Ryan C. Thomas

Ryan Thomas helps navigate complex statutory and regulatory schemes in order to obtain and defend the approvals and agreements necessary to complete projects, including sports facilities, office and mixed-use buildings, data centers, and alternative energy (wind, solar, battery storage). He drafts and negotiates bespoke agreements with private and public parties. Ryan's practice blends land use, real estate, project development, and energy law. He has experience in administrative law and in both state and federal courts. Ryan understands the pressures and pace of the business community, providing timely guidance that is sensitive to his clients’ business needs.

Ryan's land use and real estate development practice focuses on all aspects of project development, including preacquisition diligence, setting and implementing entitlement strategy, effectively establishing public-private partnerships, complying with environmental laws and processes, and drafting and negotiating key agreements necessary to mitigate risk and implement business objectives. He works with the private sector and with school districts and regularly negotiates agreements with local municipalities. Ryan sensitively and effectively works with local permitting authorities. His work often includes advising on Washington’s State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), the Growth Management Act (GMA), the Shoreline Management Act (SMA), subdivision laws, and other state and local frameworks affecting the environment and development.

Ryan's energy practice centers on the complex regulatory framework for energy companies seeking to modify existing tariffs or create new ones, including renewable energy tariffs. His energy project development practice supports clients siting large-scale solar, wind, and battery energy storage projects, including advice regarding state energy facility siting councils. Ryan has experience advising companies on regulatory issues before state public utility commissions, and he regularly negotiates utility franchise agreements that provide energy companies with the right to occupy and use rights-of-way for utility facilities.