Ben Mayer advises and represents public, private, and government clients on environmental, energy and natural resources, and utility law and regulatory matters. He also works with clients on projects and partnerships with Native American tribes.
Ben helps clients navigate federal and state environmental cleanup and land use laws and regulations, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Washington Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). He also advises clients on energy laws, regulations, and public policy applicable to utilities, generating facilities, carbon emissions, and the clean energy transition, including Washington's Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA), Climate Commitment Act (CCA), and Clean Buildings law. 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
- Water supply agreements
- The acquisition and sale of real property and facilities
- Mergers and asset acquisitions
- Condemnation and relocation actions
- Administrative proceedings before federal and state agencies, including the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission and other public utilities commissions
- Litigation and appeals
Ben's American Indian law practice involves counseling 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 advises and represents clients on these matters in relation to:
- The development and operation of wind, solar, and natural resource projects, including related environmental reviews, consultations, and land leases
- Shipping terminals and related water uses
- Financial services, joint venture, license, interlocal taxing, and non-disclosure agreements
- Gaming facilities and services, including contracts for goods and services
- Property acquisition financing and sales
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 in Seattle
- Environmental Law, 2024-2025
- Native American Law, 2023-2025
- 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
- Panelist, “Carbon Markets and Potential Repeal of the CCA: Where We Go From Here,” Northwest & Intermountain Power Producers Coalition Annual Meeting, 16 September 2024
- 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
- “Natural gas survives the election. Post-election prospects strong,” EnviroPolitics Blog, 19 November 2024
- “It’s a Gas! Federal and State Developments Continue to Light Up the Natural Gas Debate,” Energy Law Report, May 2024.
- “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
- Quoted, “Eyeing Electrification, Governments Reroute Post-Berkeley,” Law360, 7 August 2024
- Quoted, “VIDEO: Past, present, future celebrated and explained at Duwamish Longhouse’s 15th anniversary party,” West Seattle Blog, 28 January 2024
