawyers in America, 2010
     View Ridge Community Council Leadership Award, 2001
     Toll Fellow, Council of State Governments, 1993
     Arizona Department of Water Resources, Supervisor of the Year, 1990

Professional & Community Involvement

     King County Bar Association
     Washington State Bar Association
          Environmental & Land Use Section Board, 2003-2004
     Member, UW Botanic Gardens Directors Guild
     Attorney General Formal Opinion Committee, 2004 to 2007
     Mediator Certificate, November 2006
     Salish Sea Expeditions, Board of Directors, 2005 to present

Articles, Publications & Lectures

  • Conservation Tools: An Evaluation and Comparison of the Use of Certain Land Preservation Mechanisms, prepared for the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office pursuant to SHB 1957 (2009)
  • Environmental, Land Use & Permitting Issues for Vineyards and Wineries, Wine Distribution Law, Law Seminars International (LSI), Quincy, WA, August 3-4, 2009
  • Ethical Issues for Lawyers in Water Rights Litigation and Transactions, Washington Water Law 2009, LSI, Seattle, June 4-5, 2009
  • Leveraging SEPA to Promote Green-Friendly Development, SEPA & NEPA, LSI, Seattle, January 14, 2009
  • Wet Growth: Exploring the Intersection Between Growth Management Law and Water, Growth Management Act 2008, LSI, Seattle, December 15 – 16
  • Environmental & Land Use Law: What You Need to Know for 2009, Panelist, King County Bar Association, Seattle, December 10, 2008
  • Environmental, Land Use and Permitting Issues for Vineyards and Wineries, Winery & Wine Distribution Conference; LSI, Quincy, WA, August 3-5, 2008
  • Ethics for Land Use, Land Use In Washington; LSI, Seattle, April 2008
  • Co-Chair, Land Use in Southwestern Washington; LSI, February 2008, Vancouver, WA
  • Navigating the Maze: A Checklist Approach to Land Use and Environmental Law, State Environmental Policy Act; WSBA, Seattle, October 2007,
  • Using State and Local Strategies for Viticulture Siting and Development, Winery & Wine Distribution Law; LSI, Quincy, WA, August 2007
  • Water: The Interface Between Water Supply and Land Use, Land Use in Eastern Washington; LSI, July 2007