10/11/2007: Hatch & Parent Announces It Will Merge with Denver based Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck Please click here to read the full Press Release.

8/27/2007: Round II Complete In re Groundwater Cases Hartwell Redux Water Quality Wins. The Supreme Court ruling in Hartwell v. Suprerior Court (2002) 27 Cal. 4th 256 was a critical victory for water providers in the State of California.. Please click here to read the full Case Update.

7/9/2007: Round II: Hartwell v. Superior Court "Water Quality on Trial" The Supreme Court ruling in Hartwell v. Suprerior Court (2002) 27 Cal. 4th 256 was a critical victory for water providers in the State of California.. Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

6/14/2007: County of Imperial v. Superior Court (State Water Resources Control Board). In a case of first impression regarding which parties are "recipients of an approval" that must be named as defendants in an action challenging a regulatory agency's approval of a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Third District Court of Appeal held that the term includes all parties who ultimately received an approval from the agency even if they were not applicants for the proposed agency approval. Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

6/11/2007: The Supreme Court Rules in Favor of the Environment and Potentially Responsible Parties at the Same Time. In a long-awaited opinion, the Supreme Court ruled that, under Section 107(a)(4)(B) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), a Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) can recover response costs from another PRP for remediation of contamination, without waiting to be sued by the EPA or an innocent party first. Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

3/2007: Hatch & Parent Certified Planner receives "Green Building" accreditation Eva Turenchalk, a certified planner with the law firm of Hatch & Parent, has been designated a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional by the U.S. Green Building Council, a national organization created to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Hatch & Parent is one of the largest land use and water law practices in California. Please click here to read the full Press Release.

2/6/2007: Appellate Decision Enables Public-Private Partnerships. In a well-reasoned opinion, the Third Appellate District affirmed that there is flexibility in the timing of the environmental review associated with public – private partnerships and projects. Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

2/5/2007: Supreme Court Strikes Down New Development EIR Based on Uncertain Water Supply. On February 1, 2007, the California Supreme Court entered the fray of water supply availability for specific plans enacted for real estate developments. Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

1/2007: Hatch & Parent names new Partners and Senior Associate. Robin Lewis, Carolyn Rhoades, and Lisabeth Rothman have been named partners in Hatch & Parent, one of the largest land use and water law practices in California. Susannah Mitchell is now a senior associate. Please click here to read the full Press Release.

1/2007: Court of Appeal Strikes Down State Board’s Annual Fees For Water Right Permits and Licenses. If you or your organization hold a water right permit or license issued by the State Board, you may be eligible for a refund if you filed a petition for reconsideration with the State Board, or if you are a member of the Farm Bureau, NCWA or CVPWA. Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

9/2006: Update on Direct Shipment of Wine to Other States. More than a year has passed since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Granholm v. Heald. Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

8/9/2006: California Supreme Court Holds Local Water and Sewer Rates Subject to Prop. 218. With remarkable clarity, the California Supreme Court left no doubt that the Proposition 218 landowner notice and protest procedures must be followed whenever water, sewer and solid waste user rates are adjusted. Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

7/2006: Hatch & Parent names two Partners to the Firm. Arnold E. Brier and Graham Lyons have become partners in the law firm of Hatch & Parent. Please click here to read the full Press Release.

6/9/2006: US EPA Issues Proposed Rulemaking on Water Transfer. On June 7, 2006, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register a proposed amendment to its regulations concerning whether a permit is required for water transfers under Section 402 of the Clean Water Act (CWA).federal courts over the past 20 years. The EPA has itself noted that water transfers are common throughout the United States and are crucial for supplying water to large numbers of farmers and municipalities, including Bureau. Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

6/5/2006: California Court of Appeals Holds That a County's Restriction On Groundwater Pumping Is Not A Compensable "Taking". While prior cases and recent legislation have begun to introduce some ground-shaking over the security of water rights as a form of real property rights, Allegretti & Co. v. County of Imperialis an earthquake of significant proportion. which that court had concluded that environmental conditions that resulted in a governmental sponsored reduction in the amount of water made available to certain water districts amounted to a compensable physical taking. Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

5/2006: Law Offces of Hatch & Parent moves to new San Diego location. Hatch & Parent's San Diego law office has moved to a new downtown San Diego location. Please click here to read the full Press Release.

4/25/2006: The Intersection Between Water Service and Land Development. Pursuant to this law, public agencies or private entities that provide water or sewer service must adopt a set of written policies and procedures for providing priority service to affordable housing projects by July 1, 2006. Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

3/2006: Hatch & Parent adds environmental attorney to its Los Angeles office. The law firm of Hatch & Parent has added an attorney to its Los Angeles office. Diane C. DeFelice will join the firm's Environmental Quality practice group as Of Counsel. Please click here to read the full Press Release.

