1420 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4100 Seattle, WA 98101 Phone: (206) 223-7000 Fax: (206) 223-7107 E-mail: info@lanepowell.com www.lanepowell.com Locations Seattle, WA (HQ) Anchorage, AK Olympia, WA Portland, OR Tacoma, WA London Green Program Contact Jeffrey Wolfstone Shareholder 601 SW Second Avenue, Suite 2100 Portland, OR 97204 Phone: (503) 778-2100 Fax: (503) 778-2200 E-mail: wolfstonej@lanepowell.com Company Green Practices What types of green programs has your company implemented? Commuting and travel. Lane Powell provides incentives to encourage the use of mass transit, carpooling, bikes, etc. We offer partially subsidized, pre-tax public transportation passes, and we provide bike racks and shower facilities in our Seattle and Portland offices. The firm assists with carpooling arrangements for employees who would like to share rides. We work to reduce business travel through technology such as videoconferencing. Earth-friendly tenant improvements. When tenant improvements are made, the firm seeks to use materials that are the least hazardous and most natural, giving preference to those that are high in recycled content, recyclable or biodegradable, certified sustainable and durable. When choosing such materials, we use the criteria set forth in the LEED guides for tenant improvements. For example, a 2008 remodel of our Portland office used low-order, zero-voc paint, as well as carpet tiles with solvent-free adhesive. Purchasing green. Sustainability is considered in the purchase of supplies, equipment and services, with preference given to recyclability, biodegradability, recycled content, waste minimization, hazardous chemical-free, energy conservation, resource conservation, locally manufactured and organic. Our firm s sustainability team identifies vendors that employ sustainable business practices. For example, we purchase organic, shade-grown, fair-trade coffee. 316 LIBRARY 2008 Vault.com, Inc.
Reducing energy and water use. We encourage energy conservation and efficiency in heating/cooling, lighting and equipment. Motion sensor lights are installed in key areas of our offices and our water faucets are also motion-sensored. It is our firm s policy to turn off computers and monitors each night, and we purchase Energy Star electronics. Waste reduction and recycling. We minimize the use of paper in data storage, printing and copying, internal and external communications, and mailing. We minimize disposables and packaging, reuse equipment and supplies when feasible, and maximize recycling. Whenever appropriate, we print and copy on doublesided paper and use recycled paper. Many of our intra-office documents have been converted to electronic-only versions. The firm reuses wastecan liners when possible. We provide real dishes, flatware and dishwashers to reduce the use of disposable dishes and flatware. When did the company create and launch these programs? Many of our programs, such as recycling and transportation subsidies, have been in place for many years; others, such as the switch to organic, shade-grown, fair-trade coffee, are more recent. We improve and clarify our sustainability policy whenever necessary; the last revision was in May 2007. Who is accountable for helping your company and its green programs meet its goals? Jeffrey Wolfstone, chair of Lane Powell s sustainability committee. How do your products/services reflect your green philosophy? We are one of the Pacific Northwest s few law firms with extensive expertise in renewable energy projects, including wind, solar, biomass and biofuels. Lane Powell s sustainable industries practice group provides legal services to other sustainability-minded businesses. The sustainable industries practice group attorneys who have the knowledge, experience and perspective to help environmentally responsible businesses succeed. (Our firm includes LEED -accredited attorneys.) The Lane Powell Sustainability Industries Law Team offers expertise in areas such as business; construction; energy; environmental; land, air and water quality; land use; and natural resources law. We are proud to represent clients that are leading the way in being green, including sustainable apparel manufacturer/retailer nau Inc., several renewable power companies, an eco-minded major catalog company and an environmentally responsible paint company. Visit the Vault Diversity Channel for diversity program profiles of 100s of top employers, insider advice from executives about workplace diversity and more. Go to www.vault.com/diversity LIBRARY 317
How does the company communicate its environmental goals to its employees and its stakeholders? The company s sustainability policy is posted on our Intranet and our public web site. Lane Powell s sustainability committee sends staffwide e-mails when major changes are implemented. Our annual State-of-the-Firm presentation to all employees contains an update about the company s sustainability efforts. A Green Tip of the Week is included in our weekly employee newsletter (which is electronic to save paper). How does your business model promote green? In addition to our sustainable industries practice group (detailed in a previous question), we routinely speak at conferences around the nation, such as the POWER- GEN Renewables conference, and we are regular contributors to Energy and the Sustainable Industries Journal. We are actively involved with the Law Sustainability Task Force, Northwest Environmental Business Council, Northwest Earth Institute, Lawyers for a Sustainable Future, and the City of Seattle Office of Sustainability and the Environment. Have your company s facilities been certified as eco-friendly work environments? No. Does your company intentionally do business with suppliers or third-party vendors that have green practices in place or use any preferences or requirements that suppliers or vendors meet key environmental benchmarks? Yes. Sustainability is considered in the purchase of supplies, equipment and services, with preference given to recyclability, biodegradability, recycled content, waste minimization, hazardous-chemical free, energy conservation, resource conservation, locally manufactured and organic. Our sustainability team identifies vendors that employ sustainable business practices. Can you share with us measurable results detailing the effectiveness of your green initiatives? No. 318 LIBRARY 2008 Vault.com, Inc.
