Jeffrey W. Leppo
Experience
Jeff Leppo's practice is focused on environmental and natural resources permitting
and litigation. He serves as Office Managing Partner for the Seattle office and is a past
practice group leader for Stoel Rives' natural resources, development and environment
practices.
Jeff has managed federal, state and local environmental reviews and permitting
processes, and defended related litigation, for numerous complex resource projects
including hydropower project relicensing, oil and gas exploration and development
projects in Alaska, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System reauthorization and related
reconfigurations, and Pacific fisheries management plans. He has also managed the
complex permitting of major energy facilities before the Washington State Energy
Partner
Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC).
Jeff's litigation experience includes Endangered Species Act (ESA), National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA) suits, defense of
Seattle, WA
(206) 386-7641 direct
(206) 386-7500 fax
numerous Clean Water Act (CWA) and Clean Air Act (CAA) citizen suits, defense of
enforcement actions, Superfund contribution suits and class action toxic tort cases. He
jeffrey.leppo@stoel.com
also has handled cases on both sides of oil-spill damage claims.
Jeff has advised clients and attorneys on provisions concerning environmental risks
Education

and liabilities in acquisitions, real property purchases and bank loan documents,
leases and creditor bankruptcy filings. He has also directed environmental due
diligence investigations for acquisition of commercial and industrial real estate,
J.D., 1980

including major mineral properties.
Professional Honors and Activities

Fellow, American College of Environmental Lawyers

Selected by Best Lawyers® as Litigation-Environmental Law Lawyer of the Year,
Seattle, 2012

Listed in Best Lawyers in America© (currently: Environmental Law, LitigationEnvironmental, Oil & Gas Law), 2009-2016

Selected as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" (Washington) by
Chambers USA (currently: Environment), 2005-2016

Listed in Washington Super Lawyers® (Environmental), 2006-2016
University of Virginia School of Law,
College of William and Mary, B.A.,
1977, Biology, with honors
Admissions

Washington

Oregon

Alaska

District of Columbia

U.S. District Courts for the Western
and Eastern Districts of Washington

U.S. District Court for Alaska

U.S. District Court for the District of
Columbia

U.S. District Court for Oregon

Ninth and D.C. Circuit Courts of
Appeals

U.S. Supreme Court
Jeffrey W. Leppo
Presentations

Jeff has served as a faculty member and speaker for numerous conferences and seminars in Washington, Oregon and Alaska on
environmental law. The subjects he has addressed include hazardous waste litigation, citizen suit litigation, environmental
issues in real estate transactions, defense of environmental enforcement cases and ethical issues in environmental law.