Order of the Coif; Gamma Sigma Delta; Alpha Zeta. Articles Editor, Arizona State Law Journal. Adjunct Professor of Law, Arizona State University. Chair, Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section, State Bar of Arizona, 2006-2007.
Mark McGinnis' practice focuses on water rights, environmental, and complex commercial litigation and the law relating to special districts. His primary clients include an agricultural improvement district, irrigation and electrical districts, industrial entities, individual business owners, and developers. He has in-depth experience in the Arizona Surface Water and Groundwater Codes and matters relating to the Colorado River.
Representative Professional Experience
Trial counsel for objectors in litigation and administrative proceedings relating to Assured Water Supply designation for an Arizona municipality and associated impacts on river base flows, obtaining a mutually agreeable settlement of disputes among the parties.
Obtained preliminary injunctions on behalf of senior water rights holders against individuals and entities alleged to be using water without valid appropriative rights.
Litigation counsel for a multi-county water conservation district and two irrigation districts in court proceedings to obtain judicial approval of an Indian water rights settlement.
Successfully represented owners and operators of Arizona underground water storage facilities against challenges in two separate administrative matters relating to permits issued by the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
Trial counsel for two Arizona irrigation districts successfully defending against landowner challenges relating to the districts' ability to relinquish their long-term Central Arizona Project subcontracts as part of a comprehensive Indian water rights settlement.
Represented a group of large public and private utilities in five separate actions relating to disputes involving long-term coal supply agreements for two electric generating stations located in Arizona and Nevada.
Coordinating counsel for more than forty corporate defendants in a groundwater contamination lawsuit, including two large class action proceedings covering much of the Phoenix metropolitan area and more than 100 consolidated individual personal injury cases.
Actively involved on behalf of the Salt River Project for almost twenty years in the Gila and Little Colorado River general stream adjudications, to determine the relative water rights of more than 25,000 claimants in those watersheds.
Counsel for the Salt River Project for more than fifteen years in administrative and judicial proceedings to determine the ownership of the beds of every watercourse in the state of Arizona.
General Counsel for a Pinal County electrical district, overseeing all legal matters relating to the district and its operations.
Honors & Awards
Martindale-Hubbell, AV rating
Best Lawyers in America (2006-present)
Southwest Super Lawyers (various years)
Outstanding Agricultural Economist, Western Agricultural Economics Association (2010)
Young Achiever Award, University of Arizona College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (1995).