Best Lawyers in America for Water Law
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State
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Lawrence E. Sellers Jr. practices administrative and governmental law, with a concentration in environmental and land use matters. He regularly provides advice on permitting and enforcement matters involving a variety of federal, state, regional and local administrative agencies. He has substantial experience in administrative law, including rulemaking, adjudicatory hearings and appellate review. For more than 25 years, he has represented clients before the Florida Legislature, primarily on e...
J. Craig Smith, Esq., is a founding member of the Salt Lake City firm of Smith Hartvigsen, PLLC, where he practices in the areas of water law, land use, and redevelopment law. He has argued more than 30 appeals before the Utah Supreme Court. Mr. Smith is listed in Utah Legal Elite, Superlawyers and Best Lawyers publications. Major accomplishments include, lead counsel for the development of the Amangiri Resort in southern Utah and obtaining the passage of federal legislation to obtain water r...
Newman Jackson Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law, Government Relations Practice, Litigation - Environmental and Water Law. Newman Jackson, who practices law in Charleston, South Carolina, has been recognized since 1993. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Newman Jackson is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jeremy Jungreis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Utilities Law and Water Law. Jeremy, who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeremy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
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...
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...
Legendary water law practitioner with nearly 40 years of experience. Unmatched depth and diversity of water transactions. Handled the largest water transfer in United States’ history. Scott Slater is a best-in-class water rights transactional attorney and litigator delivering strategic solutions and securing reliable water supplies for his clients. His sophisticated understanding of both the legal challenges and potential business impacts and opportunities in securing, maintaining and t...
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&...
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.