The renewable energy and energy-efficiency industries generate approximately $1 trillion in revenue and 8.5 million jobs. The West Coast has been at the forefront of this exponential growth and Bullivant Houser Bailey has been alongside these industry leaders. Bullivant has the depth, passion, and experience to service this emerging industry.

OUR COMMITMENT

Bullivant is committed to meeting the legal needs of our clients in this rapidly growing market sector. We share our clients' values of responsible and efficient use of resources (BHB Sustainability Policy). Bullivant is a leader in the legal industry in promoting sustainable industry practices. We participate in the Resource Venture, Legal Services Waste Prevention Workgroup and recently hosted members from 21 countries at a Multilaw Joint Asia Pacific and Americas Regional Conference highlighting the business benefits of sustainability practices.

OUR TEAM

An integrated approach is required to properly respond to this emerging industry. Attorneys in our industry team advise clients on the following issues:

  • Clean Technology Patents and Intellectual Property
  • Conservation Land Transactions
  • Environmental Regulation
  • Green Remediation
  • Green Development, Construction, LEED® and Real Estate
  • Immigration for a Global Workforce
  • Renewable Energy Projects
  • Tax Credits

Our industry team includes Howard Carsman and Janet Kim Lin, both LEED® Accredited Professionals (AP) and two of the first attorneys in the United Staes to have earned the designation. They bring recognized, technical familiarity with LEED to our Sustainability team and to our construction and development clients.

Our commitment to sustainability ranges from LEED to agriculture and energy. In the agriculture industry, Howard Carsman, through his membership in Oregon Tilth, is familiar with the organic certification process for agricultural products. Our attorneys are active in organizations that promote a sustainable economy. A sampling of our involvement follows:

  • Cascadia Region Green Building Council
  • Columbia Land Trust (Board Member)
  • National Brownfield Association
  • Northwest Land Trusts (Pro Bono Volunteer)
  • Oregon Lawyers for a Sustainable Future (Steering Committee Member)
  • Portland Energy Conservation, Inc.
  • Washington Lawyers for a Sustainable Future
  • The Wetlands Conservancy

OUR EXPERIENCE

LEED Design and Construction

  • Representing a non-profit owner in its capital program, which features LEED construction
  • Representing a non-profit organization in its restoration of a vintage theatre and seeking LEED Silver certification
  • Counsel clients on contractual and risk management issues arising from LEED

Renewable Energy

  • Represented weather-driven renewable energy forecasting company in the negotiation and drafting of wind power assessment licenses with an electric utility and developers for siting future wind projects
  • Represent an energy conservation and solar technology development company, which was the largest installer of commercial solar systems in the state of Oregon in 2008
  • Represent an energy intelligence company that provides businesses and individuals with solar monitoring solutions to help effectively measure and manage energy
  • Advised a biofuels startup regarding compliance with state and federal environmental regulations
  • Represent developer of facilities that convert agricultural waste and other biomass to produce methane burned to generate electricity as natural gas equivalent
  • Represented a wind farm developer in connection with the sale of a wind farm

Green Technology

  • Assist eco-friendly software company with contract negotiations and finalization for bundling wasteful page elimination software with copier and printer hardware; joint venture, marketing and distribution contract to distribute software; and initial round of angel investor financing

Sustainable Development

  • Represent landowners and land trust in conservation land transactions, including conservation easements, leases, purchases and sales
  • Represented developer of a proposed wind farm project in Klickitat County, including negotiating with state and federal wildlife agencies to resolve concerns of the potential impact of the project on Bald Eagles, and successfully defended the project's permit through multiple levels of appeal
  • Represented stakeholders in hydropower licensing proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  • Represented a developer in the acquisition of a controlling interest in a project to develop a wind farm in Montana

Green Business

  • Corporate and trademark counsel for Vertitude, producer of designer knitwear using organic fibers, natural dyes and sustainable business practices
  • Assist wind turbine manufacturer with immigration and general employment matters
  • Purchased carbon offsets equivalent to paper used in a closing transaction to celebrate client's successful merger and acquisition
  • Organized, financed, and sold (high eight figures) a company to treat stormwater runoff using patented technology
  • Organized, financed, and currently representing a dry cleaning business utilizing environmentally clean solvents to clean garments
  • Represent a bank with a mission focused on lending to environmental and sustainable businesses