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Find Lawyers in America for Water Law
Practice Area Overview
Water use law practice starts at the fundamental level with the rights of owners of property abutting a surface water, i.e. riparian owners, to use water without unreasonably interfering with the rights of other riparian owners. This can involve both withdrawing and using water or diverting the flow of surface water. The withdrawal of groundwater is also regulated where necessary to avoid overuse of aquifers. A body of state statutes and regulations regulates certain uses of water, such as transfers of water from one river basin to another, withdrawal of groundwater from overused aquifers, impoundment of water, and construction of wells. In addition, the Federal Safe Water Drinking Act regulates the treatment of water by water supply systems.
Water pollution law practice is an extraordinarily complex area of common law and regulatory programs. It can involve areas of common law such as nuisance, trespass, and negligence, but more often it involves an interwoven and overlapping network of federal and state statutes and regulations. A partial list includes state laws regulating surface water discharges from point sources; sedimentation and erosion; stormwater runoff; land uses in nutrient-sensitive waters and water supply watersheds; and sources of groundwater pollution. Federal regulatory programs include regulation of wetlands and construction in navigable waters and establishment of total maximum daily loads in highly polluted surface water bodies.
Clients in this area of practice include local governments, utilities, private developers, and industries seeking to build or expand water supply and waste treatment facilities, or engaging in large land development projects involving wetlands, stormwater controls, and water-dependent uses such as docks and marinas.
Representation of such clients frequently involves compliance counseling to obtain agency permits, and sometimes includes administrative litigation when the agency denies approval or when another person challenges an approval. Water law practice also can involve litigation in court, sometimes in the form of appeals of agency decisions, penalties or orders and sometimes private party claims based on nuisance, negligence, trespass, interference with riparian rights, or citizens’ suits to address alleged violations of regulatory requirements.
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Fredric P. Andes is a partner in the Chicago and Washington, D.C., offices of Barnes & Thornburg and the leader of the firm's water team. Fred is involved in counseling and litigation on issues arising under various federal and state environmental laws, with a special emphasis on Clean Water Act matters. Fred is also advising trade associations, industries, and municipalities on TMDLs, permits, and other water quality matters on the state and federal levels, including development of water...
William H. Anger provides his clients with the benefit of more than 37 years of experience in structuring loan, business, real estate, and water rights transactions, as well as in representing business and public clients as an advocate in litigation and appeals related to similar transactions. Bill’s perspective is enhanced by his experience on both sides of deals, and he benefits clients by structuring transactions that stand up in the long run. CLIENTS Cities, Commercial Real Estate L...
Area of Emphasis Don Bluedorn’s practice focuses primarily on water and wastewater management, site remediation/ brownfields, and hazardous and non-hazardous waste issues. Because of the technical nature of both the subject matter and his education, Mr. Bluedorn typically works closely with the client, technical consultants, and engineers during all phases of a project’s development. This team approach has been very successful with state and federal regulatory agencies in a number...
James C. Brockmann is a board-certified water law specialist whose practice focuses on water law and related areas of water quality, water rights and utility law.Mr. Brockmann has worked in the Midwest and greater Southwest, with clients ranging from individual states and municipalities, to oil, gas and renewable-energy companies. His experience includes suits involving the apportionment of water from the North Platte River and upstream diversions of the Arkansas River, as well as Alamogordo&...
Ed Casey represents a variety of residential, retail and commercial developers in land use matters, including those arising under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). His practice encompasses every facet of the entitlement process, from pre-acquisition due diligence to permitting, and he has successfully prosecuted and defended CEQA and other land use lawsuits for a number of major development projects. Ed was listed in the 2015 and 2016 editions of The Best Lawyers in America &co...
Mr. Clyde advises clients on natural resources and environmental matters. Residing in the firm’s Bend, Oregon office, Mr. Clyde provides legal solutions for individuals, corporations, and municipalities. He advises clients on a variety of matters including water rights and resources, water quality, adjudications, land use planning, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations including NEPA,the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act.
