Drew Pollom

Drew is an associate in the firm’s Municipal, Tribal, and Environmental practice groups. As a former in-house attorney, Drew is a skilled communicator who provides plain, practical advice to his clients while helping them find solutions to complex legal issues.

Drew regularly assists his municipal clients with a special focus on homelessness, housing, land use appeals, public records requests, public defense contracting, and engaging with tribal governments. This includes being part of the successful defense of land use decisions for Bellevue, Everett, Spokane Valley, Federal Way, and Bainbridge Island. He serves as special counsel on public defense matters for the Cities of Mount Vernon, Burlington, and Lakewood. He also serves as special counsel for the City of LaCenter. Drew uses his unique experience working in-house at a tribal government to help municipal governments find partnerships with local Native Nations. He regularly presents on the legal basis for planning and on open government for the Washington Department of Commerce’s Short Course Program.

For his tribal clients, Drew focuses on implementing environmental regulations and enforcement. He believes a strong environmental regulatory system to protect Reservation Homelands and Restoration Populations is critical to tribal sovereignty. Before joining OMW, Drew served in-house with the Lummi Nation, covering everything from foster care dependency matters, revising and developing new ordinances and codes, and federal administrative appeals for education funding. This wide breadth of knowledge gives him dynamic flexibility to solve the legal needs of his clients. Drew is a frequent speaker on Indian Law 101 and utilizing tribal sovereignty.

Drew received a BA in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Gonzaga University and his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law and a L.L.M. from the University of Washington School of Law. Drew is also passionate about giving back to the community, dedicating Pro Bono time towards Kids in Need of Defense (KIND). He also regularly meets with law students at both UW and SU, including coaching moot court at SU. 

When Drew isn't working, Drew and his wife are often found working in their community garden, traveling the country, or cooking. An avid sports fan, Drew can also be found supporting all sports.

Association Memberships

• Washington State Bar Association
• King County Bar Association
• National Association of Drug Court Professionals
• Northwest Indian Bar Association 
• Washington Association of Municipal Attorneys 

Education

• L.L.M, University of Washington, 2018
• J.D., Seattle University, Cum Laude 2015
• B.A., Gonzaga University, Cum Laude 2011

Articles

• Public Defense Standards Are Changing: What Counties and Cities Need to Know” Co-Authored with Oskar Rey for Municipal Research Center, May 6 2024.
• "Castro-Huerta: A new era of Indian Law?" July/August 2023 issue of Washington State Bar News.
• "Washington Water Quality Standard: SEPA Rulemaking: Standards Proposed To Protect Human Health," co-authored with Andrew Fuller, The Water Report Issue #219.
• "The Wide Reach of Indian Law," April/May 2020 issue of NW Lawyer now Washington State Bar News
• "Betting Against the House: Santa Ysabel and the Lessons Learned in Indian Gaming," WBSA Indian Law Newsletter Summer 2016,
• "Killing the Policy to Save the Child: Comparing the Historical Removal of Indigenous Children in Australia to the United States and How the Countries Can Learn from Each Other," 4 Am. Indian L.J. 252 (2016).

Professional and Community Activities

• Washington State Bar Association
• Indian Law Section
• Chair: 2024-Present
• Chair-Elect: 2023-2024.
• Secretary- Treasurer: 2022-2023
• At-Large Executive Committee Member: 2019-2022
• Editorial Advisory Committee
• Chair: 2021-2023.
• Member: 2019-2023.
• WSAMA
• Amicus Committee: 2022- Present.
• King County Bar Association
• Public Policy Committee: 2022-Present
• Awards committee: 2022-Present

Speaking Engagements

• “A Short Course on Local Planning: The Legal Basis for Planning in Washington.” Washington Department of Commerce 2023-Present
• “Open Government Training: Short Course on the OPMA/PRA.” Washington Department of Commerce 2023-Present.
• " Indian Law: The Fundamentals and the Current Fights " Native Action Network 2023-Present.
• “Contracting With Consultants” August 2024 Tribal Lands and Environmental Forum.
• “Indian Law 101: Understanding the Fundamentals” WSBA Indian Law Section CLE, June 2024.
• “Fentanyl Response Panel” WSBA Indian Law Section CLE, June 2024.
• Land Use and You: Understanding Washington Land Use Laws and their impacts on Native Nations.” WSBA Indian Law Section CLE, June 2024.
• “Contracting With Consultants” June 2024 Tribal Environmental Seminar.
• "Between Three Sovereigns: Between Three Sovereigns: Shift in Federal Indian Law and the Fight Ahead" September 2023 WSBA Case Law and Legislative Update.
• "The Fundamentals of Indian Law" April 2023 WSBA Legal Lunchbox
• "Enforcing Tribal Environmental Law" March 2023 OMW Tribal Environmental Seminar
• "Tribal Environmental Law Part I: Inherent Sovereignty in 2022" March 2022 OMW Tribal Environmental Seminar.

Accolades

• Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)- Washington State 2024 Pro Bono Team of the Year
• Order of the Barristers – 2015