Program Co-Chairs

John B. Draper has practiced water rights and natural resources law for more than 30 years. In recent years, he has concentrated on water rights issues, including interstate water rights. He was counsel of record before the U.S. Supreme Court in two interstate water cases, Kansas v. Colorado and Kansas v. Nebraska. He is counsel of record before the U.S. Supreme Court for Montana on the Yellowstone River litigation.

Louis W. Rose has practiced environmental law, including water quality law, for more than 30 years. He represents clients in permitting, groundwater remediation, rulemaking and enforcement matters.

Featured Presenters

John R. D`Antonio previously served as the Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Environment Department and worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers for 15 years.

Gary K. King is perhaps the only current Attorney General in the nation who is also a scientist with a PhD in organic chemistry. Dr. King maintained a private practice as an attorney and served as a state Legislator before being elected Attorney General in 2006.

Faculty

Megan Anderson works in the Western Environmental Law Center`s Southwest office in Taos, New Mexico, focusing on water and energy issues.  Prior to joining WELC, Megan worked in private practice in California representing environmental organizations to protect water quality, forests, and endangered species.  Before that, Megan clerked for the Honorable Alex Martinez at the Colorado Supreme Court.

Peggy Barroll works in the Hydrology Bureau of the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, developing and applying regional scale groundwater models.  She has worked extensively on hydrologic issues related to the Pecos River system and the Lower Rio Grande in New Mexico.

Reed Benson joined the UNM law faculty in July 2008, contributing a broad background in environmental work, including five years as executive director of WaterWatch of Oregon.  He also practiced water law in Colorado, worked for EPA headquarters in Washington, and taught six years in Wyoming before coming to New Mexico.  He is a co-author of a leading water law casebook.

Judge Bruce D. Black served on the New Mexico Court of Appeals from 1991-1996 when he moved to the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico. While in practice, Judge Black was involved in the Aamodt (Tesuque) and Bluewater  water litigation and currently presides, with the assistance of Special Master Gabin, over five major New Mexico stream adjudications(Santa Cruz, Taos, Chama, Zuni, and Zuni I).

William R. Brancard previously served as the Director of the Mining and Minerals Division in the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. He has also served as an Assistant Land Commissioner and an Assistant Attorney General for the State of New Mexico as well as practicing law with the firm Sutin, Thayer & Browne in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

Christopher D. Coppin has been with the Conference of Western Attorneys General since 2007.  Prior to that, he worked at the New Mexico Attorney General`s Office for 24 years. He served as Special Counsel to the New Mexico Attorney General from 2000 to 2007. Before joining the New Mexico Attorney General`s Office, he worked briefly in private practice and served for six years with various legal aid programs in New Mexico.

Charles de Saillan is Assistant General Counsel in the New Mexico Environment Department, where he has worked since 1999. He previously served as Assistant Attorney General in New Mexico and as a Senior Attorney with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Daniel R. Dolan is a licensed Professional Engineer in chemical engineering and a member of the Texas, New Mexico, and Kentucky Bar Associations. He has practiced in the environmental law field for more than 30 years and has been included in "Best Lawyers in America" in environmental law for the last eleven years. His practice includes government clients, private companies, and individuals with environmental problems, regulatory violations and due diligence issues.

Charles T. DuMars is a member of a natural resource law firm, representing clients both domestically and internationally. He is also Professor Emeritus at the University of New Mexico School of Law.

Vickie L. Gabin is a Federal Adjudication Special Master for the United States District Court in Santa Fe.

Steven L. Hernandez has practiced water law for over 30 years and represents Elephant Butte Irrigation District and Carlsbad Irrigation District in their various water and power issues. He is a member of the Best Lawyers in America, Southwest Super Lawyers, and The Best of the NM Bar.  He also is litigation review counsel for the National Water Resources Association and is on the board of the NM Bar`s Section of Natural Resources Energy and Environmental Law. 

Eric Jantz has been a staff attorney with the Center since 2001. He practices in the areas of energy resource development and environmental justice.

J. Phillip King is a tenured faculty member specializing in Civil (water resources) and Agricultural Engineering. His teaching includes graduate and undergraduate courses in computing, water resources engineering, irrigation and drainage, hydraulics, hydrology, geohydrology, hydraulic structures, construction, and engineering economics.

John Longworth oversees his Agency`s conservation program, subdivision review section and the development of consumptive irrigation requirements. He was previously assigned as a project engineer for the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, Pecos River Bureau. His principal assignments included managing the Bureau`s National Environmental Policy Act issues, developing Endangered Species Act policy, creating and implementing the land and water acquisition program for the Pecos Settlement and maintaining New Mexico`s compliance with the Pecos River Compact and the U.S. Supreme Court Decree.

Dalva L. Moellenberg practices environmental and natural resources law concentrating on water quality and water rights, Superfund, hazardous waste, mining law and mined land reclamation, toxic substances matters, including compliance counseling, permitting, legislation, rulemaking and litigation.

Christopher S. Pugsley focuses his legal and political practice on environmental and energy issues, as well as government contracting and regulation and constitutional issues. Many of the issues his practice involves include drafting and implementing legislation, regulatory and contract counseling and litigation, contract and license drafting, occupational safety and health counseling, and risk assessment and management.

Gregory C. Ridgley is Deputy Chief Counsel for the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer in Santa Fe.  He manages the hydrographic survey staff of the OSE`s Litigation and Adjudication Program and the Special Assistant Attorneys General representing the State in all water rights adjudications pending in the New Mexico state and federal courts.

DL Sanders is Chief Counsel and Director of the Litigation and Adjudication Program. He supervises the adjudication of water rights and serves as general counsel to the State Engineer.  He has briefed or supervised the briefing of a dozen New Mexico Court of Appeals and Supreme Court cases and he has argued four cases before the New Mexico Supreme Court.  Member of the Western States Water Council, appointed by Gov. Richardson.

Anthony J. Trujillo practices governmental affairs law, environmental and natural resources litigation, and general commercial litigation. His experience includes a variety of legal matters including issues related to administrative law, mining, oil and gas, agriculture, water rights, water quality, energy, employment law and civil rights.

Judge James J. Wechsler has served on the Court of Appeals since December 1994. In private practice from 1983 until his appointment to the court, Judge Wechsler engaged primarily in civil and administrative litigation. He is currently the presiding Judge for several New Mexico Water Adjudications.

CLE International Program Attorney: Laura Terlisner Mehew, laura@cle.com