Vice President, Director and Shareholder, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Co-Chair of Natural Resources and Water Law Practice Group Since 1975, Mr. Clyde has specialized in natural resources law, including oil and gas, public land law, and mining law, with a primary emphasis in water law. Mr. Clyde has represented many clients in the buying and selling of water rights and in the conversion of water rights from agricultural irrigation use to domestic, municipal, and industrial use for dev...
For over 25 years, Buddy has assisted a wide variety of clients facing property damage and personal injury lawsuits brought by neighboring residents, administrative claims brought by state and federal regulatory agencies under various environmental statutes and regulations, disputes among persons responsible for clean up costs at numerous remediation sites under the Superfund Act or CERCLA, natural resource damages claims, and opportunities to re-develop potentially contaminated properties. H...
Blaine’s science background and experience as a college professor help set him apart as an environmental lawyer, where technical expertise is an important complement to the practice of law. His legal practice is a broad approach to environmental law that includes a focus on water and land issues, agriculture, natural resources and energy, and the intersection of surety law and environmental regulatory matters. He counsels clients on environmental compliance and environmental considerati...
Thirty-five years navigating complex land use and water issues. Facilitated hundreds of millions in water rights deals. Respected authority on water, land use and environmental law matters. Few can rival Wayne’s experience handling high-profile land use, water, environmental and condemnation matters. Public entities and private companies throughout the Rocky Mountain region have counted on his experience to handle challenging land use and water issues, including water rights litigation ...
Area of Emphasis Kevin Garber is a shareholder in the Environmental and Energy and Natural Resources groups of Babst Calland, practicing out of the firm’s Pittsburgh and State College offices. Mr. Garber concentrates much of his practice in the areas of natural resources law and water law. He represents mining and oil and gas companies in the conventional and unconventional industries on a broad range of environmental issues including permitting, water supply and treatment, and resource...
Mike assists a diverse group of clients with water planning and management, water quality, water rights, water utility and endangered species issues. He is a partner at the Austin law firm of Lloyd Gosselink, and serves on the firm’s Board and Executive Committee. He is a water, utility and environmental lawyer and works among a team of 25 lawyers within the firm’s Water and Litigation Practice Groups, chairing the Water Practice Group. He serves as General Counsel of the Texas Wa...
Fredric N. Goldberg practices in the area of corporate and business law, with an emphasis in transactional practice, and in the area of college and university law. In addition, he has developed substantive expertise in the field of water law and the law of natural resources generally. He was recently recognized in the 2010 Best Lawyers publication for his water law expertise. Fred is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan. He received his bachelor's degree ...
Michael C. Haines' practice includes the general representation of established and emerging energy and natural resources companies in Michigan. He provides legal and practical advice on contract matters, leases, unitization, transportation, regulatory, legislative and other matters, including acquisitions and dispositions of assets. He serves as legislative counsel for an oil and gas exploration and production association and has represented gas utility companies in municipal rate proceedings...
More than a decade of litigation and transactional experience in natural resources law. Handles multifaceted water rights cases throughout the state of Colorado. Dulcinea practices natural resources law, with a particular focus on water and environmental litigation and transactions. She represents municipal, corporate, nonprofit and individual clients in administrative proceedings, litigation, and appeals in both state and federal court and in water contract negotiations. She has provided leg...
Specialized California water law expertise. Trusted strategic advisor and project manager for complex water supply and infrastructure projects. Innovative problem solver for high-stakes water disputes. With more than 20 years of specialized expertise in water law, Stephanie Hastings has played a leading role in California’s most complex and precedent-setting water matters. She brings sophisticated legal skill and experience to the acquisition, maintenance and protection of water resourc...
Nearly 20 years of experience handling the most significant and complex water matters in California, Nevada and across the west. Leader in California groundwater management. Business-savvy approach to water strategy. Brad Herrema understands the vital role that water plays in any project. From the development of groundwater management strategies, to identifying opportunities for water investment, to securing recreational water supplies, his approach integrates each client’s unique busin...
