Overview
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.”
Areas of Focus
Admissions
- Washington, 1992
Education
- J.D., University of Puget Sound School of Law (magna cum laude), 1992
- B.G.S., Gonzaga University, 1988
Honors & Recognition
- Chambers USA (Washington) Leading Individual, Environment, 2014-present
- The Best Lawyers in America©
- Environmental Law, 2009-present
- Litigation – Environmental, 2012-present
- “Lawyer of the Year,” Litigation – Environmental, 2022
- Natural Resources Law, 2016-present
- Best in the Business: Leading Lawyers in the Puget Sound Region, Seattle Business magazine
- Environmental Law, 2013
- 2011 BTI Client Service All-Star for Environmental Law
- 2010 Top Lawyer, Seattle Metropolitan magazine
- Washington Super Lawyers list, 2006-2007
- Martindale-Hubbell AV rating
- Recipient of Five American Jurisprudence Awards
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
News & Insights
News
Foster Garvey Recognized Among Nation’s Top Firms in 2026 Chambers USA Guide: 34 Attorneys and 15 Practices Ranked
06.04.26
71 Foster Garvey Attorneys Recognized Among the 2026 Best Lawyers in America; Paul Trinchero Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’
08.21.25
Foster Garvey Recognized Among Nation’s Top Firms in 2025 Chambers USA Guide; 26 Attorneys and 13 Practices Ranked
06.05.25
65 Foster Garvey Attorneys Selected to The Best Lawyers in America® 2025, Three Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’
08.15.24
Foster Garvey Recognized Among Nation’s Top Firms in 2024 Chambers USA Guide; 20 Attorneys and 10 Practices Ranked
06.06.24
57 Foster Garvey Attorneys Recognized Among the 2024 Best Lawyers in America; Two Portland Attorneys Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’
08.17.23
Foster Garvey Receives Honors in 2023 Chambers USA Guide; 21 Attorneys and 10 Practices Featured
06.01.23
45 Foster Garvey Attorneys Recognized Among The Best Lawyers In America®
08.18.22
Foster Garvey Recognized Among Nation’s Leading Law Firms in 2022 Chambers USA Guide; 21 Attorneys and 10 Practices Featured
06.01.22
38 Attorneys Named 2022 Best Lawyers in America; 11 Named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
08.19.21
Foster Garvey Named Among Leading Law Firms in Chambers USA; Three Attorneys Added to Rankings
05.20.21
43 Attorneys Named 2021 Best Lawyers in America; 10 Named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
08.20.20
Foster Garvey Named Among Top Firms in Chambers USA, Including Ranking of Six New Attorneys
04.23.20
50 Foster Garvey Attorneys Named 2020 Best Lawyers in America
08.15.19
Foster Garvey Named Among Top Firms in Chambers USA, Including Nationwide Ranking in New Focus Area
04.25.19
Events
“Model Toxics Control Act,” 60th Annual WSAMA Spring Conference
04.27.17
“Meet the Farm-Friendly Environmental Litigators,” 2017 Western Dairy Management Conference
03.01.17
15th Annual Comprehensive Conference on Clean Water and Stormwater
04.07.15
“Key Evolving Stormwater Issues in the Pacific Northwest – Assessment and Remediation of Aquatic Environments in the Pacific Northwest: 1990s to Present,” SETAC North America 35th Annual Meeting
11.09.14
“Citizen Suit Actions: An Effective Enforcement Mechanism or An Overly Expansive Litigation Tool?” WSBA 2014 Environmental and Land Use Law Section Midyear Meeting and Conference
05.25.14
14th Annual Comprehensive Conference on Clean Water and Stormwater
05.01.14
“Stormwater and Potential Liability for Pollution,” WSAMA 2011 Fall Conference
10.05.11
“Stormy Weather: Stormwater Update, including Liability for Stormwater Runoff Pollution,” Latest Developments in Washington Municipal Utility Law
10.01.11
“When Your Right to Remain Silent May Come with Unintended Consequences,” PRIMA 2011 Annual Conference – Blazing the Trails of Risk
06.05.11
“Enforcement Tips & Traps,” Foster Pepper Land Use and Environmental Seminar
05.19.11
“The Reality of Third Party Lawsuits,” Managing Stormwater in the Northwest 2011: The Business of Stormwater Regulation and Compliance
03.01.11
“Enforcement: What Every Clean Water Agency Should Know,” Developments in Clean Water Law: A Seminar for Public Agency Attorneys and Managers
11.19.10
“NPDES Citizen Suits and Permit Renewal Process,” 2010 Fall WSAMA Conference
10.13.10
“Feasibility of Low Impact Development: Litigation and Implementation Update,” 11th Annual Conference on Land Use in Washington
04.01.10
