TagCity of Burien(345)

Law firm Leech Tishman Nelson Hardiman, Inc. sent this November 2025 letter to the cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac, Washington, along with Vashon Island Fair Skies, Inc., requesting their consent to be represented together in legal challenges against the FAA's environmental approval of near-term construction projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The firm explains that while a potential conflict of interest exists in representing multiple clients simultaneously, all parties currently share a common goal of contesting the FAA's Finding of No Significant Impact related to increased aviation noise. The letter outlines the conditions of the joint representation, including fee-sharing arrangements, attorney-client privilege limitations, and procedures the firm will follow if the clients' interests diverge.

This legal agreement establishes joint representation by attorney Steven M. Taber of Leech Tishman Nelson Hardiman, Inc. for the cities of SeaTac, Burien, and Des Moines in their shared legal challenge to the FAA's approval of the Port of Seattle's SAMP (Sustainable Airport Master Plan) project. The document discloses potential conflicts of interest that can arise when multiple municipalities share a single attorney, and obtains each city's informed written consent to proceed despite those risks. It also outlines how the three cities will share legal costs under an interlocal agreement and explains the procedures that would apply if a conflict between the cities were to emerge during the litigation.

This agreement establishes the terms under which attorney Steven M. Taber of Leech Tishman Nelson Hardiman, Inc. will jointly represent the cities of SeaTac, Burien, and Des Moines in a legal challenge to the FAA's approval of the Port of Seattle's SAMP airport expansion project. It discloses potential conflicts of interest that can arise when multiple municipalities share one lawyer, and requires each city to formally consent to the arrangement in writing. The document also explains how the three cities will share legal costs under an interlocal agreement, and outlines steps that must be taken if conflicts between the cities emerge during the litigation.

The cities of Burien, Des Moines, and SeaTac, Washington signed a conflict waiver on November 21, 2025, acknowledging that their legal interests may potentially conflict with those of Vashon Island Fair Skies, while all being represented by the same law firm, Leech Tishman Nelson Hardiman, Inc. The waiver relates to a legal challenge — a Petition for Review — of the FAA's Finding of No Significant Impact and Record of Decision for the Sustainable Airport Master Plan (SAMP) Near-Term Projects at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. All three cities knowingly consented to the concurrent representation and to legal fees being paid by a third party on their behalf.