John Freshman has worked on all of the major national environmental legislation — the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Solid and Hazardous Waste Acts, the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. He has spent his 30-year career synthesizing, distilling and presenting complex public policy issues to decision makers in Washington, D.C. — first in government, and then on behalf of public and private clients. John’s experience includes both houses of Congress, especially the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency, where he was special advisor to the administrator. He has developed relationships across the country in many disciplines, including politics, government, business, law and science.
John advises clients on legislative, regulatory and permit problems and develops and implements strategies for overcoming those problems, including advocating by drafting issue papers, using grass-roots methods, communication plans and direct lobbying.
John’s particular emphasis is water — supply, conveyance, funding projects, quality, treatment and reclamation, and recycling. He develops innovative funding strategies for water and wastewater projects, and has represented municipalities and private entities across the U.S. that are involved in water delivery, wastewater treatment and private sector investments in water. He utilizes his broad experience to assist clients with flood control protection and water supply funding for recycling projects.
While John’s focus has been on water and the environment, he has also handled health, trade and tax issues with success.
John has secured a high level of federal funding for counties and cities in California, including the County of Monterey and the cities of Los Angeles and Sacramento. John’s responsibilities for the County of Monterey and the City of Sacramento were all-encompassing: He coordinated and advocated all of the federal issues for these clients.
John is married with three grown children. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland.
*Not admitted to the practice of law.
Education