Zachary Knox Griefen - a Seattle, WA Environmental and Land Use Law Lawyer

Seattle Environmental and Land Use Law Lawyer

Updated: 03/10/2026

Areas of Practice

Environmental and Land Use Law

Attorney Information

Overview

Zachary Knox Griefen has over fifteen years of litigation experience in the fields of environmental and land use law. He has represented environmental organizations, citizen groups, and individuals in cases before municipal boards, state agencies, and state and federal courts. Mr. Griefen has assisted citizen groups and individual clients in halting inappropriate development and enforced federal environmental laws on behalf of environmental organizations and their members. Zak has presented on many legal education panels, on topics including citizen suit litigation, municipal separate storm sewer system regulations, and the regulation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Prior to joining Bricklin & Newman LLP as an associate, Mr. Griefen was a senior litigator for Conservation Law Foundation, with a focus on civil litigation under the federal Clean Water Act. Prior to joining CLF, Zak worked as a litigation attorney at Cheney, Brock & Saudek, P.C. and clerked at the Vermont Environmental Court.

Zak Griefen has a long-term passion for environmental protection. Zak is an avid angler who ties his own flies and is an enthusiastic user of our public lands and waters.

Education

Legal Education
- Vermont Law School, South Royalton, Vermont, 2005
  J.D.
  Honors: cum laude
  Honors: Full Merit Scholarship
  Law Review: Vermont Law Review, Vermont Editor
- Vermont Law School, South Royalton, Vermont, 2005
  Master of Studies in Environmental Law
  Honors: magna cum laude
  Honors: Full Merit Scholarship
Non Legal Education
- University of New Mexico, 2002
  Honors: cum laude
- National Institute of Trial Advocacy Environmental Law Trial Skills Program, 2017

Current Employment Position(s)

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Associate
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Past Positions

Senior Litigator, Conservation Law Foundation
Litigation Associate, Cheney, Brock, and Saudek, P.C.
Hon. Thomas Durkin, Vermont Environmental Court, Judicial Law Clerk
Hon. Merideth Wright, Vermont Environmental Court, Judicial Law Clerk

Pro Bono Activities

Chair, Executive Committee, Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club
Chair, Wetlands and Water Quality Committee, Vermont Chapter of the Sierra Club
Board Member, Vermont Chapter of the Native Fish Coalition

Bar Admissions

Vermont
Massachusetts
Washington
New Hampshire
U.S. District Court Western District of Washington
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Washington
U.S. District Court District of Vermont
U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court District of Connecticut
U.S. District Court District of New Hampshire
U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

Other Affiliations

Washington State Bar Association (Member)
Vermont Bar Association (Member)
American Bar Association (Member)

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Contact

Seattle, WA

123 NW 36th Street
Suite 205
Seattle, WA 98107

Directions

Phone: 206-690-8893

Email: Send a message

Website: https://www.bricklinnewman.com

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Zachary Knox Griefen - Seattle, WA