Robert Smith is a partner in the firm’s Environment, Land, and Natural Resources practice group. His practice focuses on land use, governmental and regulatory permitting, real estate and shoreline development, renewable energy, aquaculture and fisheries law, and tribal law.
His experience includes counseling clients through all required local, state, and federal regulatory proceedings, including environmental and regulatory due diligence, representation of clients at administrative and regulatory hearings, negotiation of permit terms and conditions, state and federal environmental review, processing subdivision maps, negotiation of public-private partnerships and development agreements, development of specific plans, coordination of public relations and outreach efforts, negotiation of purchase and sale agreements and lease agreements, and litigation arising from regulatory approvals or denials.
Robert assists clients with complex regulatory, permitting, and enforcement matters under a range of environmental statutes, including the California Coastal Act, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), Subdivision Map Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and Washington State Shoreline Management Act (SMA), as well as Tribal treaties. This experience includes working on a variety of projects, including mixed use commercial and residential projects, wind and solar energy facilities, sports and entertainment facilities, marinas, and water-based and land-based aquaculture and fisheries facilities.
Robert has been recognized by The Legal 500 United States as a Recommended Lawyer for Environment: Regulatory, 2025.
Specific examples of Robert’s work in the aquaculture and seafood industry include:
- Rpresenting a seafood client defending against California Proposition 65 claim alleging harmful toxins were found in seafood products;
- Representing a client in defending enforcement action brought by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Seafood Inspection Program against alleged violations involving seafood processing facility
- Serving as lead counsel representing approximately 70 shellfish companies in litigation concerning Tribal treaty fishing rights in US v. Washington litigation, involving the adjudication of over 900 claims submitted by shellfish companies; representing aquaculture companies in enforcement actions brought by the US Army Corps of Engineers, California Coastal Commission, and US Environmental Protection Agency;
- Representing an aquaculture and seafood processing facilities in obtaining NPDES permits and Clean Water Act compliance;
- Representing an aquaculture trade association in negotiations with the US Food and Drug Administration concerning proposed changes to shellfish health regulations; and
- Representing an aquaculture trade association in drafting and negotiating a new aquaculture lease template for all aquaculture leases in Washington State.
Prior to joining the firm, Robert served as a partner at a natural resource law firm in Seattle where he advised clients involved in the aquaculture, marina, fishery, and cannabis industries in administrative proceedings, regulatory and governmental permitting, and any associated state or federal litigation. He also previously worked at a firm in Southern California representing public clients, including municipalities, counties, and special districts, where he advised public clients concerning land use matters, environmental review, and development agreements and other real estate transactions. He also previously worked as a senior associate in the environmental and land use group at the Los Angeles office of an international law firm where he advised and represented clients on a variety of large-scale mixed-use development projects.