David R. E. Aladjem

David Aladjem helps clients throughout California manage and resolve water resources management problems, especially those at the intersection of water rights, endangered species, and CEQA/NEPA.

He represents water districts, cities, counties, and private companies in obtaining, developing, and protecting their water rights. He regularly represents clients in connection with water transfers and the conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater.

As both general counsel and special counsel, he provides clients with unparalleled experience and insight in dealing with the intricate regulatory landscape, and in negotiating with other water rights holders, state and federal agencies, and environmental groups. He practices regularly before the State Water Resources Control Board, the California Department of Water Resources, and other state and federal agencies with control over water resources and endangered species. Most recently, David represented a large number of clients in the State Water Resources Control Board’s hearing on the California WaterFix project and in connection with the so-called “voluntary agreements” to update the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan. He has also recently represented the Imperial Irrigation District before the State Water Resources Control Board in connection with the ongoing need to protect the Salton Sea. Lastly, he is currently advising a client before the State Water Resources Control Board in connection with the assignment of a “state-filing” upstream of the Delta.

Clients turn to David for his “out of the box” approach to solving problems. He masters the technical details of an issue and is then able to craft tailored legal and political strategies to provide cost-effective solutions for his clients. Recently, David was one of the lawyers who spent untold hours crafting ACWA’s proposal for new groundwater legislation. He also worked diligently during the legislative process to improve the bill on behalf of his clients. He is one of a small handful of lawyers in California who can identify the origins of most of the bill’s legislative provisions.

David believes that practicing law is about listening, not only to what is said but what is not said. Recently, in the midst of heated negotiations, the other party used a word that David didn’t expect – “fear.”  The two of them talked about that fear and the way that it had infected the negotiations. After discussing specifics, they decided to re-write the critical provision of the agreement thereby resolving the dispute and putting all parties at ease. He believes that by listening carefully – to his clients and to those on the other side of a dispute – complex problems can be resolved and new opportunities can present themselves. Finding those solutions and helping clients find those opportunities – particularly in the context of long-standing relationships – is what he enjoys about practicing law.

Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

• American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy and Resources. Past Chair, Water Resources Committee. Past Chair, Annual Water Law Conference
• Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), Groundwater Committee
• National Judicial College, Dividing the Waters, Board of Advisors
• California State University, Office of the Chancellor, Water Resources Policy Initiatives
• Northern California Water Association
• Central Valley Clean Water Association
• California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law and Public Law Sections

Honors & Rankings

• AV Preeminent^® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell^®
• Best Lawyers in America^©, Water Law, 2021-2024
• Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources, State, Local & Municipal, 2015-2020
• Sacramento Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2015, 2017-2018
• American Bar Association, Best Paper, There is No Free Lunch: The Endangered Species Act, The Public-Trust Doctrine and the Takings Clause, April 2018
• Association of California Water Agencies, Excellence in Water Leadership, 2009
• Sacramento Area Council of Governments, Citizen of the Year, 2005
• Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, 1980