Best Lawyers in America for Water Law
State
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 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...
Mr. Clyde advises clients on natural resources and environmental matters. He provides legal solutions for individuals, corporations, and municipalities. Mr. Clyde 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, and the Clean Water Act.
Based in the firm’s Bend, Oregon office, Ms. Desmond has developed a broad water, natural resources, and environmental law practice advising local irrigation, drainage, and water districts, municipalities, private landowners, and rural water users. Ms. Desmond counsels clients in Oregon, California, and Utah on a variety of water quality and water rights administration matters, including but not limited to issues involving water rights transfers, chain of title reports, adjudications, l...
Puananionaona P. Thoene is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Land Use and Zoning Law and Water Law. Puananionaona P. practices law in Honolulu, Hawaii Best Lawyers has recognized Puananionaona P. Thoene since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Puana...
For more than 25 years, Brian's practice has focused almost exclusively on helping water users find, secure and defend their water rights in Colorado and the Western U.S. His clients include municipalities, water and wastewater sanitation districts, mines, golf course developers, energy companies and various commercial facilities. Brian serves as a trusted advisor, providing strategic guidance on long-term water planning and water rights projects. In Colorado, his experience includes the adju...
Walter Wright has more than 30 years of experience in environmental, energy (petroleum marketing), and water law. His expertise includes counseling clients on issues involving environmental permits, compliance strategies, enforcement defense, property redevelopment issues, environmental impact statements, and procurement/management of water rights. He routinely advises developers, lenders, petroleum marketers, and others about effective strategies for structuring real estate and corporate tra...
Derek practices administrative and regulatory law with a focus on environmental permitting and enforcement. With more than 30 years of regulatory and legislative experience, Derek assists clients with a wide range of matters, including Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) contested case hearings and regulatory compliance, water supply and water rights, air, water, waste, and wastewater discharge permitting.Derek previously held roles as General Counsel of the TCEQ, Counsel to form...
Matt is a member of the Environmental and Energy Practice Groups. A significant portion of Matt’s practice involves representation of municipalities and private developers in regard to water law matters, including: the permitting, operation and expansion of water supply/treatment/distribution systems and wastewater collection and treatment systems; sewer use ordinance drafting and enforcement including industrial pretreatment programs; stormwater management including ordinance drafting,...
Mr. Rose brings more than 40 years of experience in Utah water law, real estate, and local government advisement. He represents a wide range of clients, including public water suppliers, municipalities, special districts, private water companies, irrigation companies, real estate developers, and individuals in all matters related to water supply, water rights, and water law compliance. Over the course of his long career pertaining to his municipal and special district practice, Mr. Rose has g...
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...
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...
Anthony (Tony) C. Sullivan, a partner in Barnes & Thornburg's Indianapolis office, concentrates on environmental law. His practice focuses primarily on air and water issues, but it also covers virtually all areas of environmental law, including solid waste issues, Superfund matters, underground storage tanks, and asbestos concerns. Tony's practice generally involves litigation, counseling, and negotiation. In addition to appearing before federal courts, state courts, and administrative co...
Throughout his career, Steve 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 numerous clients in the acquisition and sale of water rights, as well as in the conversion of water rights from agricultural irrigation use to domestic, municipal, and industrial use for the development of real property, particularly in the resort areas of Summit County, Utah. He has represented par...
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...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
