PrivateWaterLaw Blog

Wes Strickland is a shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP (BHFS), which is a law and public policy firm with specializations in natural resources, real estate, corporations, litigation and government relations. BHFS has the largest and most experienced water practice in the United States.

Practice Description

Mr. Strickland specializes in helping clients develop, acquire and monetize water resources and infrastructure. He commonly represents public and private corporations, government enterprises, investment funds and private water right holders. As part of such projects, he will:

● Develop legal, regulatory and political strategies to maximize the likelihood of project success

● Lead teams of experts in engineering, hydrogeology, biology, cultural resources and economics for project due diligence, design and environmental review

● Form and implement strategy related to water resource sustainability, water conservation and recycling, water and climate change, development and protection of water rights, water transfers and conveyance, desalination, water for new land development, financing and rate-setting for public and private utilities, and corporate water footprinting and risk management

● Devise innovative organizational structures for delivery of infrastructure and utility services, including reorganizations, joint ventures, public-private partnerships, alliances and privatizations

● Negotiate and draft agreements related to water and asset purchases and sales, joint development and use of infrastructure, and corporate mergers and acquisitions

● Obtain jurisdictional determinations and permits from federal, state and local regulatory agencies and

● Resolve disputes with project opponents and defend against project challenges, including litigation that crosses interstate and international boundaries.

Mr. Strickland is a regular writer and speaker on water resource and investment issues. He serves as the legal columnist for American Water Intelligence in addition to being the author of this blog and @PrivateWaterLaw.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Strickland served as a captain and judge advocate in the United States Marine Corps, where he handled water right matters for the western United States and the U.S. Department of Defense utilities privatization initiative.

Education

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, J.D., 1996
Yale University, B.A., 1993
Woodberry Forest School, Diploma, 1990

Admissions

State of California
State of New York
State of Texas
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Armed Forces

Professional Affiliations

American Society of Civil Engineers, Water Infrastructure Security Enhancements Standards Committee and Water Regulatory Standards Committee
National Council for Public-Private Partnerships, Board of Directors
National Association of Water Companies
International Private Water Association