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Experience
Joseph Schofield is a member of the firm's water practice group. His practice focuses on water rights, environmental and natural resources, and local government law. He represents public and private sector clients in a broad range of water-related matters including litigation, permitting, administrative proceedings and water transfers.
Mr. Schofield has represented clients before the State Water Resources Control Board on water right applications, change petitions, wastewater change petitions, and complaints to halt unlawful diversion of water. He has also worked on relicensing hydroelectric facilities before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and obtaining streambed alteration agreements from the Department of Fish and Game. Mr. Schofield has litigated cases defending local agencies' special benefit assessments for water projects, seeking to invalidate State regulations, defending an inverse condemnation action, seeking a declaration of water treatment and delivery obligations pursuant to contract, contesting export of water from fully appropriated groundwater basin, and challenging insurance policy settlement practices.
Mr. Schofield counsels local government districts on governance matters, local property disputes, Brown Act and Public Records Act issues, flood control, and levying of fees and assessments. He also conducts analysis of water rights and water rights compliance on complex stream systems.
Representative Clients
Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Monterey County Water Resources Agency, Calaveras County Water District, Southern Nevada Water Authority, North Delta Water Agency, Black Rock City LLC, Modesto Irrigation District, City of Turlock, Fallbrook Public Utility District, Reclamation District No. 3.
MEMBERSHIPS
State Bar of California, Real Property Section, Member
Sacramento County Bar Association, Real Property Section, Member
American Bar Association, Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law Sections, Member
United States District Court for the Central District of California; United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Admitted to Practice
EDUCATION
University of California, Davis School of Law (J.D., Law School Medal [Class Rank: 1st]; Order of the Coif; Order of the Barristers, 2002)
Colorado State University (B.A., Natural Resources Journalism, 1994; B.A., English, 1990).
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