---

We are pleased to announce that Sacramento litigator Theresa Barfield became the firm’s new managing shareholder, effective January 1, 2021. Colorado-based Ramsey Kropf will serve as assistant managing shareholder.

In her prior role as assistant managing shareholder last year, Theresa worked closely with predecessor Andy Hitchings to guide the firm’s professionals and staff through a tumultuous 2020, with its myriad business and pandemic-related challenges. Andy will renew his focus on building and maintaining an active practice, with nearly three decades of working on California’s most complex water rights, water supply, and water quality issues.

“I’m honored and eager to lead our firm into the future at this pivotal point in time for the legal industry and its lifeblood – the trusted relationships we share among clients and colleagues,” said Theresa. “Despite the hurdles we all faced last year, our legal teams adapted, stayed connected, and remained nimble and responsive to client and case needs. Beyond the pandemic, our public and private sectors have an ongoing opportunity to work together to address some of the western region’s most pressing water supply and environmental challenges. My colleagues and I are committed to doing our part, and I’m incredibly excited to serve in leadership during this period of possibility.”

Theresa has more than two decades of experience litigating large, complex cases. She represents Somach Simmons & Dunn’s clients in all phases of civil litigation matters, including administrative proceedings, bench trials, jury trials, writ proceedings, and alternative dispute resolution before state and federal trial and appellate courts, including the United States and California Supreme Courts. Theresa is an integral member of the trial team representing the State of Texas in State of Texas v. State of New Mexico and State of Colorado, Case No. 141, Original, an original jurisdiction proceeding before the United States Supreme Court regarding enforcement of the Rio Grande Compact.

Ramsey joined the firm’s Colorado office in 2017 after completing an appointment as the Deputy Solicitor in the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. Prior to her work at Interior, Ramsey was in private practice for nearly two decades during which she served in management at her previous firm. Ramsey currently works on Colorado River issues, mediates Indian water issues in New Mexico and California, and works in Oregon’s Klamath Basin, while serving clients on other Colorado, regional, and interstate water matters.

“Water, air, and land issues remain at the forefront of priorities across the western states, even in a pandemic,” said Ramsey. “We plan to continue our firm’s leadership in our natural resources practice throughout the country. With our strengths in providing creative and collaborative legal solutions for all clients across multiple states, we anticipate continued success. I’m proud of our people and look forward to supporting our leadership in 2021.”

Somach Simmons & Dunn is one of the largest boutique water law firms in the West, with offices in Sacramento, California, Colorado, and the District of Columbia. The firm’s 24 attorneys represent public and private sector clients across a range of water, air, and land disciplines, including litigation, transactional, and public policy matters.