Graham & Dunn Launches Natural Resources & Manufacturing Industries Team
05.10.2007
Building on a long history of serving the legal needs of companies within natural resources and manufacturing industries, Graham & Dunn has established a Natural Resources & Manufacturing Industries Team. The team will focus on clients whose businesses are subject to environmental regulation, such as forest products companies, fisheries, oil refineries, chemical and aerospace manufacturers, contractors and developers, as well as related government entities.
In reality, this team has existed in an unofficial capacity for many years, with core members as a subset of the firm’s Real Estate Industry Team and others spread across the firm’s financial services, labor and employment and franchise teams. So why the change in status to an official team in its own right? The answer is simple: better service to an important group of clients.
At Graham & Dunn, our industry teams don’t function simply to organize a group of attorneys around a practice area. Rather, they tailor service to that industry’s particular needs. Organizing this group as an official industry team allows us to focus on the trends and needs of the natural resources and manufacturing industries, and mold our practices accordingly.
Team members bring a wealth of experience
Natural resources and manufacturing industries are subject to rapid change and increasing regulatory complexities. An in-depth understanding of the policy considerations and the science surrounding clients’ operations is imperative to the practice of law in this area. Through varied but equally impressive backgrounds, the three core members of the Natural Resources & Manufacturing Team—Elaine Spencer, Steve Goodman and Larry Costich—boast a uniquely personal knowledge of the challenges faced by their clients.
Elaine Spencer is recognized as one of the leading natural resource lawyers in Washington State. She has litigated some of the important issues that have shaped natural resource law in the Northwest over the last 20 years. Marrying her extensive knowledge of forestry and wildlife biology with over two decades of legal experience in this field, Elaine is able to offer a distinct competitive advantage to her clients.
As a licensed civil engineer, Steve Goodman possesses a practical knowledge of his clients’ businesses. His technical understanding of the issues, on a nuts and bolts level, greatly increases his ability to problem solve. Fluent in both engineering and legal terminologies, Steve is able to not only —“talk the talk” but also can capably “walk the walk,” a skill that serves him well in all aspects of his practice, from initial meetings with clients to preparing expert witnesses for trial.
Similarly, Larry Costich’s 15 years as a civil and environmental engineer—including a role as a consultant in environmental restoration and regulatory compliance—give him a unique ability to put himself in his clients’ shoes. As an engineer, he found that exclusively legal solutions were often expensive and impractical if the technical solutions were not also recognized. Parlaying that experience into his work as an attorney, Larry is committed to finding legal solutions for his clients that also make business sense. His experience on job sites and factory floors actually implementing work is critical to achieving this goal.
The unique expertise of the three core members is only a part of what Graham & Dunn offers its natural resource and manufacturing industry clients. These are complex clients with a broad range of legal needs, so the industry team is staffed to serve the full range of those interests. In addition to the core members, the team roster also includes attorneys with expertise in labor and employment, tax, corporate governance and general business, antitrust, and real estate laws.
Team takes a holistic approach to legal services
With a true understanding of the business implications of any given legal matter, the Natural Resources & Manufacturing Industries team members strive to find solutions that provide holistic results.
“There’s a parallel to holistic medicine in what we try to do for our clients,” says Larry Costich. “Whenever possible, we deliver a solution for the entire problem, rather than just the current ‘symptom.’ This allows us to protect our client’s future well-being along with filling the immediate need.”
Along with its holistic approach, the team also has a bias towards leanness when staffing projects. The result is the ability to be cost-effective, while still providing long-term legal and business solutions for clients.
Helping clients get back to business
We understand that, from our clients’ perspectives, lawyers are often a necessary evil. “The business of our clients is not working with attorneys; it’s not litigation. Our job is to get them back to real business as quickly and painlessly as possible,” says Steve Goodman.
To complete that job, excellent legal skills are required. The value of excellent legal skills and industry knowledge that comes from two engineers and a wildlife biology and forestry guru—“priceless.”
To learn more about our team members and services, please visit the Natural Resources and Manufacturing Industry team’s Web page, or contact Elaine Spencer, team leader, at 206.340.9638 or espencer@grahamdunn.com.
