Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Law Firm of the Year
What is it?
Brownstein's 2007 merger with California water law boutique Hatch & Parent has resulted in a company with nearly 30 lawyers specialising in all fields across the spectrum of water legislation in the US.
What has it done?
In 2007, BHFS represented a coalition of Colorado water users in negotiations amongst seven US states for the operation of Colorado River system reservoirs, resulting in a comprehensive agreement adopted by the US federal government. The firm also represented a private equity investment group in its successful bid for a $67 million water rights purchase in Prescott Valley, Arizona. BHFS also led an effort to develop, design and implement a novel basin management strategy in the Chino Basin, California, for the removal of 400,000 AF (493.4 million m3) of groundwater and the creation of underground storage, valued at more than $1 billion.
What makes it special?
- The US needs law firms acting all around the country. The merger of BHFS with Hatch & Parent showed the willingness of Brownstein to get more involved in the water sector, and of Hatch & Parent to expand its operations well beyond California's boundaries.
- With a series of offices across the United States, the firm aims to provide advice to clients all around the country.
- One of Brownstein's key premises is to create "a greater awareness of the value of water amongst those who are reliant on it for their core business needs, but who simply don’t pay sufficient attention until the tap runs dry."