Kevin M. O’Brien

Kevin O’Brien assists clients throughout California in water rights, water quality, endangered species, and environmental matters. His clients include water districts, cities, counties, private landowners, real estate developers, wineries and mining companies.

Kevin represents clients in a broad array of matters relating to water. He handles major administrative proceedings before the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to obtain, modify and protect water rights. He serves as trial counsel in water cases in state and federal courts. And he assists clients in structuring and negotiating transactions relating to the transfer of water rights. Kevin regularly works with various local, state and federal agencies on water matters including the California Department of Water Resources, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Kevin has a reputation for solving problems. Clients refer to his calm, respectful approach as a proven asset when working with opposing counsel and agency decision-makers. Sacramento Lawyer magazine has described him as a lawyer who “advocates principled positions that reflect the law and are intended to achieve a solution for all the parties, not just his clients.”

Kevin is a former Managing Partner of Downey Brand.