Lori has more than 30 years of experience delivering winning litigation and negotiation strategies to her clients. She is recognized as one of the nation’s top environmental lawyers and has defended clients against over 80 citizen-suit or agency enforcement actions.

Lori's experience includes defending her clients in cases involving some of the most complex water quality issues in the country. Lori has extensive experience with the Clean Water Act, RCRA, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Air Act, EPCRA, and the Endangered Species Act.

She is consistently recognized by her clients and peers, including Chambers USA, where she is described as “a tenacious advocate for her clients. She is sought out for her substantial experience in CWA and water quality matters, her great reputation and her specialized knowledge base.” Additionally, Lori is recognized by The Best Lawyers in America^© in three separate categories: Environmental Law, Litigation-Environmental and Natural Resources Law, with one client commenting, “her knowledge of Environmental Law is exemplary. Not only does she know the laws, but she is an excellent strategist. She communicates with her non-lawyer clients very effectively.”

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association
  • Environmental and Litigation Sections
• Association of Washington Business Water Quality Committee, Member
• National Association of Clean Water Agencies
• Northwest Environmental Business Council
• Washington State Bar Association
  • Environmental, Land Use and Litigation Sections
• Washington Women Lawyers, Member

Community Activities

• Corporate Council for the Arts, Associate Alumni
• Water Environment Federation

Experience

Representative Work: Cases

• Washington Trout v. McCain Foods, Inc., 45 F.3d 1351 (9th Cir. 1995) (Clean Water Act citizen-suit dismissed on summary judgment; affirmed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals)
• National Wildlife Federation v. FEMA, et al., C11-2044-RSM, W.D. Wash. 2011 (successful representation of defendant-intervenor resulting in dismissal of Endangered Species Act case)
• West v. Stephen L. Johnson, et al., 2009 WL 2477646 (Clean Water Act citizen-suit dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction)
• Rosemere Neighborhood v. City of Vancouver, 2005 WL 2659665, W.D. Wash. 2005 (Clean Water Act citizen-suit dismissed on summary judgment)
• CARE v. DeRuyter Brothers Dairy, 08-30828-FVS (E.D. Wash.) (plaintiff voluntarily dismissed Clean Air Act citizen-suit)
• Community Association for Restoration of the Environment v. Washington State Department of Ecology, 149 Wash.App. 830, 205 P.3d 950 (2009) (successful representation of intervenor before the Pollution Control Hearings Board and the Court of Appeals in appeal of state-wide CAFO General Permit)
• City of Normandy Park v. Ecology, 1998 WL 594635 (successful representation of the Port of Seattle resulting in dismissal of third-party appeal)
• Coalition of Governmental Entities v. Washington State Department of Ecology, 2009 WL 43436; 2008 WL 5510412 (successful representation of Coalition of 30 local governments in multi-phase appeals of state-wide Municipal Stormwater Permits)
• Defense of multiple confidential clients during pre-suit notice phase resulting in plaintiffs declining to file citizen-suit lawsuits under the Clean Water Act and RCRA
• Successful defense of large dairies in EPA enforcement action under Safe Drinking Water Act resulting in agreed Administrative Order on Consent
• Successful defense of industrial clients in EPA and Army Corps of Engineers in enforcement actions under the federal Clean Water Act resulting in agreed Administrative Orders on Consent.
• DeRuyter Brothers Dairy v. Ecology (Pollution Control Hearings Board) (successful defense of appeal resulting in the Washington State Department of Ecology rescinding penalty)

Representative Work: Environmental Projects/Clients

• Industrial:
  • BNSF: Clean Water Act
  • Costco: Clean Water Act
  • Darigold: Clean Water Act
  • GNK Aerospace: Clean Water Act
  • High Cascade Veneer: Clean Water Act
  • Kiewit Corporation: Clean Water Act and RCRA
  • Kiewit/General/Manson: Clean Water Act and RCRA
  • Washington Aggregate & Concrete Association: Clean Water Act
• Retail:
  • Costco: NPDES, water quality, stormwater and wetlands advice
  • Safeway: NPDES, water quality and stormwater advice
• Agriculture and Agri-Business:
  • Draper Valley Farms: Clean Water Act
  • Perdue Farms, Inc.: Clean Water Act
  • DeRuyter Brothers Dairy: Clean Water Act; Clean Air Act
  • George DeRuyter & Sons Dairy: Clean Water Act; RCRA; Safe Drinking Water Act
  • Maple Grove Dairy: Clean Water Act; RCRA
  • Spring Canyon Ranch: Clean Water Act; RCRA
  • Sky Ridge Farms: Clean Water Act
• Infrastructure:
  • Brightwater Sewage Treatment Plant
  • Pierce County: Clarks Creek Total Maximum Daily Load
  • Sound Transit Light Rail
  • Spokane County Sewage Treatment Plant
  • Spokane County: Spokane River Total Maximum Daily Load; Use Attainability Petition to State of Washington
  • Tacoma Narrows Bridge
  • Whatcom County: Lake Whatcom TMDL