Sledge Photo

.About Brian L. Sledge
Brian Sledge is the managing partner at the firm, and is both a registered lobbyist in Texas and a practicing attorney. Brian’s legislative and regulatory practice as a lobbyist involves a broad and diverse array of public policy matters before the Texas Legislature, various state agencies, and local governments. His law
practice focuses primarily on water, environmental, utilities, and administrative law, and local government matters involving special districts, cities, counties, and other political subdivisions.

Brian has been recognized by Capitol Insider’s Texas Lobby Power Rankings as one of the top lobbyists in Texas. He is a prolific author and frequent speaker on issues involving the Texas Legislature, and on legal matters regarding water, solid
waste, mining, utilities and municipal issues. Because of his extensive work experience as a lobbyist, water lawyer, attorney for the Texas Legislature, and research director for the Texas Water Development Board, Brian is perhaps most well-known for his work at the Texas Capitol on water policy issues, where his counsel is regularly sought as an architect of much of the state’s current water planning, regulatory, and water infrastructure financing statutes. He is invited frequently to testify before committees of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Prior to founding the firm in 2013, Brian was a partner in a major Austin law firm with the largest group of water, environmental, and utilities attorneys in Texas, where he practiced for almost a decade and a half and chaired its legislative practice group. Prior to entering private practice, Brian was Director of Research at the Texas Water Development Board where he performed legislative and other intergovernmental relations work for the agency and managed its research division. Before that, he served in numerous positions as an attorney for the Texas Legislature, including General Counsel and Chief Clerk of the House Committee on Natural Resources, General Counsel for the House Joint Interim Committee on TNRCC Funding, and lead staff for the House of Representatives on the Joint Senate/House Committee on Water Resources Development and Management.

Brian is a native of Mesquite, Texas, and currently lives in Austin where he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, and launching outdoor Adventures, sporting, and travel.

.Education
  • University of Houston Law Center, J.D.
  • Texas A & M University, B.A.

.Bar Admissions
  • State Bar of Texas

.Professional Affiliations
  • State Bar of Texas
    Legislative and Campaign Law Section
    Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section
    Administrative Law Section
  • Austin Bar Association
    Legislative Committee
    Environmental Law Section
  • Texas Water Conservation Association
    Board of Directors
    2015 and 2011 Awards for Outstanding Service
    Co-Chair, TWCA Groundwater Legislative Committee
    Member, Surface Water Committee
    Member, Policy Committee
    Member, Legislative Committee
  • Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts
  • College of the State Bar of Texas

