Ben Mayer advises public, private, and government entities on environmental, energy, and utility law and regulatory matters, and projects and partnerships with Native American tribes.
Ben helps clients navigate federal and state environmental cleanup and land use laws and regulations, including Superfund laws and environmental policy acts. He also advises clients on federal and state energy laws and regulations, including utility regulatory and public policy issues. Ben advises and represents clients on these issues in:
- environmental cleanup matters and complex Superfund site allocations
- government investigations and requests for information
- the siting, permitting, and development of energy and infrastructure projects
- power sales and purchases
- the acquisition and sale of real property and facilities
- mergers and asset acquisitions
- condemnation and relocation actions
- administrative proceedings before public utilities commissions, including the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, and other federal and states agencies
- litigation
Ben’s American Indian law practice involves representing clients in negotiations and transactions with tribes on issues related to sovereign immunity, tribal jurisdiction, treaty rights, tribal leasing, historic and cultural resources, and gaming. He has advised clients on these matters in relation to:
- the development of wind and solar projects
- leases for wind and solar, mining and mineral, and oil and gas projects
- gaming facilities and services
- forestry operations
- shipping terminals and related water uses
- financial services agreements
- joint venture agreements
- contracts for goods and services
- license agreements
- interlocal taxing agreements
- non-disclosure agreements
- property acquisition financing and sales
- environmental reviews and consultations
- shellfish implementation plans
Prior to joining the firm, Ben served in the United States Army, including a deployment to Iraq. He also established the Veterans Student Union at the University of California, Irvine, and was a co-founding member of the Student Veterans of America.
- Listed in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Environmental Law (2024)
- Listed in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Native American Law (2023-2024)
- Selected to Washington Rising Stars list (2018-2023)
- Leadership Tomorrow, Class of 2022
- Board Member, CleanTech Alliance, 2021-Present
- Board Member, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, 2020-Present
- Board Member, Seattle Sports Commission, 2017–2020
- Content Editor, King County Bar Association Washington Lawyer Practice Manual, Indian Law Chapter, 2014-Present
- Presenter, “Transmission Siting Reform and Potential Impacts on Transmission Development in the Northwest,” Northwest & Intermountain Power Producers Coalition Annual Meeting, 18 September 2023
- Interview, Biggest Energy-Related Rulings Of 2023: Midyear Report, by Peter McGuire, Law360, 18 July 2023
- Speaker, “Recent Federal Native American Law Developments in the Ninth Circuit,” Washington Municipal & PUD Attorneys CLE, 17 May 2023
- Interview, “The Duwamish seek federal recognition,” Seattle Now, KUOW ÓŹ npr, 18 May 2022
- Presenter, “Renewable Energy on Tribal Lands,” Northwest Environmental Business Council and CleanTech Alliance Energy Leadership Summit, 9 November 2021
- Speaker, “Renewable Energy Projects on Tribal Lands: Regulatory Authority, Development, Financing Structures,” Strafford, June 2021
- Interview, “Native communities turning towards renewable development with revenue and values front of mind,” by Colt Shaw, New Project Media, 30 October 2020
- Speaker, “Tax Developments Provide Opportunities for Economic Growth in Indian Country,” Federal Bar Association and myLawCLE, June 2019
- Panel Moderator, “Expanding Opportunities: Innovative Approaches to Procuring Renewable Energy,” Northwest Environmental Business Council Washington’s Energy Future Conference, November 2017
- “Minn. Mine Denial Stresses Importance Of Tribal Partnerships,” Law360, 14 July 2023
- “U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Cans Berkeley Gas Ban Under Federal Law,” Pratt’s Energy Law Report, July-August 2023
- “Recent Rulings Affirm Tribal Sovereign Immunity And Joinder,” Law360, 30 March 2023
- “Renewable Energy on Tribal Lands: Native American Tribes are Well Positioned to Play a Key Role in the Clean Energy Transition,” The Federal Lawyer, March/April 2022
- “Permitting for Energy Projects on Washington’s Coast,” NWLawyer, July/August 2017
- “Culvert Operations: What Cities Need to Know About a Salmon Ruling This Past Spring,” Cityvision Magazine, p. 25-26, September/October 2016
- “Considering The Difference: Treaty Rights And NEPA Review,” Law360, 29 August 2016
- “Go Fish: The Impact of the Ninth Circuit’s ‘Culvert Decision’ on Salmon Runs in Washington State,” Best Lawyers, 22 August 2016
- “Washington Lawyers Practice Manual,” Indian Law Chapter, Content Editor, King County Bar Association, 2014-present
