Lucas Ivan Quass

Lucas Quass is an associate in the Environment, Land & Resources Department of Latham & Watkins. He focuses his practice on environmental matters, involving water, natural resources and land use law.

Mr. Quass practices environmental law, with an emphasis on California water law and policy, major infrastructure improvements and state court writ of mandamus and similar litigation. He provides advice to lenders, private developers, corporations, government entities and nonprofit organizations regarding water rights in groundwater and surface water systems, and environmental matters related to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

Mr. Quass is also active in the firm’s pro bono program. He represents the Pasadena Roving Archers, a volunteer-run non-profit organization, in defense of land use entitlements to allow the continued operation of the historic Lower Arroyo Archery Range.

During law school, Mr. Quass was a law clerk at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. He was also the executive senior editor of the Southern California Review of Law and Social Justice, as well as a USC Law and Mental Health Scholar at the Saks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy, and Ethics, and a recipient of the Edward & Eleanor Shattuck Award for Outstanding Service to the USC Law Center.

Mr. Quass is an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Law School, where he teaches Persuasive Advocacy. Mr. Quass has also authored many articles and client alerts on new developments in land use, water resources and environmental law.

Mr. Quass’ experience includes the following: 

• Representation of a large multi-residential property owner in the Antelope Valley Groundwater Adjudication
• Defended multiple challenges to development projects on CEQA and other grounds before California trial and appellate courts
• Water rights and environmental due diligence for real estate finance companies, public agencies and agricultural operations involving the purchase, sale and lease of real property
• Prepared water rights opinions for multimillion-dollar real property transactions