“Clean Water/Stormwater,” WSBA – Land Use and Environmental Due Diligence When Acquiring Property
03.01.10
“Avoiding & Responding to Third-Party Lawsuits,” Northwest Environmental Business Council – Managing Stormwater in Washington
03.01.10
“PUD Perspectives on TMDL Developments,” Washington Public Utility District Association
12.01.09
“New Requirements and Compliance Strategies,” Law Seminar International Washington’s New Industrial Stormwater General Permit
12.01.09
“Natural Resources Issues: Stormwater Update and FEMA Biological Opinion,” WSAMA 2009 Spring Conference
04.29.09
“Municipal Stormwater Permits: Status of 2007 Permit Appeals,” Law Seminars International Clean Water and Stormwater Conference
04.01.09
“Puget Soundkeepers Alliance Decision and Implications for Low Impact Development,” 10th Annual Conference on Land Use in Washington: New Regulatory, Legislative and Legal Developments
04.01.09
“Policy Development for Puget Sound as a Driver for What’s Likely to Happen In Washington,” TMDLs in the Pacific Northwest
08.01.08
“Municipal Stormwater Permits,” Clean Water & Stormwater Conference
06.01.08
“Municipal Stormwater: Why You Should Care,” Washington State Association of Counties 101st Annual Conference
11.01.07
“Environmental Hotspots in Real Property Development,” Builders and Developers Seminar
10.01.07
“Washington Public Utility Districts Water Workshop,” Washington Public Utility Districts Association
09.01.07
“Transportation and Infrastructure Planning,” Law Seminars International
08.01.07
“TMDLs in the Pacific Northwest,” Law Seminars International
07.01.07
“Clean Water Act Agency and Citizen Suit Enforcement in the State of Washington,” Washington State Bar Association Construction Law Section
06.01.07
“Use Attainability Analysis Workshop,” Water Environment Federation TMDL Conference
06.01.07
“Stormwater Phase Permits and Other Issues,” Washington Association of Municipal Attorneys Spring Conference 2007
04.25.07
“Stormwater Update for Developers and Municipalities,” Hot Issues in Real Estate and Land Use Development
03.28.07
“A Comprehensive Look at Agency Administrative Enforcement,” Law Seminars International Clean Water and Stormwater Conference
03.20.07
“How to Minimize Costs and Project Delays Caused by Environmental Contamination,” Foster Pepper Environmental Seminar
10.03.06
“Use Attainability Analysis,” National Association of Clean Water Agencies Webinar
07.01.06
“Hot Issues in Stormwater: What Every Business Needs to Know,” Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Academy of Hazardous Materials Managers
06.01.06
Hot Issues in Stormwater: What Every Municipality Needs to Know
04.01.06
“Total Maximum Daily Loads and Use Attainability Analysis,” Law Seminars International
03.21.06
“Municipal Stormwater Permits,” Law Seminars International
03.20.06
“Late Breaking Legal Issues Associated with Use Attainability Analysis,” National Association of Clean Water Agencies
01.01.06
“Use Attainability Analyses in the Real World,” National Association of Clean Water Agencies 2005 Law Seminar
11.09.05
“Use Attainability Analyses in the Real World,” National Association of Clean Water Agencies 2005 Law Seminar
11.09.05
“Recent Developments Under the Clean Water Act,” Washington State Bar Association Environmental and Land Use Law Mid-Year Meeting
05.01.05
“Recent Developments Under the Clean Water Act,” Washington State Bar Association Environmental and Land Use Law Mid-Year Meeting
05.01.05
“Permitting Strategies,” The Seminar Group
03.01.05
“Permitting Strategies,” The Seminar Group
03.01.05
“Water Quality Requirements and Stormwater Management,” Washington State Bar Association CLE Seminar
10.01.04
“Avoiding and Defending Clean Water Act Citizen Suits,” Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Spring 2004 Conference
05.13.04
“Recent Stormwater Developments,” Foster Pepper Annual Real Estate and Land Use Update
05.08.03
“Clean Water Act Citizen Suits,” Puget Sound Chapter of Air & Waste Management Association
05.01.03
“Clean Water Act Citizen Suits,” Puget Sound Chapter of Air & Waste Management Association
05.01.03
“Clean Water Act Stormwater Issues,” Law Seminars International
04.01.03
“Clean Water Act Stormwater Issues,” Law Seminars International
04.01.03
“Advanced Water Quality Permitting,” Law Seminars International
12.01.02
“Advanced Water Quality Permitting,” Law Seminars International
12.01.02
