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Donald E. Marcy

Attorney

Donald is one of the leading lawyers in land use and real estate development matters in Seattle. For over 40 years, he has guided many of the region’s significant mixed-use, office, business park, retail, and multi-family projects to successful conclusion through creative application of the law. He has assisted real estate developers and owners of property in developing commercial and residential projects in the Pacific Northwest and other regions of the country. He has represented clients in all aspects of real estate development; buying property; negotiating ground leases; obtaining land use entitlements; negotiating design, construction, and financing documents; negotiating leases; and selling fully developed properties. The skills he has developed through this legal work are varied and include structuring real estate deals, drafting and negotiating agreements and contracts, negotiating with government agencies, analyzing regulatory programs and requirements, and making public presentations.

As a member and past Chairman of the Government Affairs Committee of NAIOP, the commercial real estate organization, Donald is active in the crafting of legislation that affects the commercial real estate industry.

Introduction

Donald is one of the leading lawyers in land use and real estate development matters in Seattle. For over 40 years, he has guided many of the region’s significant mixed-use, office, business park, retail, and multi-family projects to successful conclusion through creative application of the law. He has assisted real estate developers and owners of property in developing commercial and residential projects in the Pacific Northwest and other regions of the country. He has represented clients in all aspects of real estate development; buying property; negotiating ground leases; obtaining land use entitlements; negotiating design, construction, and financing documents; negotiating leases; and selling fully developed properties. The skills he has developed through this legal work are varied and include structuring real estate deals, drafting and negotiating agreements and contracts, negotiating with government agencies, analyzing regulatory programs and requirements, and making public presentations.

As a member and past Chairman of the Government Affairs Committee of NAIOP, the commercial real estate organization, Donald is active in the crafting of legislation that affects the commercial real estate industry.

Education

  • Stanford University (A.B., with Honors in Economics)
  • University of Southern California (J.D.)
    • Executive Editor of Articles, Southern California Law Review
    • Member, Southern California Law Review

Admissions

  • Washington
  • US District Court, Western District of Washington
  • US District Court, Eastern District of Washington

Honors & Recognition

  • Top Ranked in Washington State by Chambers USA in the area of Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use since 2016
  • Named The Best Lawyers in America® Litigation – Land Use and Zoning “Lawyer of the Year” in Seattle (2022)
  • Named The Best Lawyers in America® Litigation – Real Estate “Lawyer of the Year” in Seattle (2021)
  • Named The Best Lawyers in America® Land Use & Zoning Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Seattle (2014)
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in Land Use & Zoning Law since 2010
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in Litigation – Land Use & Zoning since 2010
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in Litigation – Real Estate since 2010
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in Real Estate Law since 2010
  • Named on the Washington Super Lawyers list by Super Lawyers® Magazine since 2000
  • Named on the Top 100 Washington Super Lawyers list by Super Lawyers® Magazine
  • NAIOP Washington State Chapter Board Member of the Year, 2008
  • NAIOP Washington State Chapter Member of the Year, 1994
  • Association of Washington Business Heavy Lifter Award Recipient, 2008
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent 5.0 out of 5
  • Avvo® rated 10.0 out of 10.0
  • Top 100 Attorneys Award Recipient, Washington CEO Magazine
  • Top Rated Lawyer in Land Use and Zoning, The American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel Magazines
  • Top Ten Attorneys in Washington (in the Area of Real Estate Law) Award Recipient, Washington CEO Magazine in conjunction with Avvo, Inc.
  • League of Justice – Environmental & Land Use Law Award Recipient, Washington CEO Magazine
  • Top Lawyer Award Recipient, Seattle Magazine
  • Top Business Lawyer Award Recipient, Seattle Business
  • Top Lawyer – Real Estate Award Recipient, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine

Professional & Community Involvement

  • National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) Washington (1989-present)
    • Board of Directors (1991-1995, 2005-2009)
    • Chairman of Government Affairs Committee (1996-1998, 2010-2015)
  • King County Green River Flood Protection Task Force
  • State Department of Ecology, State Wetland Integration Strategy Task Force
  • Pacific Real Estate Institute
  • Lewis County Economic Development Council
  • Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce
  • Association of Washington Business, Environmental Affairs Council, Land Use Committee, and Regulatory Reform Committee
  • King County Bar Association
  • Seattle Mayor’s Industrial Lands Task Force (2015-2018)
  • Path with Art, Board of Directors (2021-present)

Publications/Speaking Engagements

  • Moderator, “Seattle Forecast 2018!,” Bisnow, Seattle, WA, January 25, 2018
  • Speaker, “Commercial Real Estate Leases,” Law Seminars International, December 11-12, 2017
  • Moderator, “Seattle State of the Market,” Bisnow, Seattle, WA, December 17, 2013
  • Moderator, “Seattle Office 2020,” Bisnow, Seattle, WA, April 23, 2013
  • Moderator, “Seattle Construction & Development Summit,” Bisnow, Seattle, WA, March 27, 2013