George’s practice focuses primarily on land use and real estate law with an emphasis on litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts and in the representation of controversial projects in administrative hearings. George’s trial experience, as a prosecutor in Chicago, has been one of the critical factors in the development of his skills in representation of the firm's clients.
Representative Matters
Lead litigation counsel for the Quadrant Corporation in a series of lawsuits and administrative appeals challenging the Redmond Ridge Master Planned Community. This included lawsuits in state trial courts in three different counties, in federal district court, and in the federal and state appellate courts including the Washington Supreme Court.
Representation of the Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Company in litigation challenging the approvals granted to the Intel Corporation for development of a major research and development campus at Northwest Landing, a master planned community in Pierce County. This project included cases in both state and federal trial courts and before the Ninth Circuit.
Representation of the Archdiocese of Seattle in connection with land use issues relating to the religious use of its current properties and planning for future development, including the adoption of county comprehensive plan policies governing development of churches and schools in rural areas of the county.
Representation of the developers of the Pickering Center in Issaquah. This project entailed the development and approval of a new comprehensive plan and zoning by the City of Issaquah allowing the development of a proposed business park and the approval of that project. Litigation challenging the city's decisions and involving the property owners and the operator of the Issaquah Skyport included more than a dozen lawsuits and a challenge before the Shorelines Hearings Board. This litigation extended over eight years. After successfully defending all aspects of the project, new approvals were obtained allowing the development of a retail center.
Representation of the owners and operators of several gravel mining sites in completion of local permitting and in litigation over permits and approvals authorizing mining operations.
Representation of telecommunication service providers in obtaining entitlements for the siting and development of critical facilities and in administrative hearings and judicial review related to the entitlement process.
Land use counsel to a wide range of commercial, multi-family, and single-family developers and to religious institutions with respect to individual projects throughout the Puget Sound region.
Professional and Civic Involvement
King County Bar Association
Washington State Bar Association (Environmental Land Use Law Section)
National Association of Office and Industrial Parks; Washington State Chapter; Member, Board of Directors (1996-2000)
Reported Decisions
West v Sec'y of Dept. of Transp., 206 F.3d 920 (9th Cir. 2000).
HTK Management, LLC v Seattle Popular Monorail Authority, 155 Wn.2d 613; 121 P.3d 1166 (2005).
The Quadrant Corporation v Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board, 154 Wn.2d 224; 110 P.3d 1132 (May 2005).
HJS Development, Inc. v Pierce County, 148 Wn.2d 451; 61 P.3d 114 (2003).
King County v Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board, 138 Wn.2d 161; 979 P.2d 374 (1999).
In Re Johnson, 109 Wn.2d 493; 745 P.2d 864 (1987).
Emrich v Connell, 105 Wn.2d 551; 716 P.2d 863 (1986).
Olympic View-Mukilteo Action Group v City of Mukilteo, 97 Wn.2d 707; 649 P.2d 116 (1982).
Quadrant v Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board, 119 Wn.App. 562; 81 P.3d 918 (2003), rev'd in part 154 Wn.2d 224; 110 P.3d 1132 (2005).
Grandmaster Sheng-Yen Lu v King County, 110 Wn.App. 92; 38 P.3d 104 (2002).
Faben Point Neighbors v City of Mercer Island; 102 Wn.App. 775; 11 P.3d 322 (2000).
Scott v City of Seattle, 103 Wn.App. 1059 (2000).
Schneider Homes v City of Kent, 87 Wn.App. 774; 942 P.2d 1096 (1997).
Kates v Seattle, 44 Wn.App. 754; 723 P.2d 493 (1986).
Speaker, "Land Use Petition Act Appeals: Current Issues, Practice Tips and Settlement Strategies," at the Land Use in Washington conference sponsored by Law Seminars International, Seattle, Washington, April 21-22, 2008.
Speaker, "Land Use Petition Act -- What Is the Scope of Available Relief?," at the Land Use in Washington conference sponsored by Law Seminars International, Seattle, Washington, April 16-17, 2008.
Speaker, "The Video Only Decision -- Property Owner's Perspective," at the Government Takings Conference sponsored by Law Seminars International,Seattle, Washington, December 1-2, 2005.
Speaker, "History and Issues Presented by Quadrant v Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board," WSBA Environmental and Land Use Section Mid-Year Meeting, Rosario, Washington, May 13-15, 2004.
Speaker, "Practice Under the Land Use Petition Act," at the Local Implementation of Regulatory Reform conference sponsored by Law Seminars International, February, 1999.
Speaker, "Recent Land Use Decisions," Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, 1998.
Author, "PUDs, Binding Site Plans, and Other Innovative Zoning Techniques," Chapter 4, WSBA Real Property Deskbook, Fourth Edition (anticipated 2010).
Co-Author, "Adversarial Land Use Proceedings and Litigation," Chapter 16, WSBA Real Property Deskbook, Fourth Edition (anticipated 2010).
Co-Author, "PUDs, Binding Site Plans, and Cluster Zoning," chapter 90, WSBA Real Property Deskbook, Third Edition, Washington State Bar Association, 1997.
Co-author, "State Environmental Policy Act," chapter in WSBA Real Property Deskbook, Second Edition, Washington State Bar Association (1989 rev.).
Speaker, "The First Amendment and Zoning: Sex, Signs, and the Single-Family Zone," American Planning Association National Convention, 1984.
Honors / Awards / Prior Experience
Repeatedly ranked by Chambers USA as a Leading Individual for Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use, most recently in 2012
Repeatedly recognized as "Super Lawyer" by Washington Law & Politics and Thomson Reuters' Washington Super Lawyers, most recently in 2012
Assistant States Attorney, Cook County, Illinois, 1976-1977
Education
J.D., University of Michigan Law School, cum laude, 1976
A.B., University of Notre Dame, magna cum laude, 1971
Bar/Court Admissions
Washington State Supreme Court
Illinois State Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth District
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Personal
Taking to heart Alexander Pope's injunction that "The proper study of mankind is man," I spend my time outside the office trying to figure it all out. When this proves too taxing, I attend or watch the occasional college football game (no more than eight hours on Saturdays from September through November), improve my house (with all appropriate permits, of course), or cook dinner for family and friends.
