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Pete Ramels

General Counsel/Chief Compliance Officer | Leadership Team

General Counsel/Chief Compliance Officer

Leadership in the Public Sector

Prior to his tenure at the Port of Seattle, Ramels served for more than 20 years as a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the Civil Division of the King County Prosecutor’s Office.  His practice focused on real estate, land use, and general municipal law. He worked on a number of large projects with significant public benefits and economic development impact.

Among the many projects Ramels worked on were the acquisition of an 89,500-acre conservation easement, acquisition, and development of 42-miles of rail corridor in partnership with public and private entities for a regional trail, light rail, freight rail, and utilities, and redevelopment of property for market-rate housing, affordable housing, and retail businesses. Ramels also lead a team of lawyers handling the County’s real estate portfolio and representing the County’s transportation lines of business, including Metro Transit, the Marine Division, the Roads Division, and the King County International Airport.

Committed to Rigorous Ethical Standards

Ramels’ began his legal career clerking for federal judges in the Western District of Washington and the Ninth Circuit, where great importance is placed on being thorough, fair, and ethical.  As a public-sector lawyer, he has been committed to helping his government clients live up to the trust placed in them by the public. He carries this experience forward in helping the Port meet the highest ethical standards. 

Broad Legal Oversight and Strategic Direction

In his role as General Counsel at the Port, Ramels is responsible for advising Port leadership on legal strategies and approaches, leading an experienced legal team and public records office, and supporting the public governance of the Port. As Chief Compliance Officer, he oversees the Workplace Responsibility office and compliance with the Port’s Code of Conduct. The General Counsel/Chief Compliance Officer also serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and supports both the Executive Office and Commission.

Education

  • Juris Doctorate with Honors, University of Washington School of Law
  • Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Washington State University
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