William A. Horn received his bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Wisconsin and graduated cum laude from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Bill specializes in environmental, oil and gas, eminent domain, water and riparian rights, land use and public utility law, as well as civil and administrative litigation, and has been representing and counseling private and public sector clients in these areas since 1982. In addition to having served as an adjunct professor for a law...
George House has worked in every area of environmental law and litigation since the birth of the practice in the 1970s. A seasoned environmental litigator, George represents his clients on matters related to mining law, water law, air compliance, and hazardous waste. George has experience in virtually every area of environmental law and focuses his practice on matters related to mining law, water law, hazardous waste and substances, and air compliance. He represents a multitude of clients, in...
Dan Jensen has been practicing natural resources law since 1988. His practice encompasses mining, water, oil and gas, public land and administrative law. Mr. Jensen focuses on transactional work involving mineral interests, water rights and public lands, acquisitions and transfers of mineral land and water rights, title and due diligence reviews, land use entitlements, and development agreements. Mr. Jensen also handles related litigation, including disputes concerning property titles and bou...
Russell has a multifaceted water law practice, with an emphasis on matters involving land use, water rights and the Endangered Species Act (ESA). His clients are generally landowners, industries, mineral owners and developers seeking to acquire, safeguard, develop or convey water resources. Russ advocates on their behalf before the courts, the Texas Legislature and administrative agencies.Navigating the rules and regulations imposed on landowners by governmental agencies can be a major challe...
With a commitment to understanding fully each client's mission, Nick Kile focuses on adding value to help them accomplish it. He seeks innovative solutions that are grounded in the law and fact, and align with the big picture business goals. Nick is co-chair of the firm’s Energy, Telecommunications and Utilities team, which was ranked “Tier 1” on U.S. News-Best Lawyers Best Law Firms 2019 list in Indianapolis for energy law. Nick concentrates his practice in two distinct sub...
Frederic Lee Klein chairs the Energy and Utilities Section of the firm's Regulatory, Energy and Telecommunications Department. Fred has wide-ranging experience in energy and utility matters, including electric and natural gas market restructuring, and transactions in regulated and competitive markets. His practice includes representing regulated and unregulated companies before more than a dozen state and federal regulatory commissions, district and appellate courts, as well as representing c...
Matt Lembke, one of five Bradley Arant Boult Cummings lawyers to have clerked for the Supreme Court of the United States, has the broad range of skills necessary to be effective in representing clients at both the trial and appellate levels. He has applied those skills for more than 16 years in dozens of high-stakes cases. Matt has extensive experience in handling appeals pending in both state and federal courts, including arguing cases in the Alabama Supreme Court and the D.C., Fifth, and El...
Stephen H. Leonhardt concentrates his practice on water law, related governmental and environmental issues, and litigation. Mr. Leonhardt counsels clients on the establishment, protection, and modification of water rights throughout Colorado. His clients include lock water suppliers, industrial water users, land developers, individual landowners, non-profit organizations and a regional water conservancy district. He represents clients in judicial and administrative proceedings and transaction...
Director and Shareholder, Co-Chair of Natural Resources and Water Law Practice Group Ms. Lewis assists clients in navigating complex water problems. She advises individual water right owners, water conservancy districts, municipalities, mining companies, and mutual shareholder irrigation companies. Her strategic projects practice extends to innovative policy work and specialty project management. She presently acts as the Utah Water Banking Project Manager and hosts Ripple Effect – A Po...
Tim Lundgren is a partner on Varnum's Environmental, Energy and Natural Resources team. On energy issues, Tim represents clients before the Michigan Public Service Commission, including energy suppliers, marketers, manufacturers, agricultural processors, public entities and institutions, and trade associations representing competitive power supply and business interests. He also advises clients on developments in energy law and policy in Michigan, and assists them in the development of legisl...