.Publications and Presentations
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Debrief Panel,” Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts, Texas Groundwater Summit, San Antonio, Texas (2019).
  • Author and Presenter, “To Be or Not to Be: Aquifer-wide Management for Groundwater,” Water for Texas Conference (2019).
  • Author and Presenter, “Emerging Issues In Groundwater,” Texas Rural Water Association/Texas Water Conservation Association, Water Law Seminar, Austin, Texas (2019).
  • Author and Presenter, “Texas Legislative Update,” CLE International, Law of the Rio Grande Conference, Santa Fe, New Mexico (2018).
  • Author and Presenter, “85 th Session Legislative Wrap-Up,”Texas Water Conservation Association, Mid-Year Conference, Galveston, Texas (2017).
  • Author and Presenter, “Aquifer Storage & Recovery in Texas,” Texas Water Conservation Association, Fall Conference, San Antonio, Texas (2016).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Update,” Texas Water Conservation Association, Annual Conference, Austin, Texas (2015).
  • Author and Presenter, “Groundwater Issues—Controversies and Legislative Initiatives,” Texas Water Conservation Association/Texas Rural Water Association, Water Law Seminar, Austin, Texas (2015).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Update,” Texas Hill Country, Water Summit, New Braunfels, Texas (2014).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Update,” Texas Mining and Reclamation Association, Annual Conference, Bastrop, Texas (2014).
  • Author and Presenter, “Update on Activities of TWCA Groundwater Committee,” Texas Water Conservation Association, Fall Conference, San Antonio, Texas (2014).
  • Author and Presenter, “Review of Texas Laws Related to Movement of Groundwater,” H2O4Texas Conference, Turning the Water Wheel, Fort Worth, Texas (2014).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Lowdown,” Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts, Texas Groundwater Summit, San Marcos, Texas (2014).
  • Author and Presenter, “Texas Litigation and Legislation,” The Water Report, Issue #123 (2014).
  • Author and Presenter, “Texas Litigation and Legislation,” CLE International, Law of the Rio Grande Conference, Santa Fe, New Mexico (2014).
  • Author and Presenter, “TWCA Groundwater Committee Update,” Texas Water Conservation Association, Spring Conference, Woodlands, Texas (2014).
  • Author and Presenter, “2013 Legislative Update,” Texas Mining and Reclamation Association, Annual Conference, Bastrop, Texas (2013).
  • Author and Presenter, “2013 Legislative Update,” Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts, Texas Groundwater Summit, San Marcos, Texas (2013).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Update,” 2013 Solid Waste Association of North America, Texas Chapter (TxSWANA) Annual Conference, Lubbock, Texas (2013).
  • Author and Presenter, “2013 Legislative Update,” Air and Waste Management Association Meeting, Austin, Texas (2013).
  • Author and Presenter, “Groundwater Rights,” CLE International, Texas Water Law Conference, Austin, Texas (2012).
  • Author and Presenter, “Overview of Texas Water Legal Framework: Surface Water; Groundwater; Planning; Agencies,” Texas Conference of Urban Counties, Austin, Texas (2012).
  • Author and Presenter, “Texas Water Law Overview,” Presentation to the House Republican Caucus, Texas State Capitol, Austin, Texas (2012).
  • Author and Presenter, “Interim Charges and 2013 Legislative Outlook,” Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts, Texas Groundwater Summit, San Marcos (2012).
  • Author and Presenter, “Managing Priority Calls the Texas Way: Water Rights Allocation In Dry Times,” CLE International, Law of the Rio Grande Conference, Santa Fe, New Mexico (2012).
  • Author and Presenter, “Groundwater Management: The Pros and Cons of Local, Regional and State Management for Agriculture and Landowners,” Agricultural Water Summit, Texas Farm Bureau, Waco, Texas (2012).
  • Author and Presenter, “82nd Legislative Overview – Uranium and Industrial Minerals,” Texas Mining and Reclamation Association, Annual Meeting, Bastrop, Texas (2011).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Update,” 2011 Solid Waste Association of North America, Texas Chapter (TxSWANA) Annual Conference, Irving, Texas (2011).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Update,” Changing Face of Water Rights 2011, Texas Bar CLE, San Antonio, Texas (2011).
  • Author and Presenter, “2010 Legislative Update,” Texas Mining and Reclamation Association, Annual Conference, Bastrop, Texas (2010).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Update on Water Issues,” 10th Annual Bell County Water Symposium, Belton, Texas (2010).
  • Author, “Texas Water Litigation,” The Water Report, Issue #76 (2010).
  • Author and Presenter, “Interim Charges and Review of Interim Activity at the Legislature,” Texas Water Conservation Association, Mid-Year Conference, South Padre Island, Texas (2010).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative and Litigation Update,” CLE International, Law of the Rio Grande Conference, Santa Fe, New Mexico (2010).
  • Author and Presenter, “Enforcement & Monitoring of DFC’s,” Pumping Limits for Texas Aquifers: Desired Future Conditions Process, TAMU, Austin, Texas (2010).
  • Author and Presenter, “2009 Legislative Update” Bell County Water Symposium, Belton, Texas (2009).
  • Author and Presenter, “The Law, Groundwater, and Groundwater Conservation Districts,” Texas Water Development Board’s Groundwater 101 Conference, Aquifers of the Upper Coastal Plains of Texas, Carrizo-Wilcox, College Station, Texas (2009).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Wrap-Up,” Texas Coalition of Cities for Utility Issues, Dallas, Texas (2009).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Update,” 2009 Solid Waste Association of North America, Texas Chapter (TxSWANA) Annual Conference, Dallas, Texas (2009).
  • Author and Presenter, “Advocating County Issues at the State Level,” Commissioners Court Leadership Academy Program, Austin, Texas (2009).
