Experience

• Served as counsel to major irrigation district, in addition to individual irrigators and ranchers, in cases involving water right adjudications and transfers, and in the defense of historic water rights.
• Represented public agencies in multiple phases of complex groundwater litigation and obtained a jury verdict in favor of her clients to secure the public water supplier’s prescriptive groundwater rights during periods of groundwater shortage.
• Advised public and private entities concerning the implementation of, and compliance with, California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
• Represented State Water Project (SWP) contractors in litigation and associated complex mediation proceedings involving California’s area of origin laws and SWP contracts.
• Served as a neutral mediator and facilitated a successful negotiated settlement of a water rights dispute between private landowners.
• Represented energy companies in litigation, resulting in a comprehensive settlement agreement, regarding the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB) Water Quality Control Policy on the Use of Coastal and Estuarine Waters for Power Plant Cooling.
• Served as outside general corporate counsel in a broad range of matters including the development of company policies and contracts, legislative reform, employment disputes, and risk management.

Published Decisions

• Joyce Livestock v. United States, 144 Idaho l (2007)
• LU Ranching v. United States, 144 Idaho 89 (2007)

Honors & Activities

• American Bar Association
  • Chair, Water Resources Conference Planning Committee, 2008–2009
  • Vice Chair, Water Resources Committee, 2006–present
  • Member, Water Resources Conference Planning Committee, 2004–present
  • Vice Chair and Co-Chair of AHA Water Resources Conference, 2008–2009
  • Vice Chair (Special Appointment), Sponsorship, 2009–2013
  • Vice Chair, Editor, Year in Review, 2010–present

Related News & Publications