David G. Mandelbaum is a shareholder in Greenberg Traurig's Litigation and Environmental Groups. http://www.gtlaw.com/People/davidmandelbaum CONCENTRATION Air, Water, and Waste Regulation Superfund and Contamination Climate Change Oil and Gas Development Water Rights SIGNIFICANT REPRESENTATIONS Representation of industrial clients in wastewater, solid waste, and air permitting matters; administrative appeals; and enforcement actions Advises clients on sustainability and climate change, risk m...
Thomas E. Meacham is a solo law practitioner in Anchorage, Alaska. His legal practice areas involve Alaska’s unique body of natural resources law, in all of its aspects. Tom’s legal experience in Alaska natural resources law goes back some 45 years, and encompasses the significant and comprehensive federal and state resource development and conservation laws that continue to shape life in Alaska. His firm, Thomas E. Meacham, Attorney at Law, concentrates primarily on the legal imp...
For over four decades, Chris has been a leader in the fields of water law, land use law, natural resources law, constitutional law, and road and public access law. He has extensive litigation experience at the administrative, district court and appellate levels (including 21 Idaho Supreme Court cases). Best Lawyers in America has named him “Lawyer of the Year” 11 times in the fields of water, land use, and natural resources. Three times, Super Lawyers placed Chris in the “To...
As an environmental and natural resources lawyer, Peter is committed to helping clients secure both certainty and fairness within the regulatory context. His practice places a strong emphasis on western water law and he represents clients in a variety of matters, including the clean water act. He has represented clients within many different jurisdictions during his career as a water lawyer. Peter also does work in energy law, which primarily intersects with his water law practice and focuses...
Jason Moyes’ practice is focused in the area of natural resource law. Included in his practice is the representation and defense of agricultural irrigation and electrical districts, small utilities, real estate developers, and other special taxing districts. He is experienced in water rights, electricity, solar, gas-fired and hydroelectric power generation, land use planning, and other permitting matters. Jason has successfully represented clients on numerous state and federal regulator...
Roger P. Nevola roger@nevola.com 512-426-0500 Roger Nevola practices law in Austin, Texas. His principal areas of practice include administrative/regulatory law, environmental law, environmental litigation, mining law, natural resources law, public utilities law, and water law. He represents both private and governmental entities. Roger graduated from Stanford University in 1968 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and he received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1974....
Maria has practiced in the areas of Natural Resources, Environmental and Utility law for over twenty years. Her primary focus is on water resources, water quality, and related regulatory matters including National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) and Endangered Species Act (“ESA”) compliance. She represents clients from both the public and private sectors before the Office of the New Mexico State Engineer, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission federal agencies, ...
Chair of the firm’s Environmental Department, Erika Powers’ practice is totally focused on nationwide water quality issues. Her ability to understand the most complex details of a matter without losing sight of the macro agenda and big-picture client objectives is critical when analyzing the intersection of science and law surrounding water quality regulation. Notably, Erika provides veteran legal counsel regarding regulatory matters involving state and federal environmental agenc...
Susan Hearne Richardson concentrates her practice in the area of environmental law, including regulatory and compliance counseling, due diligence for real estate and corporate transactions, permitting, enforcement and hazardous site remediation. Ms. Richardson has significant experience in advising clients with regard to the wastewater permitting and enforcement issues, particularly as applicable to municipal governments.
Secretary, Shareholder and Director Mr. Rose brings more than four decades of experience in water law and local government advisement. He represents local and special districts, including municipalities, special water districts, municipal water companies, irrigation companies, private developers, and individuals. Mr. Rose assists clients in a variety of areas including public finance, acting primarily as issuers’ counsel for various issuers of municipal bonds; various matters of local g...
Pragmatic water litigator and skilled negotiator. Nearly 30 years of water law experience. Plays a leading role in California’s most important water rights cases. Rob Saperstein is widely respected for his ability to optimize his client’s rights in groundwater, surface water and recycled water development and management. Public entity water suppliers and large landowners rely on his legal counsel to protect and maximize their water resources. Working in both transactional and liti...
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