Lauren J. kalisek

Districts Practice Group - Chair
(512) 322-5847

Lauren Kalisek is a principal with the Firm and has been practicing in the areas of Texas water quality and water utilities law for over fifteen years. Lauren specializes in providing counsel to cities, river authorities, water districts and other local governmental organizations on water quality regulatory matters. Lauren is a native of Houston, Texas and earned her bachelor's degree with honors from the University of Texas at Austin and her JD from the University of Texas School of Law. She is an active member of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Stakeholder Group on Texas Surface Water Quality Standards and the Texas Water Conservation Association Water Quality Subcommittee and supports these groups' efforts in shaping Texas' water quality regulatory policy. Lauren is co-author of the West Texas Practice Series Environmental Law Chapter on Water Quality and is an associate editor of the Texas Environmental Law Journal. Her article, "The Principle of Antidegradation and Its Place in Texas Water Quality Permitting" appeared in the Texas Environmental Law Journal Fall, 2010. Lauren has served as a speaker on the topic of water quality and Texas' regulation of water utilities at various conferences, including the International CLE Texas Water Law Conference, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the Texas Association of Water Board Directors, the Texas Rural Water Association, the Texas Water Conservation Association, and the Texas Environmental Superconference.

Areas of Practice

Representative Experience

Appeal of federalized Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permit to the United States Environmental Appeals Board on issue of whole effluent toxicity
Prosecution of TPDES applications for publicly owned treatment works with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) including contested case hearings held at the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH)
Special counsel on water quality matters for river authorities, cities, and other retail public utilities throughout the State of Texas
Serve on TCEQ Water Quality Standards Stakeholder Group
General counsel to water control & improvement districts, municipal utility districts, and water supply corporations throughout the State of Texas
Created and organized water districts
Negotiation and sale of 900 plus customer retail water system to another retail public utility
Negotiation and drafting of wholesale water and wastewater supply contracts, developer reimbursement agreements, shared capacity agreements for water and wastewater facilities; and reclaimed water contracts
Development of rules and policies regarding operations, administration, service rules and related matters for water utilities

Professional Licenses and Education

Admitted to the State Bar of Texas (1995)
J.D., University of Texas School of Law (1995)
B.A., University of Texas at Austin (1992)

Professional Associations and Memberships

State Bar of Texas
Travis County Bar Association
Austin Bar Association
Texas Water Conservation Association
Texas Association of Clean Water Agencies
Association of Water Board Directors - Texas
National Association of Clean Water Agencies

Publications and Presentations

Speaker, "Why Are the Fish Sad And Glad And Bad? The Role of WET Testing in Water Quality Protection," 23rd Annual Environmental Superconference, 2011.
Author, "The Principle of Antidegradation and Its Place in Texas Water Quality Permitting," Texas Environmental Law Journal, Vol. 41 No. 1 (Fall 2010).
Speaker, "Emerging Issues in Water Quality Law & Policy," Texas Rural Water Association/Texas Water Conservation Association Water Law Seminar, 2009.
Solicitations Associate Editor, Texas Environmental Law Journal.
Speaker, “An Update on Ethics, Conflicts and Open Government for Water Officials and Staff,” Texas Water Conservation Association, 2008.
Speaker, “Water Quality Issues for Landowners,” CLE International Texas Water Law Conference, 2008.
Speaker, “When A Handshake is Not Enough: Considerations in Water District Contracts,” Texas Rural Water Association, 2007.
Co-Author, "Water Quality," Chapter 6 , Vol. 45 Texas Practice, Environmental Law (West 2006 - present).
Speaker, “Understanding and Navigating the Environmental Enforcement Process,” The Association of Water Board Directors – Texas, 2005.
Speaker, “The Emerging Confluence of Water Quality and Water Supply Planning,” International CLE Texas Water Law Conference, 2004.
Speaker, 16th Annual Texas Environmental Superconference, Water Quality Panel, 2004.
Speaker, “TMDL Implementation Plans, The Final Frontier,” Texas Water 2002, Receiving Water Quality.

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