DWT
  • A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z View All
    • Can't find what you are looking for? Click here to view all practices.
    • Anchorage
      T907.257.5300
      Suite 800
      701 West Eighth Avenue
      Anchorage, AK 99501-3408
    • Bellevue
      T425.646.6100
      Suite 2300
      777 108th Avenue NE
      Bellevue, WA 98004-5149
    • Los Angeles
      T213.633.6800
      Suite 2400
      865 South Figueroa Street
      Los Angeles, CA 90017-2566
    • New York
      T212.489.8230
      1633 Broadway
      27th Floor
      New York, NY 10019-6708
    • Portland
      T503.241.2300
      Suite 2400
      1300 SW Fifth Avenue
      Portland, OR 97201-5610
    • San Francisco
      T415.276.6500
      Suite 800
      505 Montgomery Street
      San Francisco, CA 94111-6533
    • Seattle
      T206.622.3150
      Suite 2200
      1201 Third Avenue
      Seattle, WA 98101-3045
    • Shanghai
      T011.8621.6170.9500
      Suite 640 East Tower, Shanghai Centre
      1376 Nanjing Xi Lu
      Shanghai, People's Republic of China, 200040
    • Washington, D.C.
      T202.973.4200
      Suite 800
      1919 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
      Washington, DC 20006-3401

  • View All

    View All
  • Email Page
  • Create PDF
  • Print Page

Michael J. Gelardi

GelardiMichael
Associate
vCardDownload vCard
Portland
T503.778.5337
F503.778.5299
Michael’s practice focuses on environmental and land use regulation, as well as business transactions involving energy, agriculture and natural resources. Michael works on many emerging legal issues involving the assessment, minimization, and mitigation of environmental impacts. He also has a range of land use experience, from state legislative and policy matters to local permitting and appeals.

Practice Highlights
  • Water Rights and Water Quality: Experience includes analysis of the scope and priority of municipal, industrial and agricultural water rights. Michael has also participated in contested case proceedings to secure and defend municipal water rights, and has helped draft and analyze state water resources legislation. He also has experience with water quality issues, including permitting, compliance, and enforcement.
  • Energy Development: Assists with real estate leasing and land use and environmental permitting for wind projects and other energy facilities.
  • Agriculture: Represents vineyard and winery owners in securing land use approvals and water rights. Michael also advises the Oregon Winegrowers Association on legislative and policy matters related to land use, water resources, and pesticide use.
  • Hazardous Substances: Experience includes analysis of potential liability and participation in negotiations regarding remediation and natural resources restoration in Portland Harbor. Michael also evaluates environmental risks in business transactions.

Representative Experience

Agricultural conservation easements for Oregon Rangeland Trust

Outside general counsel. Negotiate agricultural conservation easements with farm and ranch owners. (Ongoing)

Federal Superfund for Mitsubishi Corp. and Mitsubishi International Corp.

Representation of client in the potentially responsible party group for the Portland Harbor Superfund site. (Ongoing) Read more

Friends of Yamhill County v. Yamhill County, LUBA No. 2012-005

Represent winery in defending conditional use permitting process for winery facilities and activities on farmland. Prevailed before Yamhill County Board of Commissioners and Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission. (Ongoing)

Hydroelectric power project for Idaho Power Company

Representation of power company in two-state water quality certification proceedings, under § 401 of the Clean Water Act, associated with relicensing of the 1,200 MW Hells Canyon Complex on the Snake River. (Ongoing) Read more

Water rights planning, procurement and legislative counsel for multiple cities in Oregon

Representation before the Oregon Water Resources Department of cities and municipal utilities in fast-growing communities in Central Oregon, Southern Oregon, and the Portland metro area related to obtaining, extending and protecting municipal water rights. General Counsel to the Oregon Water Utilities Council and special water counsel to the League of Oregon Cities. (Ongoing) Read more

Freedman v. Lane County, LUBA No. 2011-055

Represented farm business owner and other neighbors seeking to protect local water quality through land use proceedings. Prevailed before Land Use Board of Appeals and Lane County Hearings Official. (2012) 

Agricultural contracts for lawn and garden supply company

Developed grass seed supply contracts for lawn and garden supply company. (2011)

Land use appeal

Successfully challenged county destination resort eligibility designations before the Land Use Board of Appeals on behalf of large ranchland owners. (2011)

Development - renewable for Caithness Shepherds Flat, LLC

Local development counsel on a 909 MW wind energy project to be constructed in Eastern Oregon, assisting the client on siting, electric transmission and interconnection, legislative matters, environmental issues, tax credits and property tax abatements.

Additional Qualifications

  • Legal Extern, Hon. John C. Coughenour, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, Seattle
  • Legal Extern, Office of Regional Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10, Seattle
  • Three years of experience in nonprofit fundraising and communications

Professional & Community Activities

  • Federal Advisory Committee, Oregon Water Resources Congress
  • Executive Committee, Agricultural Law Section, Oregon State Bar
  • Board of Directors, Portland Fruit Tree Project
Close
Close

Education

  • J.D., University of Washington School of Law, 2008
    • Executive Notes & Comments Editor, Washington Law Review
    • Speaker Award, Judson Falknor Appellate Advocacy Competition
  • B.A., Political Science, Environmental Studies, Macalester College, 2002
    • Phi Beta Kappa
    • Hubert H. Humphrey-Walter Mondale Prize in Political Science
    • Gifford Pinchot Prize in Environmental Studies