We are saddened to announce the death of senior partner Melody McCutcheon on Tuesday, November 14.

Melody’s death was totally unexpected, said Gary Fallon, HCMP managing partner. “We are shocked and saddened by the passing of our friend and colleague,” said Fallon. “Melody was the consummate professional, and over the past 30 years helped build the firm’s real estate and land use practice into one of the most highly regarded in the region. But beyond that, she was our dear friend. Our thoughts are with her children, Marin and Michael, during this difficult time.”

Melody worked with the region’s leading organizations and developers on a myriad of ground-breaking projects, including a number of developments in South Lake Union, Safeco Field, the Seattle Aquarium Society’s Master Plan, the Seattle Housing Authority’s Yesler Terrace project, the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Transportation 2040 Plan, the Bullitt Foundation’s Living Building Challenge, and she helped secure landmark status for historic buildings including the Sorrento Hotel.

She received her B.A., with highest honors, from Stanford University, and her M.U.P. (Master of Urban Planning) from the University of Washington. Melody then served as Senior Planner at the agency now called the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections. With that experience, she then attended law school at the University of Washington, where she was part of its Order of the Coif.

Upon joining HCMP in 1988, Melody excelled as an attorney in its Land Use Group. She was consistently recognized as one of the best in her field by virtually every national legal ranking system, and was featured by Washington Super Lawyers in 2015 for her groundbreaking work.

Said Ryan Durkan, Melody’s longtime colleague and Chair of the firm’s Real Estate & Land Use practice group, “We mourn Melody’s untimely death and will miss her leadership, tenacity, and unwavering commitment to clients. She will remain an inspiration to us all. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to work with and know this extraordinary woman during her 29 years at HCMP.”