Gary is a hard-wired problem solver who thrives in complex matters at the intersection of law, politics and public policy. His practice focuses on land use and environmental law.
He has addressed entitlement, access and other land use issues before local government entities throughout Idaho. His land use experience includes commercial, residential, industrial and infrastructure projects, including some of the largest projects in the state. Gary has also handled many land use litigation matters, and is experienced in condemnation issues and inverse condemnation litigation. Gary is a lead author of the Idaho Land Use Handbook, which is a land use reference book widely used around the state. He currently serves on the steering committee of the Blueprint for Good Growth, Ada County’s first county-wide land use planning effort, and is a member of the board of Idaho Smart Growth.
Gary has also practiced environmental law throughout his career. His practice focuses on environmental compliance, permitting, transactions and complex problem resolution. His practice includes significant experience in institutional environmental compliance, water quality, air quality and hazardous waste permitting, environmental issues in property and business transactions, administrative law, rulemaking, administrative enforcement actions and Superfund, underground storage tank and other environmental litigation. Gary also has worked on Endangered Species Act listing issues.
Prior to joining Givens Pursley, Gary worked for a major regional firm in Boise and for a large firm in southern California.
Gary is active in local and state-wide community affairs. Among other things, he is the past chair of the board of the ANSER charter school and the co-founder and president of the South Boise Village neighborhood association. Gary is the past chair of the Educational Affairs Committee of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, and is active in local and statewide political affairs.
