Karen M. McGaffey
Recognized since 2010
Seattle, Washington
Practice Areas
Energy Law
Environmental Law
Litigation - Environmental
Natural Resources Law
Karen McGaffey's practice involves the full range of environmental issues. She assists clients with project development, permitting, compliance and regulatory matters under state and federal environmental and land use laws, including the National and State Environmental Policy Acts (NEPA/SEPA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Clean Air Act (CAA), and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). She represents clients in environmental litigation, including CERCLA and MTCA cost recovery actions, natural resource damage claims, government enforcement actions, citizen suits and lawsuits challenging permits and regulatory developments. She also assists with due diligence investigations and other environmental aspects of corporate and real estate transactions.
Karen's practice emphasizes energy project development and facility siting. She assists clients in the development of all types of energy facilities, including natural gas-fired power plants, wood-fired cogeneration facilities, wind power projects, solar energy projects, electric transmission lines, and pipelines carrying oil, petroleum products, natural gas and hydrogen. She advises clients on greenhouse gas mitigation requirements and opportunities. She also assists clients with legislative and regulatory matters concerning energy facility siting, climate change, renewable energy credits and renewable energy portfolio standards.
Karen serves on the Firmwide Management Committee and Executive Committee.
Karen's practice emphasizes energy project development and facility siting. She assists clients in the development of all types of energy facilities, including natural gas-fired power plants, wood-fired cogeneration facilities, wind power projects, solar energy projects, electric transmission lines, and pipelines carrying oil, petroleum products, natural gas and hydrogen. She advises clients on greenhouse gas mitigation requirements and opportunities. She also assists clients with legislative and regulatory matters concerning energy facility siting, climate change, renewable energy credits and renewable energy portfolio standards.
Karen serves on the Firmwide Management Committee and Executive Committee.
Contact & Links
Location
- 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900
Seattle, WA 98101-3099
Education
- Harvard University, J.D., graduated 1989
- Dartmouth College, AB
Bar Admissions
- Washington, Washington State Bar Association
- Colorado, Colorado Bar Association
Affiliations
- American Bar Association Natural Resources - Member
State Clerkships
- Colorado - Supreme Court
Headquarters:
Seattle, Washington
261 The Best Lawyers in America® awards
274 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America awards
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Energy Law, Seattle (2014)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
- Energy Law
- Environmental Law
- Litigation - Environmental
- Natural Resources Law
Awards:
- Peer Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
- Listed in Washington Law & Politics, “Washington's Super Lawyers", 2012 - present
- Ranked by Chambers USA, as “America’s Leading Environmental Lawyers," 2010 - present
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Land Use and Zoning Law
- Mining Law
News & Links
Publications
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