  • Author and Presenter, “Being Smart With Enforcement: Using Common Sense to Develop, Execute and Defend Your District’s Enforcement Approach,” Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts, Austin, Texas (2008).
  • Author and Presenter, “Water Resources-Planning for the Future,” 2008 Permian Basin Economic Development Summit, Midland, Texas (2008).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Update,” 2008 Solid Waste Association of North America, Texas Chapter (TxSWANA) Annual Conference, Laredo, Texas (2008).
  • Author and Presenter, “Panel Discussion: The Status of Groundwater Law in Texas,” Texas Water Conservation Association, 64th Annual Convention, The Woodlands, Texas (2008).
  • Author and Presenter, “Do You Need a Lawyer in Your Tool Box?,” National Watershed Coalition, Operation & Maintenance/Sponsor 101 Workshop, Decatur, Texas (2007).
  • Author and Presenter, “Groundwater Conservation Districts in Texas, A Review of Chapter 36 and Recent Amendments,” 17th Annual CLE International Conference, Texas Water Law, Austin, Texas (2007).
  • Author and Presenter, “Recap of 2007 Texas Legislative Session,” Industry Council on the Environment, Membership Meeting, Austin, Texas (2007).
  • Author and Presenter, “2007 Municipal Solid Waste Legislative Update,” Solid Waste Association of North America, Texas Chapter (TxSWANA) Annual Conference, Austin, Texas (2007).
  • Author and Presenter, “Landowner Rights and the Rule of Capture,” 16th Annual CLE International Conference, Texas Water Law-Scarcity & Growth, Austin, Texas (2006).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Update,” Texas Red Light Camera Symposium, San Antonio, Texas (2006).
  • Author and Presenter, “Groundwater Conservation Districts in Texas, A Review of Chapter 36 and Recent Amendments,” 16th Annual CLE International Conference-Texas Water Law, Scarcity & Growth, Austin, Texas (2006).
  • Author and Presenter, “Changes to Groundwater Management as a Result of House Bill 1763,” TWCA 62nd Annual Convention, The Woodlands, Texas (2006).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Update on Water Issues,” 5th Annual Bell County Water Symposium, Belton, Texas (2005).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Update, What Have They Done to Us Now,” Solid Waste Association of North America, Metroplex Chapter Conference, Grand Prairie, Texas (2005).
  • Author and Presenter, “Groundwater Sustainability through Protection & Preservation of Existing & Historic Use,” Texas Groundwater 2004: Towards Sustainability Conference, Austin, Texas (2004).
  • Author and Presenter, “Historic Use,” Texas Water Conservation Association, 60th Annual Convention, The Woodlands, Texas (2004).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Update,” 2004 Solid Waste Association of North America, Texas Chapter (TxSWANA) Annual Conference, Brownsville, Texas (2004).
  • Author and Presenter, “Groundwater Marketing, Transfers and Banking,” Western States Water Council Conference, Amarillo, Texas (2003).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative Update,” Bell County Water Symposium, Belton, Texas (2003).
  • Author and Presenter, “Update on the Texas Legislature & Solid Waste Legislation,” Solid Waste Association of North America, Texas Chapter (TxSWANA) Annual Conference, El Paso, Texas (2003).
  • Author and Presenter, “Texas Water Development and The 78th Texas Legislature,” San Antonio Bar Association, Environmental Law Section, San Antonio, Texas (2003).
  • Author and Presenter, “Regulation of Clay Mining in Texas,” Southwestern Brick Institute, 2003 Spring Meeting, Austin, Texas (2003).
  • Author and Presenter, “Beneficial Use of Groundwater,” Texas Rural Water Association, Texas Water Conservation Association, Annual Water Law Seminar, Austin, Texas (2003).
  • Author and Presenter, “Water, Water (Not) Everywhere: Challenges and Opportunities in Texas, The Louisiana Situation,” Gulf Coast Power Association, Spring Conference, Houston, Texas (2001).
  • Author and Presenter, “The Legislature is in Session,” Solid Waste Association of North America, Metroplex Chapter, Arlington, Texas (2001).
  • Author and Presenter, “Update on the Texas Legislature and Solid Waste Legislation,” Solid Waste Association of North America, Texas Chapter (TxSWANA), 2001: A Waste Odyssey Conference, San Antonio, Texas (2001).
  • Author and Presenter, “Overview of Texas Water Laws and Legislative Update,” Texas Mining and Reclamation Association, Water Issues Workshop, Austin, Texas (2000).
  • Author and Presenter, “Water Markets in Texas,” Texas Mining and Reclamation Association, Water Issues Workshop, Austin, Texas (2000).
  • Author and Presenter, “Legislative and Regulatory Water Update,” Texas City Attorneys Association, Semi-Annual Conference, South Padre Island, Texas (2000).
  • Author and Presenter, “Using Bed and Banks Permits to Supply Water for Municipal Needs,” Water 2000 Plus Conference, San Marcos, Texas (2000).
  • Author and Presenter, “Regional Water Planning Update and Water Issues in The 76th Legislature,” Texas Municipal Utilities Association, Annual Convention, Austin, Texas (1999).
  • Author and Presenter, “Water Planning Under Senate Bill 1,”Texas Farm Bureau, Annual Convention, Corpus Christi, Texas (1998).
  • Author and Presenter, “Environmental Issues in the 75th Legislature,” Texas Planning Association (1997).
  • Author and Presenter, “Panel Discussion: Water Issues in the 75th Legislature,” Texas and Southwestern Cattleraisers Association, Annual Conference, Fort Worth, Texas (1997).
  • Author and Presenter, “Agricultural and Natural Resources in the 75th Legislature,” Texas Peanut Growers Association, Austin, Texas (1997).
  • Author and Presenter, “The Legislative Process,” Travis County Bar Association, CLE Seminar: Legislative Update, Austin, Texas (1997).
  • Author and Presenter, “Upcoming Environmental Issues in the 75th Legislature,” Travis County Bar Association, CLE Seminar: What Every Lawyer Should Know About Environmental Law, Austin, Texas (1996).
  • Author and Presenter, “Water Issues Facing the 75th Legislature,” Briefing for newly elected members of the House of Representatives for the 75th Legislative Session, Austin, Texas (1996).