James A. Greenfield
Senior Counsel
Jim Greenfield represents private, nonprofit, and public clients on a wide variety of real estate transactions and land use proceedings. Jim has particular expertise and experience with large, complex public infrastructure projects and is a well-recognized authority in crafting creative, natural-resource conservation transactions. Jim focuses his practice on public/private partnerships, real estate, and development transactions; land transactions with or on behalf of public agencies; and land use matters and administrative proceedings. Jim also has substantial experience with historic preservation and landmark designation, telecommunications, municipal law, government relations, and sports law.
Jim has represented Alaska Airlines, 4Culture (Cultural Development Authority of King County), American President Lines, City of Burien, National Basketball Association, PATH, Sound Transit, Seattle Art Museum, and Seattle Theater Group.
Practice Highlights
Public private partnerships
Natural resource conservation transactions
Land use proceedings
Public Private Partnerships
Paine Field public-private partnership
Transit oriented development PPP
Public private partnership for redevelopment of Burien Town Square
SeaTac Airport Terminal public private partnership
Public private partnership for Sound Transit
Commercial Real Estate Transactions
Purchase of seven-acre site for Alaska Airlines
Public art design and development agreement
Transferable development rights for Seattle Theater Group and Seattle Art Museum
Ground lease and facility financing for ProCure Treatment Center
Office lease for Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH)
Government-Related Real Estate Transactions
Marine terminal lease for American President Lines
Municipal lease/leaseback for Wallace Properties
Restaurant lease for University of Washington
Data center lease for University of Washington
Office sublease for 4Culture
Natural Resource Conservation Transactions
Sale of conservation easement and transferable development rights for Central Puget Sound Council of Camp Fire
Conservation development for Port Blakely Tree Farm
Sale of conservation easement and transferable development rights for Port Blakely Tree Farms
Conservation development for Uplands Reserve LLC
Land Use Proceedings
Development agreement
Rezone for StockPot/Campbell Soup
Landmark designation for Central Puget Sound Council of Camp Fire
Tree protection for residents
Essential public facilities for Sound Transit
Admitted to Practice
- Washington
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
Education
- J.D., University of California, Berkeley School of Law, 1983
- B.S., Political Economy of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, 1979, with highest honors
- Phi Beta Kappa
Memberships & Affiliations
- Board of Directors, 1997-present; Board Chair, 2013-2014 – Forterra (formerly, Cascade Land Conservancy)
- Board of Directors, Leadership Tomorrow, 2010-2016
- Executive Council Member, Green Seattle Partnership, 2004-2012
- Viaduct Taskforce, Downtown Seattle Association, 2009 -2010
- Trustee, Municipal League of King County, 1990-1993, 1999-2002
- Administrator, King County Office of Open Space, 1993-1997
- Board Member and President, Pike Market Senior Center and Downtown Food Bank, 1987-1991
- Deputy General Counsel, Seattle Goodwill Games Organizing Committee, 1988-1990
Professional Recognition
- Named as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" by Chambers USA in Real Estate (Washington), 2007-2024
- Named as one of the "Best Lawyers in America" in Real Estate Law by Best Lawyers, 2009-present; named in Land Use & Zoning Law, 2011-present
- Received the "Willard J. Wright Award for Outstanding Civic Activity," Davis Wright Tremaine, 2022
- Selected to "Washington Super Lawyers," Thomson Reuters, 2009-2014