Program Co-Chairs

Eric L. Garner litigates administrative proceedings on water rights, water quality and endangered species issues. He was named California Lawyer of the Year in the Environmental Law category by California Lawyer magazine for his work in the Santa Maria Groundwater Adjudication.

Roderick E. Walston entered private practice after spending most of his legal career as a government attorney. He most recently served as both Acting Solicitor and Deputy Solicitor of the U.S. Department of the Interior. He specializes in natural resources law and appellate litigation.

Keynote Speaker

David L. Bernhardt is the third ranking official in the Department and its chief legal officer. He provides legal advice to the Secretary and members of his staff, the Assistant Secretaries of the Department, the heads of the offices and bureaus and all other officers and employees of Interior. He is also responsible for formulating the legal policies of the Department and resolving any conflicts that may arise in application of these policies.

James H. Davenport is the author of Nevada Water Law (2003). He was formerly Associate Counsel for the Environment and Public Works Committee of the U.S. Senate and Assistant Attorney General for the State of Washington.

Charles T. DuMars practices natural resource law in New Mexico as well as in other states and internationally. He is also Professor Emeritus at the University of New Mexico School of Law.

Stephen Farris works on various administrative water cases, stream adjudications, Indian water right settlements, endangered species litigation on the Rio Grande and Pecos River, and threatened interstate litigation by the State of Texas over rights to the Rio Grande.

Brent Fewell has over 17 years of environmental science, technical, and legal experience. From September 2004 until March 2007, he served as the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water.

Terry Fulp is responsible for water operations, water and power contracts, water accounting, and water conservation from Lake Mead to Mexico. Michael A. Gheleta focuses his practice on water rights, public lands, environmental compliance and litigation in these areas. He spent 15 years with the U.S. Department of Justice and has litigated a number of cases involving the Colorado River.

M. Reed Hopper oversees his foundation's ESA and CWA litigation. He has litigated precedent-setting environmental and land use cases, including the recent Rapanos case.

Norman D. James has practiced environmental litigation, natural resources law, and public utility regulation for more than 20 years. He represented the industry petitioners in National Association of Home Builders v. Defenders of Wildlife.

Andrew C. Mergen supervises federal ESA and public lands litigation in the U.S. courts of appeal. He is currently involved in the Defenders of Wildlife v. EPA appeal, a decision that could have substantial implications for consultation under Section 7 and other provisions of the ESA.

Peter D. Nicols practices water, water quality, and environmental law. He has been the principal western attorney involved in the Miccosukee, Catskill Mtns. and related water transfers litigation, drafting and filing numerous amicus briefs on behalf of western water interests.

John C. Peck is a recognized authority on Kansas water law. He teaches contracts, land transactions, water law, and family law, and is special counsel to Foulston Siefkin in Wichita.

Michele A. Staples concentrates in advising and representing landowners, agricultural businesses,developers, and private and public water suppliers in the areas of water rights, SB 221 and SB610 water supply assessments and verifications, endangered species, CEQA, land use planning, feasibility and entitlements.

Mark F. Sudol began working on environmental issues with the Corps of Engineers in the early 1990s. He completed his doctoral studies evaluating the success of wetland mitigation sites. He also owned his own consulting firm.

John B. Weldon, Jr.,represents clients in water rights and natural resource related matters. He has represented the Salt River Project in the Gila River and Little Colorado general stream adjudications since 1977.

Jill N. Willis specializes in water rights and related issues. She represents numerous clients in actions involving surface and groundwater rights throughout Southern California.