2/2006: Hatch & Parent promotes five attorneys within the firm. Five attorneys are taking on new positions at Hatch & Parent. Chris Frahm is now a shareholder and Wes Strickland and Michael Fife are now partners in the law firm. Please click here to read the full Press Release.

12/2005: Hatch & Parent hires Sacramento legislative advocate. "Paul Bauer will represent the firm's water, real estate and land use clients before government entities." Please click here to read the full Press Release.

10/2005: USEPA Issues Important Water Transfer Interpretation. US Water News, October 2005. By Wes Strickland. Please click here to read the full article.

9/6/2005: World minerals attorney joins Hatch & Parent to head expanding General Counsel Practice. "Arnold E. Brier, former assistant general counsel and chief compliance officer at World Minerals, Inc. World Minerals Inc., has joined the California law firm of Hatch & Parent." Please click here to read the full Press Release.

8/12/2005: Restaurant's Rebirth: Molski Stymied on Lawsuit Bill. Pacific Coast Business Times Please click here to read the full article.

8/2005: A Prescription for Fulfilling the Promise of a Robust Water Market. “Growing construction costs and concern for environmental quality have made more difficult the new water supply development designed to meet the projected water deficit.” Please click here to read the document.

5/2005: New Efforts at Developing National Water Security Standards. U.S. Water News. Please click here to read the full article.

5/20/2005: Vintners get their way: High court sides with SLO winery. Pacific Coaset Business Times. Please click here to read the full article.

2/28/2005: Senate Bill 820: Dramatic Changes Proposed for California Water Law. "On February 23, 2005, Senator Sheila Kuehl, Chair of the powerful Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, unveiled SB 820, a bill that provides for sweeping changes in California water law affecting both urban and agricultural water users." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

2/14/2005 PRESS RELEASE: Hatch & Parent Adds Attorney to Sacramento Office. "Santa Barbara-based Hatch & Parent has welcomed attorney Jeffrey A. Volberg to be resident in its Sacramento law office." Please click here to read the full Press Release.

2/10/2005 CASE ALERT: California Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act Update. "Hatch & Parent's Employment Law Group continues to monitor important new changes in California law affecting employers. This employment law alert briefly addresses how this important legislation may affect you in 2005." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

2/9/2005 CASE ALERT: Senator Kuehl's "Mega Water Bill." "Senator Sheila Kuehl, Chair of the newly created Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, February 3 2005 unveiled a bill proposal that..." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

2/9/2005 CASE ALERT: Designation of Critical Habitat for California Salmon and Steelhead Could Impact Your Water Supplies. "Endangered species listings and associated Critical Habitat designations can have dramatic impacts on property rights." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

2/4/2005 CASE ALERT: 2005 Urban Water ManagementPlan Updates: Avoid Litigation Through CarefulPlanning and Documentation. "Urban water suppliers throughout the state are required to update their Urban Water Management Plans (UWMP) by the end of 2005." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

1/15/2005 PRESS RELEASE: Hatch & Parent Announces Six Attorney Promotions to Senior Associate. "Six associates at the Santa Barbara-based law firm of Hatch & Parent have been named senior associates, according to Steven A. Amerikaner, managing partner of the firm." Please click here to read the full Press Release.

1/15/2005 PRESS RELEASE: Hatch & Parent Announces New Partner Promotion. "Stephanie Osler Hastings has become a partner at the Santa Barbara-based law firm of Hatch & Parent, according to Steven A. Amerikaner, managing partner." Please click here to read the full Press Release.

12/31/2004 CASE ALERT: Supreme Court to Rule on Constitutionality of Direct Shipment Laws. "Hatch & Parent’s Wine Practice Group continues to monitor the constitutionality of laws regulating the direct shipment of wine to other states as the issue has made its way to the Supreme Court." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

12/15/2004 CASE ALERT: California’s New Sexual Harassment Training Law. "California recently passed a new law, AB 1825 1, which requires employers with 50or more employers to provide at least two hours of interactive sexual harassment prevention training to all supervisory employees. This employment law alert provides a brief overview of the new law and the requirements it imposes on employers." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

10/4/2004 CASE ALERT: Urban Water Management Plans And Groundwater Contamination Issues. "California water agencies that manage groundwater resources will want to carefully examine a recent decision from the California court of appeal invalidating a water agency’s Urban Water Management Plan ("UWMP")." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

9/30/2004 CASE ALERT: New Statute Alert A.B. 2528: "Action Level" Is Replaced By Two New Regulatory Concepts. "Hatch & Parent’s Environmental Quality Group has been monitoring an important change in state law that will affect water wholesalers and retailers throughout California." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

9/17/2004 CASE ALERT: National Resources Defense Council v. Patterson. "Hatch & Parent is monitoring an important court case that could significantly affect the surface water supplies available to municipalities and water districts throughout California." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

