Downey Brand represents a wide range of public and private entities engaged in flood plain management and assessment within California and across the nation. Our attorneys play key roles in advising public agencies and landowners in formulating and constructing flood protection projects, guiding them through all regulatory, permitting, and funding challenges under state and federal law. All flood protection projects are both legally and technically complex. Our flood protection lawyers are expert in each of these dimensions, as well as in managing the integration of them necessary for projects to succeed.
We work as skilled partners with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to obtain permission to build locally-driven projects under 33 U.S.C. section 408, and also in representing local sponsors working with the Corps on Federally-driven projects. We are expert advocates, as well. When the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps communities under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) we speak the unique language and can effectively prosecute appeals of flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs).
Our attorneys also zealously represent clients after a flood occurs. We have defended numerous cases against public agencies, both at trial and in appellate courts. We have also successfully represented those damaged by floods, analyzing technical and scientific evidence, sorting out complex insurance and damages issues, and obtaining the recoveries needed to make our clients whole.