What efforts has your company undertaken to participate in the public debate on climate change? We routinely author articles and columns, send legal updates to select clients and contacts, participate in interviews for print, radio and TV, conduct seminars and appear at speaking engagements. Some recent examples include: March 2008: An attorney was interviewed on About The Money, regarding environmental policy changes in the wake of a new bill passed by the legislature and signed by Washington Governor Gregoire. The segment aired on KCTS (PBS), Channel 9 in Seattle. March 2008: E-mailed legal update to select clients and contacts, Washington Legislature Adopts Broad Climate Change Measure. February 2008: Held a seminar, The Changing Climate for Climate Change What s Ahead for Businesses in the Northwest. February 2008: An attorney spoke at the Supporting Sustainable Business Practices Through Law, conference, sponsored by The Center on Corporations, Law & Society in collaboration with Seattle University School of Law Office of Continuing Legal Education. He presented Risks & Rewards of Sustainable Business. February 2008: An attorney was interviewed on Comcast Newsmakers as a legal leader in the field of LEED certification and green building trends. Comcast Newsmakers is a four-and-a-half minute interview segment that is seen at 50 minutes after the hour on CNN Headline News on Comcast Cable throughout all of Western Washington. November 2007: An attorney authored an article for the Portland Business Journal, Portland Mulls Carbon Tax. November 2007: Held a seminar, Financing Green Buildings with Tax Credits. October 2007: An attorney authored an article for the Portland Business Journal, Second-Generation Biofuels Move Into Oregon. October 2007: E-mailed legal update to select clients and contacts, Greenhouse Gas Inventory State and Local Governments Want to Know Your Project s Carbon Footprint. October 2007: Held a seminar, It s Not Easy Being LEED: Challenges Facing Green Construction. September 2007: An attorney authored an article for the Portland Business Journal, The role of lawyers in the sustainability movement. September 2007: Held a seminar, Green Building Markets and Certification Standards Developments/How to Position Your Project in the Market and Reduce Longterm Costs Visit the Vault Diversity Channel for diversity program profiles of 100s of top employers, insider advice from executives about workplace diversity and more. Go to www.vault.com/diversity LIBRARY 319
July 2007: E-mailed legal update to select clients and contacts, The Puget Sound Partnership, about a new Washington state agency charged with overseeing and restoring Puget Sound to a healthy condition by the year 2020. July 2007: An attorney authored an article for the Portland Business Journal, In Green Portland the Pressure is on to Show Your Colors. Internal Employee Green Initiatives What initiatives has the company encouraged its employees to participate in that help to limit carbon emissions on an operating basis? Commuting and travel. Lane Powell provides incentives to encourage the use of mass transit, carpooling, bikes, etc. We offer partially subsidized, pre-tax public transportation passes, and we provide bike racks and shower facilities in our Seattle and Portland offices. The firm assists with carpooling arrangements for employees who would like to share rides. We work to reduce business travel through technology such as teleconferencing. Reducing energy and water use. We encourage energy conservation and efficiency in heating/cooling, lighting and equipment. Motion sensor lights are installed in key areas of our offices and our water faucets are also motion sensored. It is our firm s policy to turn off computers and monitors each night, and we purchase Energy Star electronics. Waste reduction and recycling. We minimize the use of paper in data storage, printing and copying, internal and external communications, and mailing. We minimize disposables and packaging, reuse equipment and supplies when feasible, and maximize recycling. Whenever appropriate, we print and copy on doublesided paper and use recycled paper. Many of our intra-office documents have been converted to electronic-only versions. The firm reuses waste can liners when possible. We provide real dishes, flatware and dishwashers to reduce the use of disposable dishes and flatware. How are these initiatives communicated to its employees? These initiatives are included in the company s Sustainability Policy, which is posted on our intranet and our public web site. Lane Powell s sustainability committee sends staffwide e-mails when major changes are implemented. Our annual State-of-the-Firm presentation to all employees contains a yearly update about the company s sustainability efforts. 320 LIBRARY 2008 Vault.com, Inc.
