Sacramento 916.520.5466
Assistant Information
Deanna Fillon
Phone 916.520.5457
Email
Education
- J.D., with distinction, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2021
- B.A., University of California at Davis, 2016
Bar Admissions
- California, 2021
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circut
Nicolas D. Chapman
Senior Associate
Nicolas Chapman's practice focuses primarily on water resources, encompassing surface and groundwater rights litigation, endangered species issues, federal reclamation law, flood protection, and public agency issues.
Nicolas represents private and public clients in complex environmental litigation before federal and state courts, as well as in administrative proceedings before the State Water Resources Control Board. He also counsels public clients on water resources and governmental strategies. As a water resources attorney, Nicolas’ proficiency extends to navigating the intricacies of federal and state regulatory frameworks, providing clients with precise and practical legal counsel aimed at achieving the best results possible.
Beyond his water resources expertise, Nicolas is well-versed in California’s open government, finance, contracting, and ethics laws, including the Ralph M. Brown Act, the Public Records Act, the Political Reform Act, and Propositions 218, 26, and 13. He frequently conducts state-law-required AB-1234 training for public clients and at conferences held by the Association of California Water Agencies.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Northern California Water Association, Water Leaders Program, 2025
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
- California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Contributing Author
- University of the Pacific Law Review, Chief Articles & Symposium Editor, 2020-2021
- University of the Pacific Law Review, Staff Writer, 2019-2020
Honors & Rankings
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Environmental Litigation, 2025
- Traynor Honor Society, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
- Dean’s List, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2018-2021
- Judicial Extern, Honorable Morrison C. England, Eastern District of California, 2021
- Counsel large agricultural water suppliers on a variety of complex water rights issues.
- Counsel public water agencies on governance, finance, and long-term operational strategies.
- Draft briefs and motions on client’s behalf in federal reclamation contracts and Endangered Species action before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
- Draft briefs and motions in administrative proceedings before the State Water Resources Control Board on the client’s behalf.
- Assist with the defense of historic settlement contracts in federal court.
- Assist with representing a large group of senior water rights holders with California water rights and water quality regulation, the Endangered Species Act, and federal reclamation law issues.
- Assist with representing a large coalition of landowners in a comprehensive groundwater adjudication.
- Assist with representing a municipality in securing water supplies in litigation before a state court.
Announcements
2 related itemsSpeaking Engagements / Events
2 related items-
November 30, 2023Ethics Training (AB 1234)2023 ACWA Fall Conference & Expo
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May 11, 2023Ethics Training (AB 1234)Presenter, ACWA Spring Conference
Legal Alerts
3 related items-
May 28, 2024Ninth Circuit Hands Major Victory to Senior Water Right Holders on the Sacramento River
Water Law -
July 7, 2022Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Reverses RCRA Citizen Suit Decision Affecting Drinking Water Supply Agencies in California River Watch v. City of Vacaville
Water Quality Law -
June 9, 2022State Water Board Issues Sweeping Water Right Curtailment Order in 2022 for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Watershed
Water Law
Publications
12 related items-
October 2025Santa Clara Valley Water District Suspends Development of Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 36, Number 1 -
March 2025United States Army Corps of Engineers Makes Unplanned Releases From Two Tulare Lake Basin Dams
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 35, Number 6 -
January 2025Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority Petitions California Supreme Court for Review of Trial Phasing Order in Comprehensive Groundwater Adjudication
California Land Use Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 35, Number 4 -
August/September 2024U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Proposes to List Long Valley Speckled Dace as an Endangered Species
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 34, Number 11 -
March 2024State Water Resources Control Board Again Addresses Instream Flow Concerns in Scott and Shasta Rivers Through Emergency Rulemaking
California Water Law and Policy Reporter, Volume 34, Number 6 -
December 2023Environmental Groups Challenge State Water Resources Control Board’s Order Modifying Irrigated Lands Program Order for Central Coast Region
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 34, Number 3 -
August/September 2023District Court Vacates National Marine Fisheries Services’ Biological Opinion and Environmental Assessment for Safe Harbor Agreements Regarding Shasta River Coho Salmon
Environmental, Energy & Climate Change Law and Regulation Reporter, Volume 3, Number 11 -
May 2023California Court of Appeal Upholds State Water Resources Control Board’s General Waste Discharge Requirements in WQO 2018-0002
California Water Law and Policy Reporter, Volume 33, Number 8 -
February 2023California Tribes and Environmental Organizations File Civil Rights Complaint and Petition for Rulemaking with EPA for Bay-Delta Water Quality Standards
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 33, Number 5 -
November 2022Ninth Circuit Holds That Native Alaskan Tribe has an Implied Right to Fish off the Tribe’s Reservation
Western Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 27, Number 1 -
April 2022Department of Water Resources Begins Preparation of Environmental Impact Report for West False River Drought Salinity Barrier
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 32, Number 7 -
November 2021Water Agencies File Lawsuits Challenging State Water Board’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Curtailment Order
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 32, Number 2
Nicolas enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter on their family farm in Winters, CA. Whenever he can, Nico enjoys hosting his friends and family for barbecues and farm parties.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Northern California Water Association, Water Leaders Program, 2025
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Environmental Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Environmental Law Section
- California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Contributing Author
- University of the Pacific Law Review, Chief Articles & Symposium Editor, 2020-2021
- University of the Pacific Law Review, Staff Writer, 2019-2020
Honors & Rankings
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Rising Star, Environmental Litigation, 2025
- Traynor Honor Society, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
- Dean’s List, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 2018-2021
- Judicial Extern, Honorable Morrison C. England, Eastern District of California, 2021