LEGAL EXPERIENCE
The Law Offices of Charles H. Van Gorder, P.C.
Bellingham, Washington
February, 1995 to Present
President: I started my own law firm as an alternative to life at a large law firm in an urban area. My practice is based in general commercial litigation, and focuses on the areas of land use and real property law, insurance defense, fraud investigation, consumer protection and risk management in the outdoor recreational industry.

Graham & Dunn
Seattle, Washington
December, 1992 to December, 1994
Associate: A member of the firm's litigation and land use departments, I continued my work representing insurance companies in environmental coverage disputes. I was also involved in other areas of general litigation, including commercial disputes, insurance fraud, employment and consumer protection law.

Bassett & Morrison
Seattle, Washington
December, 1989 to December, 1992
Associate: I was primarily involved in litigation representing insurance companies in coverage disputes concerning environmental pollution claims. I was the lead attorney in a case involving six sites in three states. I was also involved in preparing insurance coverage opinions, as well as general and commercial litigation, including wrongful garnishment, a maritime collision, property tax disputes, criminal misdemeanors and worker's compensation.

Helsell, Fetterman, Martin, Todd & Hokanson
Seattle and Bellevue, Washington
October, 1985 to November, 1989
Associate: A member of the general litigation and business departments in a 45-lawyer firm, I was involved in a wide variety of litigation. I was the principal attorney in cases involving marital dissolution, personal injury (plaintiff and defendant), real estate and land use disputes and criminal misdemeanors. I was also involved in the Washington Public Power Supply System federal class action securities litigation.

Vermont Supreme Court
Montpelier, Vermont
August, 1984 to August, 1985
Judicial Clerk: I served as the law clerk for Justices Wynn T. Underwood and Thomas L. Hayes for the year following my graduation from law school.

LEGAL EDUCATION
Vermont Law School
South Royalton, Vermont
Juris Doctor, May, 1984, cum laude

1983 Thomas M. Debevoise Moot Court Competition: First Place award winner

SCHOLARSHIPS
Ernest W. Gibson Foundation Scholarship, 1982
Vermont Senatorial Scholarship, 1982, 1983, 1984

BAR ADMISSIONS
State Courts: Vermont, Washington and Alaska
Federal Courts: W.D. Washington; E.D. Washington; D. Alaska; S.D.N.Y.; E.D.N.Y.;
D.Vt.; 2nd Cir.; 9th Cir.

LEGAL ACTIVITIES
Pro Tem Judge
I have served as a Pro Tem Judge in Whatcom County District Court, adjudicating civil matters when the elected judges or appointed commissioner are not available to hear scheduled calendars.

Lecturer
NBI CLE Insurance Coverage Law in Washington "Extra-Contractual Liability - Bad Faith," April, 1994; PESI CLE Selected Issues in Washington Civil Litigation "Assumption of Risk under Washington Law," May, 1993; SKCBA CLE General Liability Insurance Coverage Disputes, "Insurer Bad Faith," November, 1992; taught business law course at Seattle Art Institute, Fashion Merchandising Department, Fall Quarter, 1988.

Publications
Contributing Columnist, Outdoor Retailer Magazine; Washington State Bar News, Volume 49, Number 10 (October, 1995): "Assumption of Risk Under Washington Law;"  Washington University Journal of Urban and Contemporary Law (Volume 29, Winter, 1985), Article: "Alternative Solutions to the Judicial Doctrine of Strict Compliance with Statutory Procedures for the Adoption of Local Land Use Regulations," reprinted in 18 Land Use & Environmental Law Review 163 (1987).

Law Advocates: Member & Vice Chairperson - Board of Directors: Legal Assistance by Whatcom Advocates, Bellingham, Washington; LAW Advocates is a private, non-profit organization that helps to provide free legal assistance to Whatcom County residents in civil and domestic relations matters; January, 1997 - 2003.

LAND USE PLANNING EXPERIENCE
Harvard University
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Graduate School of Design, Master of City and Regional Planning, 1977.

Windham Regional Planning and Development Commision
Brattleboro, Vermont
Summer, 1982 and 1983
September, 1977 to September 1981
Senior Planner: Directed the Commission's land use and housing program; provided technical assistance to the 27 member towns; prepared town plans, zoning and subdivision bylaws, flood hazard area regulations and health ordinances; represented regional interests in state-wide planning activities; testified before legislative committees and in Act 250 hearings; conducted public education workshops.

Lourdon County
Leesburg, Virginia
June, 1973 to September, 1975
Assistant Director for Zoning: Reviewed all current development proposals and presented staff reports to the County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors; revised and implemented current land use ordinances and assisted in updating the County's land use plans and policies; monitored the County's general zoning administration.

LAND USE ACTIVITIES AND AFFILIATIONS
Guest Lecturer
Harvard University Graduate School of Design; Boston College Law School; Keene State College (NH); Annual Vermont Environmental Law Conference, 1981 & 1982.

Publications
A Guide to Chapter 808, University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension Service (Co-author); "A Digest of the New Massachusetts Zoning Act," 1976 (unpublished manuscript).

Member: American Institute of Certified Planners; American Planning Association, Treasurer, Northern New England Chapter (1977-1981); APA Planning & Law and Rural & Small Town Planning Technical Departments.

EDUCATION
Wesleyan University
Middletown, Connecticut, Bachelor of Arts, 1973

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Member - Bellingham Board of Adjustment: Appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council for a three-year term as a member of the Bellingham Board of Adjustment. The Board of Adjustment hears and decides on applications primarily for variances and conditional use permits; August, 1999 - June, 2002.

Member - Board of Directors: Global Community Institute, Bellingham, Washington; GCI is a private, non-profit organization that operates a state-certified alternative high school in Bellingham, emphasizing experiential education; January, 1997 - June, 1998.

Member & Mentor - Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: As a member of and then a mentor for Bellingham's LLS Teams in Training, I have raised more than $9,000 in donations while training for and completing the 1998 Honolulu Marathon, the 1999 Anchorage Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon and the 2000 El Tour de Tucson (111 mile bicycle race).