Walker Stanovsky

Associate

Walker Stanovsky practices energy and climate change law at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. He chose this practice to build on his background in biology and climate science and to live out his inherited love of Washington state’s wild places. He has represented publicly-owned and investor-owned utilities, utility customers, independent power producers, and sustainability-focused nonprofits. He helps them navigate the swift currents of climate and energy regulation at the local, state, and federal levels.

Walker works closely with DWT’s energy and litigation attorneys to represent clients in state regulatory proceedings, FERC hydropower licensing and license implementation, and federal court litigation. He also works on land use and environmental law matters, particularly when they involve complex interactions among diverse regulatory frameworks.

Advice regarding corporate renewable energy and climate programs

Advising large consumer-facing company regarding corporate renewable energy and climate program. Tracking renewable energy and climate progress by specified peer corporations and analyzing trends at the cutting edge of the voluntary corporate renewable/climate movement. Providing legal analysis and advice on specific topics when they arise. Examples include carbon accounting nuances under the GHG Protocol and the soundness of different renewable energy and carbon deal structures to meet stated corporate goals. (Ongoing)

Advice regarding carbon markets

Developing contracts to generate and/or market credits for greenhouse gas reductions. These include transactions in both compliance and voluntary carbon markets, as well as novel technological approaches not yet recognized, with the goal of developing new, more efficient crediting protocols within established markets. Clients on these matters represent the tech industry, private timberland, and the public sector. (Ongoing)

Utility net metering/net requirements agreement for commercial rooftop solar customer

Advised large commercial utility customer with a rooftop solar array in Oregon and coordinated with counsel for utility when asked to replace longstanding net metering agreement with new net requirements contract prohibiting net metering. (2017)

Carbon credit purchase and sale agreement for forestland owner

Working with DWT real estate and energy attorneys to craft agreement for purchase and sale of carbon credits from improved forest management. Agreement includes elements of standard power purchase agreement and real estate contracts, as well as unique provisions reflecting third-party carbon credit registry program. (Ongoing)

Legal analysis and advice on new large loads for publicly owned utility

Advising publicly owned utility on numerous legal and policy issues around new large load interconnection requests and their potential impact on the utility and existing customers. (2016-present)

Admitted to Practice

Alaska, 2024
Washington, 2015

Education

J.D., University of Washington School of Law, 2015
- Order of the Coif
- Articles Editor, Washington Law Review
- Environmental Law Society
- UW Program on Climate Change Summer Institute
- Winner, American Bar Association Energy Law Student Writing Competition
A.B., Biochemical Sciences, Harvard University, 2008
- Citation, German language and literature
- Harvard Glee Club
- Harvard Crimson photographer

Professional Recognition

- Named "One to Watch" by Best Lawyers in Energy Law, 2022-2025

Background

- Law Clerk, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, Seattle, 2014-2015
- Law Clerk, Earthjustice, San Francisco, 2014
- Legal Extern, King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Land Use and Natural Resources Section, Seattle, 2013
- Research Assistant, Professor Tom Cobb, University of Washington School of Law, Seattle, 2013