Mr. Blake has practiced land surveying throughout central California and western Nevada. He is licensed in both states and is also a certified federal surveyor. He specializes in surveys to support large public works infrastructure projects. He also serves as an expert witness in disputes involving boundary survey or land title issues. He currently works as the Mapping Department manager for Hawkins and Associates in Modesto, California. In his previous positions he worked as the Mapping Department manager for O’Dell Engineering and the assistant surveyor manager for KSN in Stockton, California. Mr. Blake serves as a volunteer on the Land Surveyor Technical Advisory Committee to the California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists. He is currently the president of the California Land Surveyors Association Central Valley Chapter and the vice president of the American Council of Engineering Companies Central California Chapter. Mr. Blake teaches at surveying and GIS events around the Western United States.

Attorney at Holland & Hart, LLP
Mr. Champa assists clients with acquiring, selling, leasing, and developing real property and projects. He guides clients at every phase of a real estate transaction, from investigating ownership rights and title, through closing. He helps clients troubleshoot issues that arise during negotiation, construction, and development. His scientific background allows him to analyze, interpret, and explain complex geologic and hydrogeological conditions to help clients proactively identify and address water issues that can impact ownership transfers, permitting, and development of land and water projects. When disputes arise, Mr. Champa can assist with adjudicatory and administrative proceedings, including any subsequent litigation. Before he became a lawyer, Mr. Champa worked as a consulting hydrogeologist as well as an exploration geologist in the mining industry. Before joining Holland & Hart, he practiced at two Reno area law firms with an emphasis on water law and real property.

Gunderson Law Firm
Ms. Forster is admitted to the state bars of Nevada and California, along with all federal courts in both states. She has represented a wide variety of clients from Nevada, California, and across the country. Ms. Forster has appeared in both state and federal courts, including at the appellate level, across Nevada and California. She has represented clients in several jury and non-jury trials, arbitrations, and mediations. Ms. Forster is the author of numerous published articles on topics that affect individuals and business alike, including personal liability shields and construction defect reform, and she has presented educational seminars to non-lawyer professional organizations.

Laura Granier is a partner at Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP. Ms. Granier’s practice includes regulatory work including government affairs with a focus on natural resources and land use and complex commercial litigation. She has successfully handled several issues of first impression involving mineral resources in Nevada, including a 2011 case enjoining enforcement of a state tax imposed on mining claims determined to be unconstitutional as well as cases involving complex land tenure issues and water rights. Ms. Granier has been involved in the land use planning process in Nevada for greater sage grouse conservation efforts and currently is lead counsel for a number of Nevada counties and private plaintiffs challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s and U.S. Forest Service’s decisions issued in that land use planning process. Ms. Granier has successfully handled litigation involving complex land tenure issues for various mining projects throughout Nevada. She has worked closely with legislators in previous sessions on challenging issues related to water, mineral resources, revenue, education and land use. Her regulatory experience includes a broad spectrum of work before various agencies with regulatory jurisdiction over environmental issues, mining, education, taxes, land use, and public utilities.

Mr. Hansen litigates disputes involving real estate law, land use, environmental matters, and commercial transactions. He frequently litigates, writes about, and teaches at conferences on easements and boundary disputes. Mr. Hansen graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in American Studies from Biola University in La Mirada, California. He earned his law degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. Among his many interests and community involvements, Mr. Hansen serves as an officer with the Real Property Section of the Sacramento County Bar Association and as a Dispute Resolution Conference pro-tem judge for the El Dorado County Superior Court. 

Partner at Blanchard Krasner & French
Mr. Silva focuses his practice on problem solving. He regularly practices in civil litigation including eminent domain, real estate litigation, and contested probate litigation, with a heavy emphasis in appellate litigation, trial practice, and governmental interface. He has a strong alternative dispute resolution focus in disputed cases. Mr. Silva also provides advice and guidance to government entities, regulated entities, and businesses.