Gabriel E. Eckstein

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Of Counsel
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1666 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006

Gabriel E. Eckstein, of counsel, is a member of the Environment, Energy & Natural Resources and Water Resource Development Groups in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. He also serves as Professor of Law specializing in water, environmental, natural resources and international law at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in Fort Worth, TX. In addition, he is CEO of International H2O Solutions, an international consultancy focusing on legal, policy and management issues related to global and transboundary fresh water resource, and is Director of the International Water Law Project. Previously, Professor Eckstein worked as Senior Counsel for CropLife America, an agrochemicals industry trade association; prior to that, he was a litigator in private practice working on environmental, toxic tort and asbestos cases.

Professor Eckstein advises clients in matters related to the management and allocation of fresh water resources. He provides counsel on water-related legal and policy issues, and represents clients in disputes involving the availability, use and quality of water resources. He also assists clients in pursuing opportunities involving water conservation and related renewable energy technologies.

Professor Eckstein holds both a J.D and LL.M. in Environmental Law from American University, a M.S. in International Affairs from Florida State University and a Bachelor Degree in Geology from Kent State University.

Representative Client Work

  • Led interdisciplinary team examining the scientific, legal and policy aspects of micropollutants, pharmaceuticals and personal care products in municipal drinking water supply in a $433,000 project funded by the USEPA
  • Served as Neutral Legal Advisor in Geneva Initiative-sponsored Track II negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians on transboundary water issues
  • Assessed compliance of USAID housing loan guarantee program with federal and internal environmental standards and procedures, and developed recommendations for monitoring institutional compliance
  • Advised Groundwater Conservation Districts in Texas on water law and legislative issues related to the formation, operation and authority of such Districts
  • Advised national agrochemical trade association on environmental laws concerning agricultural chemicals and biotechnology, food safety, air and water pollution and endangered species, as well as on corporate, antitrust and other trade association operational matters
  • Represented clients in multi-million dollar toxic tort litigation involving personal injury and property damage related to coal mining and logging operations

Speaking Engagements

  • Moderator, "The Future of Energy - European & American Approaches," Texas Wesleyan University School of Law (April 22, 2013)
  • "Groundwater Management," International Water Resources Association and the Qingdao Hydrological Bureau, Qingdao, China (December 6-8, 2012)
  • "Regional Consultation on Groundwater Governance Devoted to the Asia and Pacific Region," UNESCO Beijing Office (December 3-5, 2012)
  • "Securing Water Supplies for the Future: Risks, Challenges, and Opportunities," Texas Wesleyan Journal of Real Property Law's 2012 Water Law Symposium (November 9, 2012)   
  • "The Clean Water Act at 40: Under-Enforced and Out of Date," Society of Environmental Journalists' 22nd Annual Conference, Lubbock, Texas (October 20, 2012)
  • "Water and the Future of Energy," ZAG/S&W, Washington, D.C. (May 30, 2012)
  • "Water Law and Water Rights in the Context of Oil and Gas Development," Council of Petroleum Accountants Societies, Inc. (COPAS) (January 26, 2012 and February 10, 2012)
  • "Water Use and Water Law in Texas from an Oil and Gas Perspective," TexasBarCLE conference, "Environmental Impacts of Oil and Gas Production" (January 13, 2012)
  • "Climate Change and International Water Law," International Symposium on Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources in Arid and Semi-arid Regions, Xi’an, China, October 21-23, 2011
  • "Greening Water Law: Managing Freshwater Resources for People and the Environment," International Water Resources Association XIVth World Water Congress, Porto de Galinhas, Brazil, September 25-29, 2011
  • "Managing and Regulating PPCPs in Our Fresh Water Systems: A Legal Remedy?," Conference: Disruption – New Pollutants in the Potomac and Beyond, Potomac Conservancy, Silver Spring, MD, June 3, 2011
  • "Cooperation Over Transboundary Waters and the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention," International Conference: Towards the 6th World Water Forum – Cooperative Actions for Water Security, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, May 12-13, 2011
  • Keynote Speaker, Conference: The Human Right to Water in the West, Willamette Univ. School of Law, Salem, OR, February 3-5, 2011
  • "Water Ethics: Your Role as a Water Lawyer," Keynote Presentation, 11th Annual Changing Face of Water Rights Course, Texas State Bar Association, Austin, TX, April 9, 2010

Publications

  • Legislation Targets Mandates for Water Recycling in Oil, Gas Industry, Rigzone (April 15, 2013)
  • Water Export Bans Hang In The Balance Of Red River Fight, Law360 (January 16, 2013)
  • Emerging EPA Regulation of Pharmaceuticals in the Environment, Environmental Law Reporter (December 2012)
  • Water: Vital to Life and an Investment Essential, MarketWatch (March 30, 2012)
  • "Alternative Strategies for Managing Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products in Water Resources" (Texas Tech Center for Water Law & Policy 2011) (with Dr. George William Sherk, Sullivan & Worcester)
  • "Scientific, Legal, and Ethical Foundations for Texas Water Law," Texas Law of Water Resources 5-35 (co-authored with Amy Hardberger, Environmental Defense) (M. Sahs, ed., 2009; updated edition forthcoming 2012)
  • "Managing Buried Treasure Across Frontiers: The International Law of Transboundary Aquifers," 36(5) Water Int’l 573 (2011)
  • "Organophosphates, Friend and Foe: The Promise of Medical Monitoring for Farm Workers and Their Families," 27 UCLA Journal of Envt’l Law and Pol’y 39 (2009) (co-authored with Adriane Busby, formerly with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
  • "State Practice in the Management and Allocation of Transboundary Ground Water Resources in North America," 18 Yearbook of Int’l Envt’l Law 2007 96 (2008) (co-authored with Amy Hardberger, Environmental Defense)

Professional & Civic Activities

  • Treasurer and Member of the Executive Board, International Water Resources Association (2010-2015)
  • Advisory Board, Water Policy Institute (2009-present)
  • Advisory Board, Surrey Centre on Transboundary Aquifers Governance, University of Surrey, United Kingdom (2010-present)
  • Member, Executive Council, International Association for Water Law (2011-present)
  • Member, American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy & Resources
  • Member, International Association of Hydrogeologists
  • Member, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Commission on Environmental Law

News

Seminars & Speaking Engagements

Client Advisories

Practices

Industries

Bar & Court Admissions

  • New York, 1996

Education

  • LL.M., American University Washington College of Law, 1997
  • J.D., American University Washington College of Law, 1995
  • M.S., Florida State University, 1991
  • B.A., Kent State University, 1989