PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Chris Frahm serves as special counsel and provides lobbying services for municipalities, water utilities, private corporations, districts, and public agencies. Her experience includes sophisticated strategic planning, transactional counseling, negotiation, lobbying efforts and litigation on significant water-related issues. She has in depth knowledge of the institutional and political challenges to the development of water supplies and water-related infrastructure, and possesses unique problem-solving and strategic planning skills based on her experience in the industry and working relationships with key leaders and decision-makers in the California water law and policy arenas.

TRANSACTIONS/CASES 

• Protection of a regulated water utility and basin association against unwarranted rate increases and other adverse actions by a regional water replenishment district;
• Assisting a mutual water company to transfer its assets to a community services district without tax consequences;
• Helping a city protect its water rights by introducing legislation to ensure compliance with federal law;
• Representing a non-profit association on a wide range of legislative matters pertaining to groundwater contamination, protection and development;
• Helping cities and other water purveyors protect, preserve and develop untapped groundwater and conjunctive use opportunities and develop other water supply reliability programs;
• Assisting regional and local water agencies and regulated utilities in understanding and developing a strategic position with regard to Southern California water supply programs; and
• Working with environmental and other stakeholders in negotiating detailed water conservation recommendations to be presented to the California Public Utilities Commission; and
• Helping clients secure funding for local water supply development programs including groundwater conjunctive use, desalination and recycled water.

AGENCY EXPERIENCE
San Diego County Water Authority Board Member, 1987-99
   Imperial Irrigation Water Transfer Agreement, MWD Exchange Agreement,
   California 4.4 Plan, and $235 Million State Funding of Colorado River Works, 1998
   Chairwoman of the Board, 1997-98
   Chairwoman, Water Policy, Finance and Imported Water Committees
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board Member, 1982-99
   Vice-Chairwoman of the Board, 1994-98
   Chairwoman, Water Policy and Audit Committees
   Vice-Chairwoman, Engineering and Operations Committee

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
City of San Diego
   San Diego Convention Center Corporation, Vice Chairwoman of the Board
San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
   Member, Board of Directors
   Chairwoman, Water Committee
   Past Chairwoman (2 terms) Infrastructure Committee
   1998 Recipient, (Inaugural) Pete Wilson Leadership Award
CFEE (California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy)
   Executive Committee and Member, Board of Directors
   Frequent presenter and panel participant on statewide water and infrastructure issues
Dinner Chairwoman, United Cerebral Palsy Padres Awards Dinner (3 years)

PUBLIC ADVOCACY
Frequent speaker before a wide variety of forums including public agencies and community groups on the subjects of water reliability and rates, water distribution system access and other current water issues.

EDUCATION
University of Southern California Law School, J.D., (with honors), 1976
California State University, Long Beach, B.A., summa cum laude, 1973

ADMISSIONS
State Bar of California
Supreme Court of California
United States District Court, Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California