Local Open Government Blog : Open Government Law : Foster Pepper Law Firm : Northwest, Seattle, Spokane, Portland Lawyer & Attorney

For over a century, Foster Pepper PLLC has advised Washington local governments on the Federal and State constitutions and the laws affecting government organization and operation. Washington has a long tradition regarding open government. Washington is one of the first states to adopt the appearance of fairness doctrine for the conduct of government officials in public hearings. The State’s Open Public Meetings Act, Public Records Act, Public Disclosure Act (campaign finance) and state and local ethics laws carry forward that tradition. Foster Pepper, and its Public Disclosure Team, continue to represent and defend counties, cities and special purpose districts on these and other open government issues. Foster Pepper lawyers work with local governments in the drafting of policies and laws, training and educational programs, compliance matters and, when necessary, litigation and appeals.

Stephen DiJulio is an attorney with Foster Pepper whose practice focuses on litigation involving state and local governments, and land use and environmental law. His particular experience includes representation of jurisdictions on eminent domain, utilities (water, wastewater, storm water, solid waste systems), local improvement districts, facility siting and contractor litigation.

 
Practice Areas

• Appellate Team
• Condemnation and Eminent Domain
• Design-Build
• Real Estate Litigation

Professional Associations

• Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys
• International Municipal Lawyers Association
• American Bar Association
• Washington State Bar Association
• King County Bar Association
• South King County Bar Association

Education

• Seattle University, J.D., 1976
• University of Washington, B.A., 1973 (Oval Club Scholastic Honorary)

Bar Admissions

• United States District Court, Eastern District of Washington, 1993
• United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 1980
• Supreme Court, State of Washington, 1976
• United States District Court, Western District of Washington, 1976

VIEW STEPHEN DIJULIO's COMPLETE BIO

Mike Schechter is an attorney with Foster Pepper whose practice focuses on municipal government and land use. He has a practice in both litigation and transactional law, and has worked on drafting both state and local legislation, including the recent Regional Transportation Commission bill. Mike has been involved in several major municipal litigations on diverse issues, including city-county sewer rates and solid waste disposal fees. On the transactional side, he has assisted municipalities in developing finance ordinances and provided advice on municipal utility and property issues.

Practice Areas

• Municipal Government
• Land Use
• Environmental
• Infrastructure / Transportation

Professional Associations

• Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys
• Urban Land Institute
• King County Bar Foundation

Education

• Harvard Law School, J.D., 2004
• University of Washington
  • B.A., Geography, cum laude with distinction, 2000
  • B.A., Political Science, cum laude, 2000

VIEW MIKE SCHECHTER's COMPLETE BIO

Milt Rowland is an attorney with Foster Pepper whose practice focuses on general municipal law, shareholder derivative suits, dispute resolution and litigation for cities, counties, and special purpose districts. He has taught courses in administrative law, local government law, and related subjects since 1987. He was litigation counsel for the City of Spokane from 1993-2007, and in that capacity handled many administrative and litigation matters, including drafting, defending and enforcing local ordinances. He lectures widely on litigation issues facing agencies.

Practice Areas

• Municipal Government
• Litigation and Dispute Resolution
• Employment and Labor Relations
• Infrastructure / Transportation
• Insurance Coverage

Professional Associations

• East Central Community Center
• City of Spokane Mayor's Sustainability Task Force
• Washington State Bar Association
• Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys

Education

• Gonzaga University School of Law, JD, 1981-1985
• University of Detroit-Mercy, B.A., 1971-1975

VIEW MILT ROWLAND's COMPLETE BIO

Jennifer Peet is an attorney at Foster Pepper whose practice is in investment management with an emphasis on private equity, real estate, hedge funds and infrastructure. She has significant experience with issues common to public pension plans including contract review and negotiation with investment managers across all asset classes, securities litigation strategy and management, corporate governance policy, divestment, proxy voting, media relations, public records considerations, and legislative advocacy at the state and federal level and to regulatory bodies.

Practice Areas

• Municipal Government
• Litigation and Dispute Resolution
• Employment and Labor Relations
• Infrastructure / Transportation
• Insurance Coverage

Professional Associations

• American Bar Association
• Washington State Bar Association
• Oregon State Bar Association
• National Association of Public Pension Attorneys

Education

• Lewis & Clark College, Northwestern School of Law, J.D., 1996
• Portland State University, M.B.A., expected 2013
• Miami University (Ohio), B.A., 1992

VIEW JENNIFER PEET's COMPLETE BIO

Alicia Feichtmeir is an attorney with Foster Pepper whose practice focuses on litigation and dispute resolution. She represents government and commercial clients on matters related to employment and business disputes, land use, real estate, public disclosure and regulatory issues.

Practice Areas

• Litigation and Dispute Resolution
• Public Disclosure Team
• Electronically Stored Information – ESI Squad

Professional Associations

• American Bar Association
• Washington State Bar Association
• King County Bar Association

Education

• University of Washington School of Law, J.D., 2009
• Wesleyan University, B.A. 2003

VIEW ALICIA FEICHTMEIR's COMPLETE BIO

Jeffrey Lane is an attorney with Foster Pepper whose practice focuses on health care law, primarily representing health care providers. He assists them with many aspects of their business including federal and state regulatory compliance, prevention of fraud and abuse, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, physician financial relationships, certificates of need, quality assurance, licensure, medical staff issues, and public records requests and retention schedules for public hospital districts. Jeff also assists clients in litigation relating to contract disputes and administrative law matters.

 
Practice Areas

• Health Care
• International

Professional Associations

• Global Health Nexus, Seattle
• Washington State Society of Healthcare Attorneys

Education

• University of Washington School of Law, J.D., 2009
• University of Washington, M.P.H., 2009
• Boston College, B.A., 2005

VIEW JEFF LANE's COMPLETE BIO

Lindsay Coates is an attorney with Foster Pepper and focuses her practice on municipal and public finance law. Her practice addresses general municipal issues pertaining to state and local governments, public authorities, civil service, and public employment. She also supports various aspects of clients’ public finance transactions and participates in a wide range of roles, including bond counsel, underwriter’s counsel, and borrower’s counsel. Prior to law school, Lindsay brokered Directors’ and Officers’ Liability insurance on behalf of publicly traded and complex private companies.

 
Practice Areas

• Municipal Government
• Public Finance

Professional Associations

• Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys

Education

• Seattle University School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 2009
• University of Puget Sound, B.S., 2002

VIEW LINDSAY COATES' COMPLETE BIO