Attorneys > Arthur G. Kidman

ARTHUR G. KIDMAN Founding Partner akidman@mkblawyers.com

Mr. Kidman has concentrated his practice on the representation of California water agencies for more than 35 years.  He serves as general counsel to a variety of special districts and other local government entities, providing advice and representation in all aspects of local agency governance and operation, including open meeting laws, public records, public official ethics and other governing body protocols.  With a particular expertise in retail water distribution, Mr. Kidman advises clients on the complex issues that arise in connection with rate making, customer service, land development agreements and water infrastructure financing. 

Mr. Kidman also has provided special counsel or litigation counsel services to cities, water districts and water companies on water rights matters and other water source, transmission, storage and distribution projects. 

Mr. Kidman served for more than thirty years on the State Legislative Committee of the Association of California Water Agencies and frequently advises clients on proposed and pending legislation.  He has authored water-related legislation on behalf of firm clients and ACWA, and he is the principal author of ACWA’s handbook on the implementation of SB 221 and SB 610.

Admitted 1974, California and U.S. District Court, Southern, Central and Eastern Districts of California.



Published Cases

City of Barstow v. Mojave Water Agency. (2000)23 Cal. 4th 1224, 99 Cal.Rptr. 2d 294
Brydon v. East Bay Mun. Utility Dist. (1994) 24 Cal.App.4th 178, 29 Cal.Rptr.2d 128
San Marcos Water Dist. v. San Marcos Unified School Dist. (1986) 42 Cal.3d 154, 720 P.2d 935; 228 Cal.Rptr. 47
Kern County Water Agency v. Bd. of Supervisors (1979) 91 Cal.App.3d 874, 158 Cal.Rptr. 430

Publications and Presentations

-Co-Author, "The Relationship of Just Compensation to the Land Use Regulatory Power: An Analysis and Proposal," Symposium-Land Use Planning and Control, Pepperdine Law Review, 1974, Vol. 2.

-Author, "San Gabriel Valley Groundwater Contamination as Cause of Water Scarcity," Proceedings, 17th Biennial Conference on Groundwater, University of California Water Resources Center, California Department of Water Resources and State Water Resources Control Board, Report No. 72, September, 1989;

-Author "Pros and Cons of Groundwater Management or Look Out For Some Extremely Bogus Thinking," Proceedings, 18th Biennial Conference on Groundwater, University of California Water Resources Center, California Department of Water Resources and State Water Resources Control Board, September 1991.

-Author, "Connections Between Groundwater and Surface Water," Proceedings 20th Biennial Conference on Groundwater, University of California Water Resources Center, California Department of Water Resources and State Water Resources Control Board, September 1995.

-Author, “Mojave Adjudication Judgment Ends Decades of Ground Water Basin Overdraft and Political Controversy” California Water Law & Policy Reporter, February 1996, Vol. 6, Issue 5.

-Author, “There is No Paramount Overlying Right to Mine a Groundwater Basin” California Water Law & Policy Reporter, March 1999, Vol. 9, No. 6.

- Author, “A Rock and Hard Place: Financing Infrastructure,” California Water Law & Policy Reporter, August 2001, Vol. 11, No. 11. 

-Author, “Another Rock...an Even Harder Place: Housing Development and Water Supply,” Western Water Law & Policy Reporter, Vol. 6, No. 2.

-Author, Feature Article “Groundwater Storage: Not as Easy as It Sounds,” California Water Law & Policy Reporter, May 2004, Vol. 14, No. 8.

-Author, Feature Article “Win Some, Lose Some; the War Over Water in the Santa Clarita Valley,” California Water Law & Policy Reporter, April 2005, Vol.15, No. 7.

Organizations and Activities

-Orange County Bar Association

-The State Bar of California (Member, Sections on: Public Law; Real Property Law)

-Association of California Water Agencies (Member: State Legislative Committee (1975 – 2006); Member: Legal Affairs Committee (1975 - present); Chairman: Attorneys Conference (1976 1980))

-Extension Instructor in Water Law, University of California, Irvine

-Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce (President (1988))

-World Affairs Council of Orange County (President, Chairman, Nominating Committee, Executive Board (1989 - present))

-Rotary Club of Coto de Caza (Charter President (1983))

-CHOC Padrinos (Board of Directors (1993 - 2003))