Williams Mullen represents municipalities and other public and private companies in planning, procuring, constructing, financing, permitting and privatizing water and wastewater facilities. In addition, the firm represents local governments in regionalization, consolidation and authority or consortium formation as an alternate means to provide these utility services.
Williams Mullen represents municipalities and other public and private companies in planning, procuring, constructing, financing, permitting and privatizing water and wastewater facilities. In addition, the firm represents local governments in regionalization, consolidation and authority or consortium formation as an alternate means to provide these utility services.
Water supply and wastewater treatment require the greatest capital investment of all utility services. The water resources which provide drinking water supplies are limited. Given the cost of these facilities, and the finite amount of resources, utilities are challenged by issues involving operating costs (and the potential rate impact), growing demand, source availability and regulatory requirements. Williams Mullen has unique broad-based experience with these issues and offers a comprehensive package of alternatives and solutions.
An entity participating in the development, privatization or regionalization of water and wastewater facilities needs experienced counsel conversant with water and wastewater technologies, water resource rights and utilization, and intergovernmental alliances. Counsel should be thoroughly familiar with several legal disciplines and principles of risk assessment and allocation, and have a full and complete understanding of the interplay among the many complex legal, regulatory and transactional issues involved. In facilities development and privatizations, counsel should have broad project management and implementation experience; strong energy, utility and environmental regulatory experience; a firm understanding of labor and pension laws and issues; proven experience in procurement requirements and policies; a thorough foundation in developing construction, service and other applicable transactions; established financial credentials; a solid permitting track record and a thorough understanding of the tax ramifications of potential decisions. In addition to these skills, projects involving regionalizations or consolidations require counsel that is adept at utility and quasi-governmental entity formation and operations, structuring of rates, financial and business planning, and legislative and government affairs. Williams Mullen is one of the few law firms in the nation to offer all the necessary legal and transactional experience within a single firm.
Reflecting the firm’s interdisciplinary approach to legal problem solving, our Infrastructure Team brings a depth of experience in
energy, utility,
environmental,
local government, finance,
tax and contract law to water and wastewater projects. When needed, we may also call upon the substantial resources of other practice areas in our firm, including
legislative and government affairs, corporate,
litigation,
labor, securities and finance.