Larry Martin: The Skills of a Top Water Lawyer firm for about 30 years, though we have changed names over the years. I graduated from Washington State University, went to law school at the University of Puget Sound, and have been in Yakima since shortly after graduation. I started getting into water law within a couple years of coming to Yakima. At the time, our firm was heavily involved in the State of Washington vs. Acquavella water rights adjudication for the Yakima River basin. I started working on the case with one of my senior partners, found out that I really liked water law and the people I represented, and have been involved with it ever since. Irrigation Leader: What is distinctive about water law as compared to other fields of law? Larry Martin: The basic principle of water law sounds simple: First in time is first in right. However, the details can be complex. There are many nuances, and almost every issue and situation is a little different. Even though the general concepts of water law are straightforward, applying them in the real world can be difficult. I have also found over the years that there are few attorneys who practice in water law on a regular and consistent basis. I work in it on a full-time basis. It is not a field of law you can dabble in. It takes a while to learn all the acronyms and details. It is also surprising how much biology is needed, as water law relates to fish, habitat, chemicals, and other environmental issues. Irrigation Leader: How did you learn about the field? Did you learn by doing, or did you have a mentor in your firm?
Aerial view of agricultural and residential development along the Yakima River in Selah, Washington.
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Irrigation Leader: Please tell us about your background and how you came to be in your current position. Larry Martin: I am a lawyer in Yakima, Washington, with Halverson Northwest Law Group. I have been with this law
8 | IRRIGATION LEADER | January 2021
irrigationleadermagazine.com
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOE MABEL.
rrigation districts have many distinctive legal needs, both those related to water rights and the regulations incumbent on organizations that deal with environmental topics and those related to employee issues, real estate, contracts, and a variety of other legal issues. That means that a lawyer who specializes in working with irrigation districts and water companies needs a wide variety of skills and experiences. In this interview, Larry Martin, an attorney with Halverson Northwest Law Group, tells us about his long experience in water law and the gamut of skills needed to be an effective water lawyer.
Larry Martin: I did have a mentor in my firm. His name was Don Bond, and he had been working in water law for many years. He is now retired. When I started our firm and clients were right in the middle of the Acquavella adjudication. I was thrown right into the process. We had to develop water rights for numerous clients, including irrigation districts, water companies, cities, and farmers. Each client required an evidentiary hearing for the court to determine its respective water rights. We had to put together all the information on the history and the water use of each of those particular entities; file exceptions or appeals; and review the claims of others to make sure that they did not adversely affect our clients. We were in court at least monthly for many years due to the complexity of the adjudication and the number of parties involved, including the United States, the State of Washington, the Yakama Nation, irrigation entities, municipalities, and many individual water users. Nothing provides a better education than preparing and presenting a thorough analysis of your clients’ water rights and their history. I am also indebted to the late Jim Trull, the former manager of the Sunnyside Valley Irrigation District. He not
