Samuel Johnson

Samuel Johnson is an associate in Best Best & Krieger LLP’s (BBK) Environmental and Natural Resources Law practice group and serves as Assistant General Counsel to the Rowland Water District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. Samuel advises California cities and special districts on the full range of public agency legal issues that arise in day-to-day operations and governance—supporting boards and management on Brown Act and ethics compliance, Public Records Act requests and transparency issues, contract negotiation and drafting, and risk management. He also provides AB 1234 ethics training for public officials, helping agencies reduce risk through proactive compliance.

Samuel’s environmental and water practice includes a broad range of water rights and water-quality matters. He has developed a successful litigation practice across numerous environmental and natural resources issues, including groundwater adjudications and disputes arising under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Clean Water Act, and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act. In 2025, Samuel successfully briefed and won a Ninth Circuit appeal involving the intersection of civil-rights issues and land use.

Samuel earned his B.S. in Environmental Economics from the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability and served as Vice President of Southwestern’s Environmental Law Society. He began his water-quality work during his clerkship with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, analyzing state and federal regulatory developments concerning emerging contaminants.

Outside of work, Samuel enjoys birdwatching with his kids, playing basketball, and watching Big Ten sports.