Robert M. Sawyer

Of Counsel

Sacramento
400 Capitol Mall
Suite 1650

TEL: (916) 551-2845
FAX: (916) 325-4010
Robert.Sawyer@bbklaw.com

Robert M. Sawyer is Of Counsel in the Environmental Law & Natural Resources Practice Group of Best Best & Krieger LLP in the firm’s Sacramento office. Mr. Sawyer represents public and private water agencies, agricultural businesses, developers and building contractors in transactions, civil litigation and administrative proceedings. He provides counsel and advocacy concerning water rights, water quality, land title, easements, purchases and sales, leasing, and compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, including the California Environmental Quality Act and state and local development regulations and ordinances.

Before joining Best Best & Krieger LLP, Mr. Sawyer spent over 30 years in private practice in Ventura County, California, representing businesses, individuals, and public agencies. From 1994-1998 he served as a Planning Commissioner for the City of Santa Paula, and taught classes in land use, planning and environmental law at University of California, Santa Barbara, Extension, and Ventura College of Law. Mr. Sawyer has also been involved in groundwater adjudication proceedings and formation of voluntary AB 3030 groundwater organizations. He is a Director of the Santa Paula Basin Pumpers Association and serves as one of the Association’s representatives to the Technical Advisory Committee for the Santa Paula Basin adjudication judgment.

Since 1985, Mr. Sawyer has served as a Director of Santa Paula-based agribusiness Limoneira Company, and he is currently Vice Chairman of that company. He also currently serves as a director of two Ventura County-based mutual water companies. Mr. Sawyer’s work in water law has included the intersection of water and land use planning. In addition to his practical experience in this area, he holds a Certificate in Land Use and Environmental Planning from University of California, Santa Barbara, Extension.

Mr. Sawyer received his law degree from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College in 1975, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1972. Mr. Sawyer also served for over 12 years as a member of the Alumni Council (board of directors) of the U.C. Santa Cruz Alumni Association and for two years as the Association’s Vice President for Finance. While serving on the Council he was instrumental in the establishment of the Alumni Association’s Scholarship Foundation.

Bar & Court Admissions

• California, 1975

Education

• JD, Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College
• BA, University of California, Santa Cruz