Overview & Experience
Kim Adams Pratt has been practicing law for over thirty years primarily focused on municipal, land use, and real estate law. She has extensive experience with the Growth Management Act, Shoreline Management Act, and the State Environmental Policy Act, and partners with mayors, city staff and city councils to draft ordinances that are compliant with these statutes and represent the city’s desired policy. Kim likes a proactive approach and works almost daily with city staffs on permit issues that arise with owners, developers, neighbors and citizen groups.
While Kim looks for ways to avoid unnecessary litigation, Kim will vigorously defend her clients in any administrative or judicial forum. Kim has dealt with a wide range of topics in administrative and Land Use Petition Act appeals, including critical areas, drainage manual compliance, subdivisions, short plats, traffic, and density calculations. She has handled cases for multiple jurisdictions before the Growth Management Hearings Board and has been lead attorney for GMA-related appeals to Superior Court and the Court of Appeals. Kim has also prepared and argued multi-day appeals before the Shorelines Hearings Board and subsequent appeals to Superior Court. City projects that require the purchase of real property or eminent domain proceedings likewise fit well in Kim’s practice with the mix of real estate expertise and litigation.
Kim spent the first ten years of her career in private practice representing individuals, small to medium size businesses, and the Kent School District in real estate and land use matters. Since then her practice has concentrated on serving cities exclusively, including as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Kent and Deputy City Attorney for the City of Sammamish. She has handled special land use projects for the cities of Tukwila, Covington, North Bend, Burien and others.
Kim currently serves as the City Attorney for the City of Lake Forest Park.
Education
Seattle University School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1990
University of Puget Sound, B.A., magna cum laude, 1987
Admitted to Practice
Washington, 1990
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
Professional Involvement
Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys
Washington State Bar Association