Foster Garvey
Veteran bond attorney Alice Ostdiek returned to Foster Garvey as a principal in the firm’s public finance and municipal government practice.
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Ostdiek, who will be based in Seattle, began her legal career at Foster Garvey 25 years ago, before Foster Pepper and Garvey Schubert Barer merged in 2019.
“My move back to Foster Garvey is about returning to a firm of local attorneys who are active in the regions that I serve,” Ostdiek said, also noting the muni business is a local business. “Although we live in an increasingly virtual world, I may be a bit old-school in that I still think it’s important to have a local connection and local knowledge.”
Her practice covers issues ranging from developing new governmental revenue sources to securing capital investments in critical urban and rural infrastructure through the issuance of tax-exempt and taxable bonds and other financing sources, often involving public-private partnerships.
Ostdiek spent the first 15 years of her legal career at Foster Pepper as a summer associate and law clerk, rising through the ranks to become a principal.
In 2015, she joined the Seattle office of business and finance firm Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth LLP. Now, after 11 years, she returned on April 22 to her original professional home.
“Alice is an exceptional attorney in this field who understands our firm culture, knows our team and brings built-in familiarity with many of the clients we serve,” said Allison Schwartzman, chair of the public finance and municipal government group. “She will make an invaluable addition to our team and we are excited for her return.”
Foster Garvey provides comprehensive legal services in business, litigation, and municipal law, with over 180 attorneys across offices in Seattle, Portland, Washington, D.C., New York, Spokane and Tulsa, according to its website.
“My transition is not about the strength of either firm’s practice — both are excellent firms with really top-notch attorneys,” Ostdiek said. “But at this point in my career, having a critical mass of Pacific Northwest lawyers will provide a different way to serve my clients, with access to local attorneys who provide a broad base of services to state and local government entities.”
Ostdiek’s roles in public finance have included bond counsel and underwriter’s counsel. She has also advised conduit borrowers and credit-enhancement providers. She also provides legal advisory services related to revenue generation and the structuring of new governmental and quasi-governmental enterprises and public-private partnerships and guidance relating to the reorganization of municipal and other governmental services, including governmental contracting with nonprofit organizations.
She has been ranked as a top attorney in Best Lawyers for Municipal Law and for Public Finance Law in each of the past six years. In 2021, she was named Lawyer of the Year in the Municipal Law in Seattle category. She is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers and the Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys.
She holds a law degree from the University of Washington, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Washington and a bachelor’s degree from Grinnell College. She is licensed to practice law in Washington and Alaska.
