Molly counsels public and private clients in all facets of land use and development and is highly skilled at navigating overlapping and divergent federal, state, and local statutes and regulations in the permitting and environmental review processes. Her practice focuses on assisting clients in developing comprehensive permitting strategies and counseling them through the regulatory process from project conception to construction. When necessary to facilitate project development, Molly assists clients in drafting and advocating for changes in laws and regulations through the legislative and rule-making processes. In addition to permitting and legislative work, Molly regularly litigates land use and environmental matters before local governments, and in state and federal court.
Molly’s practice focuses on supporting clients in permitting and defending large-scale infrastructure projects, ranging from airport expansions to electrical transmission lines to ecosystem restoration. Molly is supporting the Port of Seattle with its plans to expand SeaTac Airport, as well as its operation and development of the Seattle waterfront. Molly also recently helped a transmission developer in securing federal authorizations to connect the electrical grid across several states, completing the NEPA EIS process in two years. She also advises the City of Sumner on a comprehensive strategy to address flood risk along the White River, including planning and permitting, floodplain regulation updates, habitat restoration, and coordination with federal agencies. For several years, Molly also assisted in the development and permitting of ecological restoration projects in coastal Louisiana, namely the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion.
Molly advises clients on compliance with key federal statutes, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), as well as related state and local regulatory frameworks. In addition, she has significant experience permitting complex infrastructure projects, including long-distance electrical transmission and large-scale port development.
Molly is sought out for her skills navigating issues related to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), including evolving local floodplain regulations and FEMA mapping. She regularly assists a variety of clients on these issues, including coalitions of local governments, industry groups, and property owners in Washington and Oregon.