Austin C. Cho

• Provides water rights advice and other assistance to public and private entities, including the assessment of claimed groundwater, riparian, appropriative, and pre-1914 water rights.
• Counsels public agencies regarding compliance with transparency requirements of the Brown Act, and conflict of interest considerations under the Political Reform Act and Government Code section 1090.
• Covers board meetings and assists with the preparation and review of ordinances, resolutions, financing vehicles, and election materials in a general counsel capacity for local agency clients.
• Manages evidentiary records in complex administrative and legal proceedings.
• Provides guidance on the complexities of developing common law including the California Public Trust and Area of Origin doctrines.
• Facilitates project approvals with state and federal permitting bodies and ensures compliance with environmental laws including CEQA, NEPA, and the Endangered Species Act.
• Advised on the formation of Groundwater Sustainability Agencies and assists with the development of Groundwater Sustainability Plans and Alternative Plans in compliance with SGMA.
• Drafted and submitted legal briefs to appellate courts and the California Supreme Court.
• Conducted discovery, prepared motions, and assisted with briefing in complex groundwater rights litigation.
• Achieved beneficial outcomes before the SWRCB, including temporary urgency permits to appropriate water outside of the permitted season, a small domestic use registration for a pond with capacity greater than 10 acre-feet, and a workable settlement of an administrative enforcement action.
• Facilitated the necessary covenants and agreements for the construction and operation of flood control facilities in the Delta.
• Prepared testimony, exhibits, and descriptions of the appropriative and riparian water rights of dozens of clients in the California WaterFix change petition hearing before the SWRCB.
• Produced a comprehensive primer on the permitting and licensing standards for the distribution of drinking water from a private spring.
• Counseled a public agency client on strategy relating to an upstream diverter’s petition for assignment of high-priority state-filed applications; drafted request to the State Water Board for Release from priority in favor of client’s license.

Announcements

4 related items

---

In the News

1 related items

---

Speaking Engagements / Events

11 related items

---

Blogs

2 related items

---

Legal Alerts

8 related items view more

---

Publications

17 related items

Prior to becoming the first lawyer in his family, Austin was an illustrator and graphic designer.  That artistic vision carries through Austin’s legal work, often manifesting in the creative solutions he offers his clients.  Austin enjoys spending his free time outdoors or around the house with his wife Amy and their two sons, Sullivan and Cormac.

---

Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement

• Water Education Foundation Water Leaders Fellowship, Class of 2022
• California Special Districts Association, 2021-present
• Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
• California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
• California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Contributing Author

---

Honors & Rankings

• Best Lawyers in America^©, Ones to Watch, Natural Resources Law, 2024
• Order of the Coif
• Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
• Jun Aoki Book Award, 2015
• Finalist, CEB Annual Award for Excellence in Legal Research and Writing, 2013
• Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Legal Research and Writing, 2013