Experience

Carlos Ronstadt has been practicing law in Arizona since 1982.

During that time, he has represented numerous clients in natural resource and water matters with a focus on water rights, public lands and energy.

His experience includes the evaluation, acquisition, and utilization of groundwater and surface water rights, including rights to Colorado River water and Central Arizona Project water.

Highlights of his career include the successful lobbying of Congress for the passage of the Northern Arizona Land Exchange and Verde River Basin Partnership Act of 2005. He also worked with Arizona’s state legislature on numerous matters, including passage of legislation to clarify ownership of water rights appurtenant to state lands.

Carlos represented a major irrigation district in the renegotiation of its repayment contract with the Federal government. He negotiated the conveyance of 9,000 acres of wetlands and wildlife habitat to the U.S. Forest Service.

He also worked with numerous real estate developers to secure 100-year assured or adequate water supplies that are required in order to subdivide real property in Arizona.

Recently, his practice has included the representation of renewable energy companies interested in building generation facilities in Arizona to take advantage of Arizona’s terrific solar energy potential. Carlos also has represented clients in negotiations with Indian tribes and the United States on local and Colorado River matters.

Prior to starting his own law firm, Carlos was a partner at Snell & Wilmer LLP and a shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck in their Phoenix offices. He has been listed in Best Lawyers since 1995.

As a fifth generation Arizonan, Carlos has a great love for this state, its history and its people. In 1975, he earned his undergraduate degree in hydrology from the University of Arizona, and then worked for an engineering firm on numerous water matters in Arizona and New Mexico before going to law school.

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