Best Lawyers in America for Water Law
State
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...
Sara M. Burgin is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental and Water Law. Sara M. practices law in Austin, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Sara M. Burgin since 1997. 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 Sara M. Burgin is held by other lawyers.
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...
Understands complexities of water litigation, acquisitions and transactions. In 40-plus year career has led 750 water litigations and over 20 Supreme Court appeals. Former senior water counsel and first assistant attorney general for the Water Unit of the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. Steve Sims is a leading western water law attorney with a focus on water court litigation, water acquisition strategy and water transactions in the west. He brings four decades of experience represen...
James H. Hancock Jr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Water Law. James H. practices law in Birmingham, Alabama Best Lawyers has recognized James H. Hancock Jr. since 2012. 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 James H. Hancock Jr. is held by other lawyers.
Jordan Wimpy is an environmental lawyer with a dynamic practice covering issues across the spectrum of environmental, agricultural, energy and natural resources law. He regularly represents trade associations, utilities and business clients in administrative rulemaking matters and all aspects of the environmental permitting, compliance and enforcement processes. He also provides counsel to agricultural producers and landowners regarding agricultural conservation programs, conservation easemen...
Monica M. Jacobs has been practicing Texas water law for more than twenty years. She focuses her practice on strategic water supply planning and water asset management for both surface water and groundwater rights. Ms. Jacobs chairs Kelly Hart's Water Law practice group, and is a registered lobbyist. Her experience includes: Water Resources: water supply and water rights management for large landowners, industrial users and major Texas municipalities; surface water permitting at TCEQ; groundw...
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...
Glenn Gates Taylor is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Energy Law, Litigation - Environmental, Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law and Water Law. Glenn Gates practices law in Ridgeland, Mississippi Best Lawyers has recognized Glenn Gates Taylor since 1989. 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 Glenn Gates Taylor is h...
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...
Stuart Corbridge is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Water Law. Stuart practices law in Boulder, Colorado Best Lawyers has recognized Stuart Corbridge since 2023. 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 Stuart Corbridge is held by other lawyers.
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, ...
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...
Michael K. Foy is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental, Natural Resources Law and Water Law. Michael K. practices law in Phoenix, Arizona Best Lawyers has recognized Michael K. Foy since 2023. 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 Michael K. Foy is held by other lawyers.
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.
