Matt Love

Attorneys
Written By Guest User
 

PARTNER

Olympia
Direct Line: (360) 292-7101
[email protected]

 

Matt’s practice focuses on permitting and litigation matters involving federal and state natural resource and environmental law. He has over 25 years’ experience representing utilities, ports, owners and operators of hydroelectric projects and other energy projects, and state and local governmental entities on issues pertaining to the Clean Water Act (CWA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Federal Power Act, Magnuson-Stevens Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, and Indian law.

Prior to joining Cascadia, Matt was a partner at Van Ness Feldman, where he was co-coordinator of the firm’s Land, Water & Natural Resources practice group. Matt has previously served as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice and an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington where he represented the State of Washington and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in natural resource litigation and other matters involving the ESA, fisheries, water, and Indian law issues.

Professional Experience

  • Provide clients with relicensing, compliance and litigation counsel for hydroelectric projects.

  • Counsel an irrigation district on all aspects of federal and state environmental permitting and use authorization for a proposed drought relief pumping plant located within the boundary of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Kachess Reservoir.

  • Represent a port in the development of a new dock and marine transfer facility. Work includes overseeing the environmental review and all aspects of federal, state, and local air, water and land use permitting, including Section 10 and 404 permits, and ESA and NEPA compliance.

  • Counsel clients on ESA compliance and litigation issues, including listing, critical habitat designation, consultation, and reintroduction of listed species.

  • Advise and counsel on CWA Section 401 certifications, the ESA, the Coastal Zone Management Act, the NEPA and Indian law matters for hydroelectric projects and on ESA and NEPA matters for wind and pipeline projects.

  • As a pro bono matter through the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in 2016, successfully represented a Cameroonian woman seeking asylum for human rights violations.

Government Service

  • Fulbright Scholar, Lecturer and Researcher, Natural Resource Law, Ghana (2005-2006)

  • Washington State Attorney General's Office, Assistant Attorney General, Fish Wildlife & Parks Division (1995-1999, 2001-2003)

  • U.S. Department of Justice, Trial Attorney, Wildlife & Marine Resources Section (1999-2001)

  • U.S. Peace Corps, Fisheries/Integrated Agricultural Extension Agent (1988-1990)

  • Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission, United States Commissioner (2017-present)

Honors

  • Named 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in Energy Law in Seattle by Best Lawyers

  • Named to Best Lawyers in America, Energy Law (2012-present), Environmental Law (2012-present), Litigation-Environmental (2016-present), Native American Law (2012-present), Natural Resources Law (2012-present)

  • “Super Lawyers“ by Washington Super Lawyers Magazine (2014-present)

  • Leading Practitioner in Chambers USA, Environment (2015-present)

  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Energy Lawyers – Lawdragon (2022-present)

  • Lawdragon 500: Legend (2024)

  • Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law - Lawdragon (2023-present)

Presentations and articles

  • Northwest Hydroelectric Association Annual Conference (February 22, 2023)
    Presenter, Approaches to Collaborating with Tribes on Relicensing and License Implementation

  • 30th Endangered Species Act Conference (January 27, 2023)

    Presenter, ESA Section 7 – Updates Applicable to Ports and Marine Structures
    Seattle, WA

  • Northwest Hydroelectric Association Annual Conference (February 21, 2021)
    Moderator, “The Power of Collaboration”
    Seattle, WA

  • Floodplain Regulation Conference (March 1, 2021)
    Presenter, ESA Update
    The Seminar Group
    Seattle, WA

  • 28th Annual Endangered Species Act Conference (January 27, 2021)
    Presenter, Litigation Considerations Under the ESA
    The Seminar Group
    Seattle, WA

  • Oregon Water Law Conference (November 5, 2020)
    Presenter, FERC Hydro Licensing Update
    The Seminar Group
    Portland, OR

  • Northwest Hydroelectric Association Annual Conference (February 20, 2020)
    Moderator, “The Power of Collaboration”
    Seattle, WA

  • 27th Annual Endangered Species Act Conference (January 23, 2020)
    Presenter, Litigation Considerations Under the ESA
    The Seminar Group
    Seattle, WA

  • Hydropower Relicensing (October 3, 2019)
    Presenter, Federal Environmental Regulatory Update
    The Seminar Group
    Seattle, WA

  • Water Quality Management in Washington (September 10, 2019)
    Presenter, Water Quality Management in Washington
    Law Seminars International
    Seattle, WA

  • 2019 National Hydropower Association Regional Meeting (August 19, 2019)
    Presenter, Regulatory Update – New and Proposed Policies that May Impact Hydro Owners and Developers
    Juneau, AK

Education

  • Lewis & Clark College, Northwestern School of Law J.D., Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resources Law; Cornelius Honor Society, 1995

  • Evergreen State College B.A., 1988

Bar Admissions

  • Washington

  • Oregon

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