Mary K. Sahs, P.C. serves its clients by assisting them to comply with the complex and confusing array of federal, state, and local water and environmental regulations. Mary believes that by working closely with the firm’s clients, challenges of doing business in a highly regulated field can be met. Ms. Sahs believes strongly in a sense of community and takes seriously her ethical responsibilities as a member of the State Bar of Texas.
The firm has been recognized for its work in water law:
Received recognition annually in Woodward/White, Inc.’s 2014 – 2020 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings.
Examples of Representation:
In the field of groundwater law:
- Served as general counsel, special counsel, hearings officer, and legal counsel to the boards of directors for various groundwater conservation districts, including providing legislative services and participating in groundwater management area joint planning
- Assisted in the creation of groundwater conservation districts
- Represented protestants in contested permit hearings before groundwater conservation districts
- Represented respondents in enforcement actions brought by various groundwater conservation districts
- Provided legal advice regarding various groundwater transactions, including performing due diligence on potential water deals
In the field of surface water resources:
- Represented clients before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in
obtaining and amending water right permits
opposing surface water right permits in contested case hearings, including serving as outside counsel to a large municipality in a contested water rights case
- representing water right holders in enforcement matters
- Served as appellate counsel before district courts and courts of appeals challenging surface water permits
- Counseled clients on value of water rights and transactions
- Advised clients on surface water run off disputes
In the field of environmental law:
- Represented clients before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in
opposing waste management, wastewater discharge, sludge disposal, quarry operations permits
representing respondents in air, wastewater, and petroleum storage tank enforcement actions
obtaining and amending various types of environmental permits and authorizations
In the field of utility law:
- Represented clients before the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Public Utility Commission of Texas in
obtaining and amending certificates of convenience and necessity (CCNs), including CCN swaps
removing property from CCNs
representing utilities against complaints
defending utility in challenges to rate making
- Appealed to district court municipal decision on impact fees
- Assisted water supply corporation to obtain loans from USDA
Superfund and contamination law:
- Represented potentially responsible parties (PRPs) in numerous Superfund sites, nationwide, including negotiating settlement agreements with other PRPs and the Environmental Protection Agency
- Advised clients and performed due diligence for initial public offerings (IPOs) and other asset and property transactions
- Negotiated settlements between property owners in the chain of title of contaminated properties, including interpretation of transactional agreements, insurance policies, and indemnity agreements