A Green Tip of the Week is included in our employee newsletter (which is electronic to save paper). What mechanisms does the company have to allow employees to innovate or provide feedback about ways in which the company can meet its initiatives? All employees are invited to be part of the Lane Powell s sustainability committee. Members come from all areas of the company, including management, attorneys, paralegals, secretaries, marketing employees and office services. Employees don t need to be active in the sustainability committee to share their ideas; they can e-mail their ideas to the committee s e-mail distribution list. Do you have numbers or percentages of how many of your employees are involved in eco-focused programs? As of March 2008, 17 of our 316 employees (5 percent) were members of our sustainability committee. All employees have recycling containers at their desks. Nine of our 180 attorneys (5 percent) are members of our sustainable industries team, serving environmentally-minded clients. As of February 2008, 206 of our 316 employees (65 percent) purchased Lane Powell s partially subsidized, pre-tax public transportation passes. Are there any strategies in place to allow consumers of your products or clients to either know about your environment initiatives or even get involved? We publicize our efforts (such as seminars, news stories and published articles) on our web site, www.lanepowell.com. We send e-mails to targeted contacts publicizing our environmental seminars. Environmental Development Do you encourage employees and managers to attend/participate in green and/or environmental, programs, courses or workshops outside of your company? Lane Powell encourages continuing education for all employees. The firm pays for professional memberships, training, seminars and relevant classes. Do you have educational seminars that take place during company hours discussing the importance of Green initiatives? No, but we plan to conduct some in 2008. Are there time-sensitive goals in place to ensure measurable progress? Not at this time. Visit the Vault Diversity Channel for diversity program profiles of 100s of top employers, insider advice from executives about workplace diversity and more. Go to www.vault.com/diversity LIBRARY 321
Green Career Opportunities Are there any specific units that are focused on green initiatives in the business practice? All employees are invited to join the company s sustainability committee, which evaluates and implements policies. What type of job opportunities are available for those specifically wanting to work in units focused on green initiatives? Several groups have an emphasis on green initiatives: Sustainable industries team: Serves clients that incorporate responsible environmental, social and economic policies into their business models. Energy Law Team: We are one of the Pacific Northwest s few law firms with extensive expertise in renewable energy projects including wind, solar, biomass and biofuels. Brownfields Law Team: Client groups we have helped in cleanup and development of Brownfield sites include public agencies, developers, property owners, and transporters and generators of hazardous materials. Our lawyers are particularly skilled at assisting clients in scoping the legal and environmental requirements of cleanup, managing negotiations with regulators and lenders, and obtaining contribution from liable parties promptly. Endangered Species Law Team: Lane Powell environmental and land use lawyers are experienced in steering public and private clients through the Endangered Species Act permitting process, addressing both current and future impacts. Environmental Due Diligence Law Team: Lane Powell provides expert advice to real estate, retail, industrial and business clients on managing environmental due diligence in the acquisition of companies, assets and real property. Land Use Law Team: Lane Powell s land use practice group represents both public and private sector clients and focuses on a wide range of policy and regulatory issues at the federal, state and local level, including wetlands, shorelines, water rights, natural resources, and comprehensive planning and zoning, including state and local issues arising under the Washington Growth Management Act and Oregon s statewide land use planning program. Energy Tax Credits Team: Lane Powell s energy and tax attorneys assist independent power producers, energy project developers, investors and lenders in developing and financing energy projects. The focus is on creating opportunities 322 LIBRARY 2008 Vault.com, Inc.
to maximize client returns through innovative combinations of incentives. Whether the goal is to take advantage of federal tax benefits for renewable energy or state and local tax and investment incentives, Lane Powell has the expertise in tax structuring, financing, limited-liability company and partnership formation and in-depth familiarity with renewable energy projects to achieve client objectives. Do you promote your eco-friendly workplace when promoting your jobs to prospective candidates? We direct candidates to our web site, where they can read about our sustainability policy and our sustainable industries team. Going Forward: Plans for Expanding the Environmental Program Does your firm have any plans for future environmental programs? Yes. The firm plans to host presentations by a number of organizations, including the Northwest Earth Institute, Lawyers for a Sustainable Future, and the City of Seattle Office of Sustainability and the Environment. In addition, we plan to host presentations from clients that have implemented sustainability policies in order to learn from their experiences. The Firm Says What is the company s environmental mission statement? Lane Powell will operate under sustainable office practices consistent with its overall commitment to provide excellent legal services to clients. The best-known definition of sustainability is contained in a 1987 report Our Common Future, commissioned by the U.N. World Commission of Environment and Development: Sustainable development is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. We recognize that all human activity, including the operation of a law office, has an impact on the environment and the natural world. Within the firm, we make daily choices in performing work that can either reduce or increase that impact. Lane Powell seeks to reduce the impact. Visit the Vault Diversity Channel for diversity program profiles of 100s of top employers, insider advice from executives about workplace diversity and more. Go to www.vault.com/diversity LIBRARY 323