8/11/2004 CASE ALERT: Court Restricts Use Of “Napa” In Label. "Hatch & Parent’s Wine Practice Group wishes to advise that the California Supreme Court recently ruled that if the label on a wine bottle calls itself a Napa brand, then the wine inside that bottle must be made from grapes that mostly come from the Napa Valley." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

8/4/2004 CASE ALERT: Court Dismisses All Drinking Water Providers from Mass Toxic Tort Suit. "Hatch & Parent’s Environmental Quality Group is continuing to monitor an important court case of interest to drinking water providers. The case concerns claims for compensation by over 2500 California residents against various industrial companies and private and public drinking water suppliers." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

8/4/2004 PRESS RELEASE: Hatch & Parent Announces Addition of New Appellate Lawyer. "Hatch & Parent announced today that James Earl Friedhofer, a certified appellate specialist, has joined the firm." Please click here to read the full Press Release.

7/7/2004 PRESS RELEASE: Hatch & Parent Announces New Land Use Planner. "Hatch & Parent, the largest law firm based on the Central Coast, announced today the addition of Eva Turenchalk, AICP as a Land Use Planner. A certified planner, Ms. Turenchalk will work with the attorneys in the firm's Real Estate and Land Use Group where she will work on land use matters, including securing permits and entitlements for clients." Please click here to read the full Press Release.

6/23/2004 CASE ALERT: United States Supreme Court Will Resolve Direct Shipment Controversy. "Hatch & Parent's Wine Practice Group is pleased to report that the United States Supreme Court has decided to finally resolve the long-simmering dispute over the direct shipment of wine to other states." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

6/17/2004 CASE ALERT: Appellate Court Finds That County Jury Selection System Meets Constitutional Standards. "Gary Blair, the Santa Barbara Court Administrator and Jury Commissioner, won an important victory from the Court of Appeal this week, including clarification on two questions of importance to jury commissioners, court administrators, and judges throughout the State. Mr. Blair was represented on the appeal by the Appellate Practice Group of Hatch & Parent." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

6/16/2004 CASE ALERT: Cost Recovery for Contamination to Groundwater. "We are monitoring an important court case that may affect municipalities throughout California. In the underlying case, City of Modesto Redevelopment Agency v. Superior Court, the City of Modesto and the Redevelopment Agency sued dry cleaning operators for contamination to groundwater, along with the suppliers of the dry cleaning equipment, those that supplied the chemicals and others as well." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

5/28/2004 CASE ALERT: New Agricultural Waiver Program. "Hatch & Parent's Wine Practice group is monitoring the changes in the agricultural waiver programs overseen by the various California Regional Water Quality Control Boards, including the Central Coast Regional Board. These changes may result in serious impacts to the agricultural community, including vineyard owners and/or operators." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

CASE ALERT: Water Rechargers and Providers May Qualify as PRPs Under CERCLA. "Is any of your recharge water source contaminated? Do you move water into a basin for recharge or other uses? Do you use water from the Basin that is recharge water? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be the subject of an attack like this should you seek to recover from those that caused the contamination in the first place." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

4/16/2004 CASE ALERT: Direct Shipment of Wine to Other States. "Hatch & Parent’s Wine Practice Group is monitoring an important court case dealing with the issue of direct shipment of wines to other states. A recent ruling by a court of appeals in New York upheld a New York state law that bans the direct shipment of out-of-state wines to New York residents. It appears that the United States Supreme Court will finally be addressing this critical issue sometime in the near future." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

3/29/2004 PRESS RELEASE: Hatch & Parent Announces Practice Expansion. "Beginning April 1, 2004, the firm's business, real estate and trusts and estates lawyers will be combined into a single practice group that will handle business, real estate, land use, and complex tax matters, including estate planning, using a more comprehensive and integrated approach to the delivery of legal services." Please click here to read the full Press Release.

3/12/2004: CASE ALERT: Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). "On behalf of our Wine Practice Group, I want to alert you to a situation that we are encountering in representing several clients on the Central Coast. A San Francisco based non-profit organization has been filing lawsuits against wineries throughout the Central Coast for alleged violations of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act." Please click here to read the full Case Alert.

2/2004 More Fun Than the Law Permits. "To celebrate the birthday of Stan Hatch, 250 of his closest friends crowded into the Biltmore's Loggia Ballroom to roast and toast the co-founder (with Gerald Parent) of the Santa Barbara law firm of Hatch & Parent," Santa Barbara News-Press, February 4, 2004. Please click here to read more about Stan Hatch's birthday bash.

10/15/2004 Colorado River Quantification Settlement Agreement. "On October 15, 2003 an era of contentious in-fighting among long-warring California water interests came to an end. In place of escalating political rhetoric and legal wrangling, California finally delivered on its promise to the federal government and the other Colorado River Basin States to live within its basic apportionment of Colorado River Water," Scott S. Slater, HydroVisions, Volume 13, No. 1, Spring 2004. Please click here to read the full story.