Intro
Allison serves as leader of the Firm's Government Section. Her expertise includes public water supply, complex long-term rate and revenue sharing agreements, Joint Power Agreements, infrastructure and project delivery analysis, public contracting, solid waste management, rate structure, Proposition 218 compliance, issuer's counsel, disclosure matters, legislative drafting and open government and ethics.
Allison serves as general counsel to the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA), a special district formed by special legislation drafted by Hanson Bridgett attorneys, which represents the interests of 24 cities and water districts, and two private utilities, that purchase water wholesale from the San Francisco regional water system. Allison served as Issuer's Counsel to BAWSCA's inaugural issuance of $336 million in both taxable and tax-exempt bonds, and subsequent 2023 refunding bonds, to finance the prepayment of capital debt owed to the City and County of San Francisco.
Allison has special expertise in representing water districts, cities and private water users in implementing multi-party recycled water projects. These engagements include negotiating the effluent delivery, customer agreements, financing, design, construction and operation of the projects. She has developed special expertise in implementing a variety of infrastructure projects with public owners and long-term private operators. Allison also continues to serve as special counsel to cities, special districts and private entities for all matters related to public water systems.
Allison also has significant experience with resource recovery and waste reduction projects and solid waste franchise agreements. She serves as special counsel to cities that own their own materials recovery and compositing facilities and special districts and cities that contract out for collection, composting and disposal services. She has expertise in advising on compliance with California's new organics recycling and food recovery law and development of related processing infrastructure.
Allison is past chair of the firm's pro bono committee and is a member of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Areas of Focus
Education
Admissions and Courts
Role
Government Section Leader
Bay Area Council, Water Policy Committee
California WateReuse Association, Legislative/Regulatory Committee
California Resource Recovery Association
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights
San Rafael Chamber of Commerce
Marin County Bar Association
State Bar of California
Forty Under 40, North Bay Business Journal (2009)
James T. Caleshu Award, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights (2009)
"California Water Action Plan Finalized Amidst Historic Drought Conditions," co-author, Water Law Alert (February 2014)
"Virtual Meetings and Communications," co-speaker, The Urban Water Institute Webinar (June 2020)
“Virtual Brown Act Meetings During COVID-19,” co-speaker, California Association of Sanitation Agencies Webinar (May 2020)
"Virtual Water Agency Board Meetings During COVID-19," co-presenter, Association of California Water Agencies Webinar (April 2020)
"And Not a Drop to Drink: Public Agency Options for Responding to Drought," co-speaker, Municipal Management Association of Northern California Annual Conference (October 2015)
"Protecting, Preserving and Utilizing Your Water Rights During a Water Shortage," moderator, Water Shortage Seminar (April 2014)
"Analysis of the San Francisco Ballot Measure to Drain Hetch Hetchy Reservoir," Association of California Water Agencies, Region 5 (June 2012)
"Water Rate Flexibility Options under Proposition 218," Bay Area Water Supply Management Representatives (October 2011)
Government Ethics: AB 1234 Compliance Training (2006 - Present)
"Recent Developments in Solid Waste Law," County Council Hazardous Materials and Solid Waste Fall Study Section Conference (October 2009)
"Using Policy to Set Community Goals: Sustainability Achievements," California Resource Recovery Association (August 2008)
"Customer Agreements: Retrofit Agreements and Public Works Requirements," Alternative Water Sources for California Conference, The Seminar Group (March 2008)
"Keeping it Legal: The What's, Why's and How's of a Utility Rate and Connection Fee Ordinance," WateReuse Association Northern California Chapter (December 2007)
"Making Recycled Water Happen: Your Legal Toolbox," California Section WateReuse Conference (March 2007)
"Water Recycling Law: Customer Agreements," The Seminar Group (February 2007)
"Legal Challenges and Alternative Approaches for Potential Recycled Water," WateReuse Association Northern California Chapter (July 2006)
"The 2001-2002 California Legislative Session and Recycled Water: Incremental Progress", California Section WateReuse Conference (March 2003)