2024 ACWA CLE Virtual Workshop Speakers – October 2 Sep 19, 2024 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES ACWA appreciates the 2024 ACWA CLE Virtual Workshop Series speakers for sharing their time, expertise and insights on these topics. OCTOBER 2 (11:00 AM – NOON PST) General Counsel Roles and Responsibilities Part 2 – Who is the Client? Moderator: Jennifer Buckman, Principal, BKS Law Firm, PC Biography Jennifer Buckman has more than 25 years of experience representing public agency clients, including water districts, special districts, and cities and counties. In her current role with BKS Law Firm, PC, Ms. Buckman is general counsel to a joint powers authority, a city, and a special district, and she serves as special counsel for dozens more agencies. Prior to joining BKS, Ms. Buckwas was the in-house General Counsel for Friant Water Authority, a joint powers agency comprised mostly of agricultural water districts. Presenters: Sheryl Bregman, General Counsel, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Biography Sheryl L. Bregman serves as Utilities General Counsel to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and manages the Public Utilities Legal Team for the San Francisco City Attorney. She has served in this position for nearly three years. Before this current role, Ms. Bregman served for over 10 years as General Counsel to the San Francisco International Airport. She joined the Office of the San Francisco City Attorney in 1995. Prior to joining the Office of the City Attorney, Ms. Bregman was in private practice. Ms. Bregman holds a J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and a B.A., magna cum laude with honors, from Brandeis University. Claire Collins, Partner, Hanson Bridgett LLP Biography Claire Collins is a partner at Hanson Bridgett LLP. She serves as General Counsel to Irvine Ranch Water District, Trabuco Canyon Water District, and Vallejo Flood & Wastewater District, and as special counsel to a variety of other agencies across California on issues of public revenues, real estate, joint powers authorities, and ethics. She has practiced in or led public agency general counsel teams for more than 20 years. She is a member of the ACWA Legal Affairs Committee. Andrew Ramos, General Counsel, Yuba Water Agency Biography Andrew has served as Yuba Water Agency’s first inhouse General Counsel since August 2024. He advises the Agency’s Board of Directors and Executive Team on all legal and risk matters. Andrew has over a decade of experience dedicated to the practice of water and public agency law. Prior to coming to the Agency, he was in private practice for fifteen years. He has served as a law firm managing partner and as outside general counsel to more than a dozen water suppliers and public agencies. Andrew received his Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctorate from University of California, Davis.