Steen, Jacobs C.S.

Associate
(512) 322-5811
Jacobs Steen
Jacobs Steen Jacobs Steen Email Me

As a member of the Water, Districts, Litigation, and Appellate practice groups at Lloyd Gosselink, P.C., Jake helps clients solve water-related legal and policy issues involving statutory and regulatory compliance, permitting, water rights, water quality, and water resource management and development. Jake’s practice includes contested cases and administrative proceedings, litigation at all levels of state court, governmental relations, and open government. Jake also advises local government entities on matters relating to governance, organization, and operation.

Prior to law school, Jake gained relevant experience in the energy, real estate, and ranching industries. During law school, Jake developed his interest in environmental law by interning at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and participating in the University of Houston Law Center Environmental Law Practicum.

  • Admitted to the State Bar of Texas
  • Admitted to the United States District Court, Western District
  • J.D., University of Houston Law Center (2023)
  • B.S., Political Science with a Minor in Business, cum laude, Texas A&M University (2019)
  • Provides legal services for a variety of entities, including groundwater conservation districts, water supply corporations, and investor-owned utilities
  • Delivers strategic counsel concerning groundwater resource management for groundwater conservation districts in the form of developing rules, management plans, desired future conditions, and all aspects of regulatory programs and board governance
  • Represents landowners, developers, private companies, and utilities seeking to obtain water rights as well as groundwater permits and wastewater discharge permits
  • Handles litigation and appellate representation in state court and SOAH, including disputes involving water rights, water quality, and groundwater permitting
  • Drafts and negotiates wholesale and retail water supply agreements
  • Handles all aspects of water and sewer service area (CCN) issues, including sale, transfer, and merger applications and decertification proceedings at the PUC, litigation at SOAH, and resolution of disputes through negotiated settlements
  • Speaker, “Case Law Update,” presented at the Texas Water Association’s Annual Convention with co-speaker K. Jeffress (2026)
  • Speaker, “Case Law Update,” presented at the Changing Face of Water Law Conference with co-speaker V. Salazar (2026)
  • Speaker, “Day Zero: How Cities Run Out of Water,” presented at Texas A&M University School of Law’s Journal of Property Law Spring Symposium (2026)
  • Co-Author with V. Salazar and M. Gershon, “Ethical Considerations in the Practice of Environmental Law,” Chapter 37, Texas Practice Series, Texas Environmental Law (Thomson Reuters 2026)
  • Speaker, “Turning Toilet Water into Tap Water: Permitting Reuse Projects in Texas, and Texas Groundwater Law and Demystifying GCD Permitting,” presented at a CLE event hosted by the Austin Bar Association Administrative Law Section with co-speaker S. Thornton (2025)
  • Speaker, “Texas Groundwater Law and Demystifying GCD Permitting,” presented at the Texas Groundwater Summit hosted by the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts (2024)
  • State Bar of Texas
    • Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section
  • Austin Bar Association
    • Environmental Law Section
  • Texas Water Association
  • Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts
Born and raised in Houston, Jake spent much of his youth traversing the highways and backroads of Texas, developing a deep reverence for the state’s unique history, art, culture, food, people, and natural beauty. Jake unwinds outside the office by spending time outdoors with family and friends, finding a new recipe in the kitchen, and reading books written by his favorite author, the Texas literary master Leon Hale. Jake also enjoys working on his golf game (albeit a hopeless endeavor) and watching his favorite sports teams compete- the Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, and his beloved Texas A&M Aggies.

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