ABOUT US
Costs and Event Execution
Brownstein attorneys and staff are responsible for the execution of this conference. All conference registration fees and sponsorship funds are applied toward the costs of the event itself including: venue space, food and beverages, event supplies, furniture rentals and audio visual equipment. This conference is operated at a loss, with the remaining costs borne by Brownstein as the primary conference sponsor. We do this in an effort to ensure that conference attendance is feasible for women throughout the water industry, irrespective of financial capacity. All Brownstein attorney time is volunteered.
Brownstein’s Water Group is one of the nation’s top water law practices, possessing unparalleled experience in every aspect of water rights, supply, use, distribution and policy. Our Water Group includes more than 30 attorneys, sixteen of whom are women. Our practice and track record includes the most significant and complex water projects and litigation in the nation. We represent both public and private water producers, suppliers and providers, including municipalities, wholesale and retail water agencies, public utilities, industrial users, banks and other investors, real estate and land developers, agricultural interests, significant land owners and various water-related public policy organizations.
Recognition of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
It takes all of us to drive change
We believe that when we bring together different backgrounds and perspectives, we create a stronger team—one that promotes a dynamic and fulfilling working experience for all—and helps us deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients.
It’s a commitment that we put into practice each day. It’s why we developed a strategic plan to attract a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce—and ensure we follow through on these goals by tracking our progress through recruitment and retention initiatives, shareholder promotions and firm leadership roles. It’s why Diversity Lab awarded our firm Mansfield Certification in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021—proving our dedication to hiring LGBTQ+, female lawyers, attorneys of color and those with disabilities. And it’s why we earned a perfect score of 100 percent from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation three consecutive years on the Corporate Equality Index beginning in 2018. For us, diversity is more than lip service. It’s a firmwide mindset that guides our culture, reflects our core values and makes us better in every possible way. Learn more>
Conference
The California H2O Women Conference is produced by Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLC (Brownstein) and was co-founded by Stephanie Hastings and Amy Steinfeld, two of our leading attorneys specializing in water law. Brownstein is a lobbying and law firm with over 290 attorneys and legislative professionals.
While the H2O Women Conference is intended to promote and advance women in the water industry, Brownstein does not discriminate on the basis of race/ethnicity, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex/gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, transsexual or transgender status, marital/parental status, medical condition, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
Stephanie Hastings
SHAREHOLDER AND H2O WOMEN CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR
Brownstein
With more than 20 years of specialized expertise in water law, Stephanie Hastings has played a leading role in California’s most complex and precedent-setting water matters. She brings sophisticated legal skill and experience to the acquisition, maintenance and protection of water resources and rights. A skilled project manager, Stephanie excels at providing strategic advice for complex, dynamic and often novel water matters and thrives in high-stakes, multi-party transactions and litigation.
Stephanie represents wholesale and retail water providers, regulated utilities, government entities, agriculture and large landowners, investment funds, energy and land developers and resorts, among others. Clients value her attention to detail and deft judgement when navigating the myriad challenges inherent in advancing projects in a water scarce environment.
Her practice spans every aspect of water law, including the development, maintenance and protection of water rights, securing supplies and water and wastewater utility services for new development, complex water rights litigation, marketing of supply and rights through transfers and exchanges, development of supplemental supplies including imported and recycled water supplies, and regulatory and environmental compliance for water supply operations and infrastructure.
As a director of The Aquaya Institute, Stephanie is dedicated to advancing global health through universal access to safe water. She is also the Co-Founder of the California H2O Women Conference.
Amy Steinfeld
SHAREHOLDER AND H2O WOMEN CONFERENCE FOUNDER
Brownstein
Amy Steinfeld is a land use and water lawyer with a broad understanding of environmental issues and a passion for the cannabis industry. Operating in one of the most heavily regulated industries and states, her passion and genuine concern for her clients is critical to her success. Drawing on a substantial network and ability to work closely with state agencies and local governments to anticipate decision-makers’ viewpoints, she efficiently moves even the most contentious projects forward and reduces permitting delays. Amy has worked on cannabis-related issues in California since the passage of Proposition 64. She supports greenhouse and outdoor sun-grown cannabis and hemp cultivators on the Central Coast through the permitting and licensing process to ensure compliance with California’s complex land use, zoning, environmental and water laws.
Her combination of water law and land use experience allows Amy to operate at the apex of the industry. She advises water districts, cities, agricultural interests and developers in all aspects of water law. Accomplished in all facets of land development, from site due diligence, to the preparation of environmental documents to the defense and settlement of complicated multi-party CEQA lawsuits, Amy is recognized for her experience in water supply strategy, local policies, and public outreach.
Amy is co-founder and co-chair of the California H2O Women Conference, which provides an opportunity to collaborate, educate and support women leaders in the water industry.
Jessica Diaz
SHAREHOLDER AND H2O WOMEN CONFERENCE CO-CHAIR
Brownstein
With an affable approach, Jessica Diaz embraces challenging legal questions and guides clients through uncertain terrain in the areas of water supply and land use in California. She also has experience with large, high-stakes real estate transactions related to water and assisting institutional corporate clients with niche water projects.
Assisting clients on a broad range of water, environmental and land use matters, Jessica’s practice encompasses regulatory compliance, development entitlements, due diligence on real estate transactions, public law and litigation issues. She helps corporate clients, land owners and public agencies navigate issues related to common law water rights, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, water diversion regulations, the California Environmental Quality Act, California Coastal Act, State Water Resources Control Board proceedings, mutual water companies, land use law, easements, takings challenges, well sharing agreements and disputes, government organization issues, and emerging legal questions faced by developers, water providers and water users.
Prior to her legal career, Jessica worked in both state and local government, informing her ability to advocate for the needs of public agency clients as well as private entities in the public agency sphere. She worked as an aide for a California state legislator, served as the district director for a Sonoma County supervisor and led a community-based nonprofit focused on affordable housing, labor and environmental issues.
