- Water Law
- Water Rights Litigation
- Water Quality
- Agricultural Law
- Public Trust Doctrine
- Groundwater Law
- Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)
- Endangered Species Act
- Environmental Law / NEPA / CEQA
- Public Works Contracts
- Public Agency & Special Districts Law
Steve is a Managing Partner at Young Wooldridge, LLP, and has been a member of the firm’s Water Law and Special Districts Department for 27 years. Born and raised in the farming community of Buttonwillow, Steve has unique life experience that he has combined with great technical abilities in the legal and regulatory areas of agriculture, eminent domain, the Endangered Species Act, CEQA and other environmental laws, public agency law, water rights and transfers, and water quality laws.
Steve’s specialized practice has focused on working with numerous water agencies locally and throughout the State. Steve provides both general counsel and litigation services for his clients, which include water districts, SGMA Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, and Joint Powers Authorities, with groundwater banking projects and surface supplies from various rivers and the state (SWP) and federal (CVP) water projects.
Steve likes staying active in the local community. He is a graduate of the Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Bakersfield program, a past board member of the Italian Heritage Dante Association, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Water Association of Kern County.