Carl P. A. Nelson

Carl Nelson's practice has focused on a variety of real property, contract, and regulatory issues. He has specialized in issues relating to the formation and administration of complex contractual arrangements, including real property, construction, and contracts for water, wastewater and electrical service, typically in connection with providing the infrastructure necessary to serve a growing customer base. He also has significant experience in the law of public agency rates and charges, in the rules and regulations under which publicly owned utilities provide services to their customers, in all phases of public agency governance matters, and in environmental and natural resources matters, with an emphasis on water rights and water quality. He has participated in numerous regulatory proceedings and litigation concerning water rights and water quality matters, primarily in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, since the mid-1980's. He also has assisted a number of private clients in their efforts to obtain, confirm, or develop a water supply for agricultural, municipal, and industrial purposes.

Mr. Nelson began his law practice in 1984 with the predecessor firm of Bold and Polisner, and was one of the original partners when the current firm was created in 1993. His practice is primarily related to representation of local water and wastewater agencies, and he has considerable experience, as both general and special counsel, in providing legal advice to public agencies which are responsible for municipal and industrial water supply, recycled water supply, wastewater treatment and disposal, and related services.

Mr. Nelson is a member of the American, California and Contra Costa Bar Associations. He has made presentations at several continuing legal education programs and has conducted ethics training (AB 1234) for local governmental officials. He is currently serving as the Immediate Past Chair of the Attorneys Committee of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies. He is admitted to practice in all state courts and in federal trial and appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court.

Carl Nelson received his A.B. from University of California at Berkeley in 1977, and his J.D. from University of California, Hastings College of the Law, in 1984. He was a writer and editor of the Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly, and won the Roger J. Traynor Writing Competition.