David M. Phillips
David Phillips practices
primarily regulatory environmental and land use law, focusing on
environmental compliance counseling and permitting, the defense of
government enforcement actions, land development, land use
permitting and construction law.
Mr. Phillips joined the firm in 2001, leaving a
practice in environmental engineering prior to completion of law
school. In his environmental practice, Mr. Phillips frequently works
with clients on soil, air and groundwater compliance issues, and
consults with environmental professionals in completing compliance
audits of industrial facilities.
Practice Areas
David Phillips is frequently consulted on environmental due diligence
issues arising from the acquisition and disposition of challenged
properties, and believes that evaluating and managing environmental
liability is an important part of the process of development. Mr.
Phillips is involved in efforts to redevelop brownfields for the
benefit of landowners and the surrounding community and represents
clients before state and federal regulatory bodies on environmental
issues.
Mr. Phillips’ real estate practice includes acquisition and
development of commercial and residential property, urban growth
issues, resolving contractual disputes, water-related matters,
boundary disputes, adverse possession, variances and conditional
uses. Mr. Phillips comes from a long line of landowners, and focuses
his practice on serving his client’s needs from that perspective.
Mr. Phillips’ construction law practice focuses on evaluation and
resolution of contract claims and defenses, with his engineering
background assisting him in evaluating structural and technical
issues.
Education
David Phillips received his Bachelor of Science degree in
environmental engineering from Utah State University in 1999. He
graduated Cum Laude and Tau Beta Pi, with undergraduate research
work in remediation of petroleum contaminated sites, natural
attenuation, and engineering natural systems to remediate heavy
metal contamination of abandoned mine sites in the Rockies. He
received his Juris Doctor degree from the Northwestern School of Law
at Lewis and Clark College in 2003, while emphasizing in
environmental, natural resources and patent law. Prior to joining
the firm, he worked as an environmental engineer with
consulting firms in Portland primarily in the area of permitting and
remediation, and was certified as an engineer in training, and in
hazardous materials management.
Licenses
Mr. Phillips is a member of the Washington and Oregon Bars, and is admitted to the U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington. He actively participates in local conferences such as the Northwest Environmental Conference and in trade associations of the regulated community. Mr. Phillips is an avid outdoorsman, taking great pleasure in enjoying many aspects of the natural environment.