Gordon H. DePaoli
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DIRECT 775.688.3010
gdepaoli@woodburnandwedge.com

Gordon H. DePaoli is an experienced water law attorney. He has represented Sierra Pacific Power Company, now NV Energy, and the Truckee Meadows Water Authority in long-standing water rights disputes on the Truckee River. Mr. DePaoli was involved in negotiations leading up to the Truckee-Carson-Pyramid Lake Water Rights Settlement Act, Public Law No. 101-618, which resulted in the execution of the Truckee River Operating Agreement, and is involved in the process which will ultimately result in the implementation of that Agreement and the Settlement Act. He is counsel to the Walker River Irrigation District. That representation includes federal reserved rights litigation on the Walker River in Nevada and California. Mr. DePaoli has extensive experience in all facets of water law. That experience includes appearances before the Nevada State Engineer, California administrative agencies, committees of the Nevada Legislature, and state and federal trial and appellate courts. Mr. DePaoli was recognized in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of corporate law, natural resources law, real estate law, and water law. Additionally, Mr. DePaoli was named one of the 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” for his work in real estate law.

AREAS OF PRACTICE
  • Business and Commercial Agreements
  • Real Estate
  • Business Litigation
  • General Civil Litigation
  • Natural Reserve Litigation
  • Administrative Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Environmental Litigation
  • Alternative Energies
  • Public and Private Land Use
  • Water Law
  • Development
  • Commercial Landlord/Tenant Relationships
ADMISSIONS
  • State Bar of Nevada, 1972
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Nevada
OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Mr. DePaoli served as a member of the editorial board of the Western Water Law and Policy Reporter. He has chaired the annual conference on Nevada Water Law. He served two terms as a member of the Carson City Advisory Council to the Bureau of Land Management, having been appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. He served as a member of the Ninth Circuit Advisory Committee on Rules of Practice and Internal Operating Procedures. Mr. DePaoli was President of the Washoe County Bar Association, and of the Board of Trustees of Volunteer Lawyers of Washoe County, a non-profit corporation which provided pro-bono legal services in Washoe County. He served as Chairman of the Nevada Standing Committee on Judicial Ethics and Election Practices from 2005 to 2008.
EDUCATION
  • Juris Doctor, University of Colorado, 1972
    • Associate Editor, University of Colorado Law Review
    • Order of the Coif
  • Bachelor of Arts, University of Nevada, Reno, 1969
    • High Distinction, Phi Kappa Phi
HONORS & AWARDS

Mr. DePaoli has attained an "AV" peer rating through the Martindale Hubbell ratings system, has been included in America's Leading Lawyers for Environment in the Chambers USA Client Guide and has been selected for inclusion in the "Best Lawyers in America" and in the "Mountain States Super Lawyers" publication. Mr. DePaoli was recognized in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of corporate law, natural resources law, real estate law, and water law. Additionally, Mr. DePaoli was named one of the 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” for his work in real estate law.

Gordon H. DePaoli is an experienced water law attorney. He has represented Sierra Pacific Power Company, now NV Energy, and the Truckee Meadows Water Authority in long-standing water rights disputes on the Truckee River. Mr. DePaoli was involved in negotiations leading up to the Truckee-Carson-Pyramid Lake Water Rights Settlement Act, Public Law No. 101-618, which resulted in the execution of the Truckee River Operating Agreement, and is involved in the process which will ultimately result in the implementation of that Agreement and the Settlement Act. He is counsel to the Walker River Irrigation District. That representation includes federal reserved rights litigation on the Walker River in Nevada and California. Mr. DePaoli has extensive experience in all facets of water law. That experience includes appearances before the Nevada State Engineer, California administrative agencies, committees of the Nevada Legislature, and state and federal trial and appellate courts. Mr. DePaoli was recognized in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of corporate law, natural resources law, real estate law, and water law. Additionally, Mr. DePaoli was named one of the 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” for his work in real estate law.





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