“Water Quality Requirements & Stormwater Management,” Washington State Bar Association
10.01.02
“Water Quality Requirements & Stormwater Management,” Washington State Bar Association
10.01.02
“Clean Water, Storm Water,” Law Seminars International
02.01.01
“Clean Water, Storm Water,” Law Seminars International
02.01.01
“Environmental Lawsuits,” Northwest Dairy Association
05.01.00
“Environmental Lawsuits,” Northwest Dairy Association
05.01.00
Washington Clean Water: Water Quality Challenges and Potential Solutions
12.01.98
“Clean Water Act Citizen Suits,” Washington State Farm Bureau
11.01.98
“Clean Water Act Citizen Suits,” Washington State Farm Bureau
11.01.98
“Environmental Citizen Suits, Issues and Challenges,” Puget Sound Chapter of Pacific Northwest International Section of the Air & Waste Management Association
09.01.98
“Handling Citizen Suits, The TMDL Process, and TMDL Litigation Update: The Discharge’s Perspective,” Association of Washington Business
06.01.98
“Washington Clean Water: The TMDL Process, Stormwater, and other Trends in Protecting Water Quality,” Law Seminars International
12.01.97
“Water Quality,” Association of Washington Business’ Environmental Law Seminar and Excellence Awards
06.01.97
“Overview of Citizen Suits in the Environmental Arena,” Law Seminars International
04.01.97
“Avoiding and Defending Clean Water Act Citizen Suits,” Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys Conference
Spring 2004
Legal Alerts
Stormwater Regulations Impair Vested Rights
01.23.17
EPA Releases New Integrated Stormwater and Wastewater Planning Framework
06.20.12
Legislature Amends Important Environmental and Natural Resource Laws
04.18.12
Unanimous Supreme Court Rules that Clean Water Act Administrative Compliance Orders Issued by EPA Are Entitled to Judicial Review
03.27.12
Property Owners Can Challenge an Agency’s Decision to List Waterbodies as “Impaired” if the Listing Diminishes the Property Owner’s Property Value
02.25.11
“Ecology Finalizes Revised Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule,” Foster Pepper News Alert
12.01.10
“Stormwater Runoff from Logging Roads Requires Discharge Permit,” Foster Pepper News Alert
08.01.10
“Washington State Department of Ecology Issues Municipal Stormwater General Permits,” Foster Pepper News Alert
01.01.07
“Supreme Court Issues Divided Opinion on Federal Wetlands Regulation,” Foster Pepper News Alert
06.01.06
“2005 Construction Stormwater General Permit: Key Issues and Requirements,” Washington State Bar Association Environmental and Land Use Law Section
05.01.06
“Washington State Department of Ecology Issues New Wetland Guidance,” Foster Pepper News Alert
03.01.06
“Construction Site Operators Beware: Construction Stormwater General Permit Imposes New Requirements for Construction Projects in the State of Washington,” Foster Pepper News Alert
01.01.06
“FP Lawyers Score Clean Water Act Victory for Municipal Stormwater Dischargers,” Foster Pepper News Alert
10.01.05
“U.S. Supreme Court to Examine Extent of Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Over Wetlands and Waters,” Foster Pepper News Alert
10.01.05
“U.S. Supreme Court Will Decide Regulation of Dams and Water Transfers Under the Clean Water Act,” Foster Pepper News Alert
10.01.05
“Endangered Species Act: Uncertainty Surrounds The Federal Columbia River Power System,” Foster Pepper News Alert
06.01.05
“Department of Ecology Adopts New State Water Quality Standards,” Foster Pepper News Alert
06.01.03
“U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Important Clean Water Act Case,” Foster Pepper News Alert
06.01.03
“Water Quality, Stormwater, and Rights Update,” Foster Pepper Land Use & Environmental Newsletter
02.01.03
Publications
“Water Quality,” Chapter of the Government Institute Environmental Law Handbook
07.17.22
“Collaborative Water Quality Solutions: Exploring Use Attainability Analyses,” National Association of Clean Water Agencies
01.01.06
“Can the Northwest Be Energy Independent Again?” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce
11.01.05
“Clean Water Act,” Chapter of the Washington State Bar Association Real Property Deskbook
03.13.05
“Clean Water Act Citizens Suits: Key Elements and Defenses,” Journal of Environmental Law
01.01.00
“SEPA, A Proposed Standard for Judicial Review of Agency Decisions Not to Require Preparation of a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement,” 15 U.P.S.L. Rev. 957
03.20.92
Connect with Lori