Education

J.D., 2008, cum laude, Lewis & Clark Law School
B.A., 2005, summa cum laude, University of Southern California, Phi Beta Kappa

Admitted

California

Distinctions

Lewis & Clark Law Review

Natural Resources Law Certificate

Memberships

Vice President, Groundwater Resources Association Central Coast Chapter

Community Involvement

Board of Directors, Center for Urban Agriculture at Fairview Gardens

Ryan C. Drake

Ryan's practice focuses on water rights and encompasses a broad range of issues, including water right transactions, property rights litigation, groundwater adjudications, water quality and environmental compliance, water right licensing and permitting. He also has experience representing regulated utilities as well as trade groups before the California Public Utilities Commission.

Additionally, Ryan has assisted in representing a variety of municipal entities and public agencies, including Chino Basin Watermaster, the San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority, the Central Coast Water Authority, the City of Seaside, the South Tahoe Public utility District and the Santa Ynez River Water Conservation District ID No. 1.

Representative Matters

Successfully defended mutual water company board of directors and management against challenge by shareholders to water transfers implemented by the company.
Representing Golden State Water Company for development of a new water utility service area in Sutter County, California, including water resource and infrastructure planning, negotiation of water supply agreements, and acquisition of certificate of public convenience and necessity from the California Public Utilities Commission.

Publications & Presentations

"Brownstein Client Alert: New Public Contract Code Provisions Limit Public Works Project Retention Amounts,"  Brownstein Client Alert, November 16, 2011.
"Case Alert: New Federal Red Flag Rule Requires Utilities To Implement Identity Theft Prevention Measures,"  Brownstein Case Alert, September 29, 2008.
"Corporate Responsibility and State False Claims Acts: Evaluating the Use of Qui Tam Proceedings to Revoke the Charters of Corporate Polluters,"  12 Lewis & Clark Law Review 267, 2008