Experienced Public Contracting, Land Use, and Municipal Attorney

Experienced Public Contracting, Land Use, and Municipal Attorney—Portland, Oregon OR Seattle, Washington (Hybrid Position)

Miller Nash is seeking a public contracting, land use, and municipal attorney with five to ten years of experience to join our team in Portland, Oregon, or Seattle, Washington. Our ideal candidate has significant experience representing cities, counties, special districts, and other public entities on a broad range of legal matters, with substantial experience in both public contracting and procurement (including public improvement design and construction contracts) and land use and planning law. The candidate should be comfortable advising public clients on all phases of the procurement process, including competitive solicitations, contract drafting and negotiation, procurement protests, and compliance with applicable state and local public contracting requirements.

The candidate should also have experience advising local governments on land use and development matters, including zoning and development code interpretation and application, quasi-judicial and legislative land use proceedings, comprehensive plan and development code amendments, permit and entitlement issues, and land use appeals.

The successful candidate will serve as a trusted advisor to local governments, working closely with elected officials, planning and public works staff, procurement professionals, and other public-sector stakeholders to provide practical, strategic legal advice. Strong analytical skills, a commitment to providing exceptional client service, and an enthusiasm for working collaboratively are essential.

Candidates must be licensed and in good standing with both the Oregon State Bar and the Washington State Bar Association. This position may be based in either our Portland or Seattle office. Flexible hybrid work arrangements are available to all Miller Nash attorneys.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Compensation

• Base Salary Range :
• $185,000 - $250,000 annually. Total compensation can significantly exceed the base salary range depending on individual performance, billable hours, and firm results. (The posted range reflects the expected base salary for this role based on factors such as years of experience, qualifications, geographic location, and other relevant considerations. The exact offer within this range will depend on the selected candidate’s background.)
• In addition to base salary, the position is eligible for performance-based bonuses tied to established targets for billings, collections, and billed hours, and discretionary bonus opportunities. Full details regarding bonus eligibility, structure, and potential will be provided in the candidate’s contract.

Miller Nash is an established firm with both strong traditions and modern sensibilities. Although our roots in the Pacific Northwest go back more than a century, we are creative thinkers committed to serving our clients, our community, and each other in thoughtful and innovative ways. Our attorneys and staff enjoy collaborating with one another, and it shows. Candidates and new members of our team often tell us that they are most impressed by the genuine collegiality and caring at our firm.

The clients we serve are a diverse group of businesses, nonprofits, public entities, and individuals. We are organized around the industries of our clients and invest our time to understand our clients’ businesses so we can better meet their needs. Our firm vision centers around delivering great client service, driven by our passion for devoting ourselves to our clients’ legal needs as if they were our own.

Community involvement is a way of life at Miller Nash, as is our deep commitment to diversity. This involvement extends beyond our own offices to the clients we serve and to the communities where we live and work. You will find our attorneys as leaders within their business communities, professional associations, and community nonprofits—giving their time to make a positive impact.