Margaret J. Lee
Of Counsel
Olympia
Direct Line: (360) 292-4206
[email protected]
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Margaret advises municipalities, port districts, Tribal government, and private clients on a wide array of complex environmental matters, including remediation cost recovery and allocation, natural resource damages, climate and energy policy and permitting, water resources, and water quality. Margaret also serves as a mediator on environmental matters.
Prior to joining Cascadia, Margaret was an Administrative Appeals Judge and Mediator for the Washington State Environmental and Land Use Hearings Office (ELUHO) from 2020 to 2023. Prior to ELUHO, Margaret was in private practice in Tacoma, Washington, assisting clients on environmental litigation, allocation, and regulatory compliance.
Professional Experience
Represent public entities involved in two large multi-party Superfund sediment site allocations in the Pacific Northwest. Her allocation experience includes negotiating with multiple competing and often opposing viewpoints to develop joint submittals for allocation processes.
Represent clients in federal and state court on various matters including CERCLA/MTCA cost recovery and CWA citizen suits.
Represent parties in agency negotiations resolving CWA and RCRA permit violations and enforcement actions.
Represent clients involved in matters involving water rights and water resources.
Advise client in siting and permitting for green energy facility.
Mediator on a variety of environmental matters. Her experience includes assisting opposing parties involved in complex environmental litigation find creative solutions, build consensus, and develop technical work plans to resolve litigation.
Margaret also served as a law clerk to Washington State Supreme Court Justice Charles Johnson.
During law school, Margaret externed at the Center for International Environmental Law in Geneva, Switzerland, providing legal support for the Intellectual Property and Sustainable Development Group, developing articles for publication, and attending conferences and treaty negotiations at the WIPO and WTO.
Margaret also externed for the Honorable Ronald Leighton in Federal District Court in Tacoma.
Civic Activities
Volunteer Youth Soccer Coach (2020‑present)
Former KBTC Association Board Member (2011‑2014)
Junior League Tacoma, Funding and Development Committee (2011‑2014)
Select Presentations
WSBA Environmental and Land Use Law Committee Midyear CLE, An Overview of PCHB and SHB Cases (2020)
WSBA Environmental and Land Use Law Committee Midyear CLE, A Conversation with the ELUHO Boards (2022)
Water Code CLE, The Seminar Group, The Future of Virtual Hearings (2021)
Speaker at several other CLEs presenting on environmental risk management topics
Keynote speaker on risk management at multiple Industrial Stormwater Workshops in Tacoma, Washington (2017-2019)
Education
J.D. from Seattle University Law School, Dean’s List (2007)
B.S., Environmental Science/Chemistry, Western Washington University (2001)
Bar Admissions
Washington
