Kari Vander Stoep is a partner in the Seattle office of K&L Gates, where she is a member of the firm’s litigation and energy practice groups. Kari represents a range of clients in state and federal courts and administrative tribunals, including independent power producers, hydropower owners, utilities, resource industries, manufacturers, transportation and shipping companies, and government agencies.
Kari has significant trial court experience, having conducted complex civil bench trials, felony jury trials, administrative hearings, and a wide variety of motion hearings. Kari’s appellate practice focuses primarily on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, where she served as a law clerk for the Honorable M. Margaret McKeown. Kari also represents clients in the Washington and Montana state appellate courts. Kari regularly utilizes cutting-edge technologies and resources to manage complex discovery for federal and state court proceedings.
Kari’s practice involves litigating and advising clients on Washington state utility laws and regulations, the Federal Power Act, Northwest Power Act, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Washington State Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, federal and state constitutional law, Native American law, and municipal law, including Washington’s Public Records Act. Kari’s administrative experience includes extensive proceedings at the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, Bonneville Power Administration and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as state regulatory bodies. Her FERC experience includes licensing, re-licensing, and compliance for hydropower facilities.
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