Wes Strickland
Wes Strickland

Wes Strickland

Partner

Austin

+1 424 416 5692 | +1 805 451 4166 |
+1 512 855 2114
Wes.Strickland@ashurstperkins.com

Introduction

Wes is one of the most experienced attorneys in the US for the development of water projects and resources.

Wes Strickland focuses his practice on project development and finance in the water, energy, transport and vertical infrastructure sectors. He has been involved in many of the largest and most significant water projects in the US for 25 years, especially related to the development, protection and trading of surface and groundwater resources, reuse, desalination, storage and conveyance. His clients include private water companies, financial institutions, governmental enterprises and large water users in the agricultural, municipal and industrial sectors.

Outside the water industry, Wes has advised owners, sponsors and design-builders related to development of infrastructure such as toll roads, managed lanes, bridges, goods movement systems, geothermal, wind and solar energy generation, produced water treatment, oil and gas pipelines, telecommunication systems, and civic and commercial buildings. He regularly represents buyers and sellers in secondary market transactions for infrastructure assets and other corporate M&A transactions. He has frequently advised foreign investment funds and multinational companies for transactions within the US, including compliance with laws related to competition and foreign direct investment.

Wes is admitted to the bars of California, New York State and Texas, as well as several federal courts.

  • Vista Ridge, LLC | Advised on development and commercial operation of the Vista Ridge Project, the largest privately financed water project in US history, which supplies 50,000 AFY of groundwater from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer to meet 20% of water demands for the City of San Antonio, Texas.
  • Ridgewood Infrastructure | Advised on its permanent financing and subsequent sale of the Vista Ridge Project, the largest water project P3 in the US with investment over $1 billion.
  • Golden State Water Company | Advised on its provision of water and sewer utility services to several large, master-planned, greenfield developments in California, collectively covering over 15,000 acres and including more than 30,000 residential units and 75 million square feet of commercial structures.
  • Golden State Water Company | Advised on the acquisition of several bolt-on water and sewer utility systems, located in Lake, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sonoma and Sutter counties in California.
  • Tikehau Star Infra and Edgemoor Infrastructure & Real Estate | Advised on their sale of equity interests in the Howard County Circuit Courthouse Project, the first availability payment structured municipal P3 to reach financial close and be delivered in the US outside of California.
  • John Laing Group | Advised on its purchase of a 50% interest in the I-4 Ultimate Project, the largest highway infrastructure project in Florida history.
  • Seven Seas Water | Advised on development and operation of brackish groundwater desalination plant serving the City of Alice, Texas.
  • Napa Redevelopment Partners | Advised on water supplies and infrastructure for a brownfield redevelopment project in Napa County, California. The project faced significant water challenges, which were successfully resolved during the entitlement process without litigation.
  • An oil & gas producer | Developed a strategy for development of produced water collection, disposal and reuse in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico.
  • An agricultural enterprise | Advised on the reorganization of irrigation system that served over 36,000 acres with capacity of 650 million gallons per day, from three distinct water sources, on Island of Maui, Hawaii.

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