Overview
Andrea’s litigation practice focuses on helping government entities resolve complex disputes. She has represented government entities in a variety of matters involving the Public Records Act, condemnation, contracts and issues of municipal authority. Andrea also advises agencies on issues arising outside litigation, including counseling and advising on open government matters.
Andrea serves as a member of the WSAMA amicus committee and frequently authors amicus brief on a variety of municipal issues. Before joining the firm, Andrea was a legal extern with the U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington, for the Hon. Thomas S. Zilly and was a Paralegal Specialist with the Department of Justice in the Antitrust Division. After graduating from the University of Washington School of Law, Andrea clerked for two years for the Honorable Ann Schindler at the Washington Court of Appeals, Division One.
Areas of Focus
Admissions
- Washington, 2013
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
Education
- J.D., University of Washington School of Law (with honors), 2012
- Order of the Coif
- Washington Law Review, Managing Editor
- CALI Excellence for the Future Award
- B.A., Tufts University (magna cum laude), 2006
- National Merit Scholar
- Tufts Daily Newspaper, Assistant Features Editor
Honors & Recognitions
- Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch – Environmental Law, 2023-present
- Rising Star, Washington Super Lawyers, 2022-present
Clerkships
- Washington Court of Appeals, Division I, the Hon. Ann Schindler, Judicial Clerk, 2012-2014
- Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Competition, Summer Law Clerk, 2011
Professional Activities
- Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle, Board Member, 2023-present
- Washington Council of School Attorneys, Board Member and Past President, 2017-2023
- Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys, Amicus Committee, Member, 2017-present
Experience
- Reversal in Appellate Matter for City Client
- Obtained reversal in appellate matter for city client involving interpretation of development agreement.
- Successfully Defended City in Quiet Title Claim
- Obtained favorable result for city client after four-day bench trial. Responsible for direct and cross examinations of four expert witnesses.
- Complex Public Records Request Processing
- Frequently assist agencies in processing complex and broad public records requests. Matters include assisting an agency responding to over a dozen requests from a single requester, and other requests involving potential litigation.
- Dismissal of Mandamus Action
- Obtained dismissal of mandamus action in matter involving dispute over city code enforcement and land use issues.
- Dismissal of Public Records Act lawsuit
- Obtained summary judgment dismissal of Public Records Act lawsuit involving an allegation that a private nonprofit providing public defense services was the functional equivalent of a public agency under Telford v. Thurston County Board of Commissioners.
- Condemnation actions involving Sound Transit’s Light Rail projects
- Represented property owners in multiple condemnation actions related to Sound Transit’s Light Rail projects.
- Construction contract litigation
- Represented port district in construction contract litigation involving contractor termination.
- Response to complaint before Public Disclosure Commission
- Represented hospital district in responding to complaint before Public Disclosure Commission.
- Pollution Control Hearings Board administrative hearing
- Assisted clean air agency in defending appeal of agency action including dispositive motion practice and evidentiary hearing.
- Appeal before Capital Projects Advisory Review Board
- Represented public utility district in appeal before Capital Projects Advisory Review Board.
- Pro bono assistance preventing client’s deportation
- Assisted pro bono client in obtaining emergency relief from governor to avoid imminent deportation.
- Kanany v. City of Bonney Lake No. 46340-7-II
- Successfully argued appeal of denial of land use petition (2015).
News & Insights
News
Foster Garvey Municipal Attorneys File Amicus Brief in Support of County Public Records Act Matter; Court Sides with County in Protecting Privileged Communications
08.19.25
Foster Garvey’s Pro Bono Efforts in a Landmark Washington Supreme Court Case
02.25.25
65 Foster Garvey Attorneys Selected to The Best Lawyers in America® 2025, Three Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’
08.15.24
57 Foster Garvey Attorneys Recognized Among the 2024 Best Lawyers in America; Two Portland Attorneys Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’
08.17.23
13 Attorneys Recognized on 2023 Washington Super Lawyers Lists
07.31.23
WSAMA Amicus Curiae Team Assists Town of Rockford in Washington Appellate Court
05.23.23
45 Foster Garvey Attorneys Recognized Among The Best Lawyers In America®
08.18.22
12 Attorneys Recognized in Washington Super Lawyers for 2022
07.14.22
Foster Garvey Promotes Three Associates to Principal
01.04.21
National Press Features Foster Pepper Pro Bono Client Receiving Pardon
12.18.18
Events
WSAMA 2026 Spring Conference
04.22-04.24.2026
WSAMA 2025 Fall Conference
10.15-10.17.2025
WSAMA 2024 Spring Conference
April 24 – April 26, 2024
AWC Elected Officials Essentials 2023
12.09.23
WASBO 2022 Annual Conference
05.04-05.06.2022
“Condemnation and the Priority of Government Rights,” The Seminar Group’s 11th Annual Cutting-Edge Issues In Condemnation
10.29.21
“So Much Information – So Many Requests for It!” Association of Washington Cities Labor Relations Institute
05.07.21
38th Annual Civil Service Conference
09.09-09.10.2019
75th Annual WASBO Conference
05.08.19
37th Annual Civil Service Conference
09.20.18
“Is Your Workplace Ready for Washington State’s New Employment Laws?”
05.15.18
74th Annual WASBO Conference
05.10.18
“Top New Employment Law Developments Affecting Washington Housing Authorities,” Association of Washington Housing Authorities
05.01.18
“District Resolution Writing,” Washington Association of School Business Officials Annual Conference
05.01.18
36th Annual Civil Service Conference
09.18.17
Legal Alerts
Washington Supreme Court Sets New Criteria for Closing Public Records Requests
04.15.24
Washington Open Public Meetings Act Update
06.09.22
Supreme Court Concludes Faculty’s Union-related Emails on State University’s Server Are “Public Records”
09.16.19
Are Sortable Databases “Lists of Individuals”? Attorney General Opinion Addresses Electronic Records Implicating “Commercial Purpose Prohibition”
08.06.19
New Public Records Act Legislation: Changes to Exemptions and Reporting Requirements Effective at the End of This Month
07.12.19
SEIU and Freedom Foundation Continue to Battle Over Public Records in the Washington Court of Appeals
09.26.18
UW Professors’ Emails Regarding Union Organizing Not “Public Records” Subject to Disclosure
06.25.18
Washington Court of Appeals Holds Superior Court Permitted to Consider the Small Size of Municipality in Reducing Penalty Under Public Records Act
06.15.18
Kittitas County v. Allphin: Emails Shared Between Two Washington Agencies Protected Under Work Product Doctrine
05.22.18
Death-Scene Images of Kurt Cobain Exempt from Disclosure Under Washington’s Public Records Act
05.21.18
Montana Supreme Court Holds Documents Protected by Attorney-Client Privilege or Work Product Not Subject to Disclosure Under State Constitution
03.26.18
Washington Court of Appeals Holds City Council Member’s Facebook Posts Are Not Public Records
03.06.18
Washington State Attorney General Argues Legislator Records are Subject to Public Disclosure
01.17.18
Public Record Reporting Requirements: Guidance Issued for Washington Public Agencies
11.27.17
Washington Court of Appeals Holds Public Agency Does Not Violate Washington Public Records Act by Withholding Records Pending Third-Party Notification
10.13.17
Washington State Attorney General Opinion Addresses Confidentiality of Executive Sessions of Open Public Meetings
08.17.17
New Public Records Act Legislation Taking Effect on July 23, 2017 – Are Your Policies and Practices Up-To-Date?
06.30.17
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