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San Francisco

T(415) 273-7464

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Education

  • J.D., University of California, Berkeley, School of Law

  • M.A., University of Kentucky

  • B.A., Hunter College, City University of New York

Bar Admissions

  • California

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California

Services

  • Litigation & Counseling

  • Business Disputes

  • Jury Trials

  • Real Estate Disputes

  • Appeals & Writs

Industries

  • Investment Management

  • Real Estate

Alexander J. Doherty

Partner

Alex is a litigation partner in the San Francisco office who advises clients in high-stake complex commercial and business disputes, with a special focus on appellate and water law-related litigation. He has significant trial experience and has obtained wins in court for institutional investors, financial services entities, commercial property owners and developers, e-commerce companies, public and private utilities, and high-net-worth individuals, among other clients. His practice encompasses a wide spectrum of litigation types, such as fraud, real estate, insurance coverage, water rights and allocation, and California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) disputes.

A highly-regarded legal writer, Alex holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in philosophy, a background that he applies to his work in preparing appellate briefs – five of which resulted in published opinions.

Accolades

  • Awarded the Western Center on Law & Poverty's "Rock Star" Award for pro bono work challenging a local government agency’s application procedures for low-income housing (2014)

A highly-regarded legal writer, Alex holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in philosophy, a background that he applies to his work in preparing appellate briefs – five of which resulted in published opinions.

Accolades

  • Awarded the Western Center on Law & Poverty's "Rock Star" Award for pro bono work challenging a local government agency’s application procedures for low-income housing (2014)

CURRENT, REPRESENTATIVE WATER LAW-RELATED MATTERS

  • Representing investor-owned water utility in litigation over seawater desalination facility in Monterey County.
  • Representing owners of thousands of acres of farmland in Madera County with respect to allocation of groundwater under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

REPRESENTATIVE APPELLATE MATTERS

  • California-American Water Co. v. Marina Coast Water Dist., 86 Cal.App.5th 1272, 303 Cal.Rptr.3d 227 (2022). Prevailed on behalf of a large water utility in a dispute over its proposed Monterey County desalination plant, obtaining a published decision retracing salient summary judgment procedures and establishing rules concerning compliance with the Government Claims Act for claims predicated on void contracts.
  • Golden Gate Land Holdings LLC v. Direct Action Everywhere, 81 Cal.App.5th 82, 296 Cal.Rptr.3d 768 (2022). Obtained a published appellate win confirming California pleading requirements for alleging vicarious liability against a defendant in an anti-SLAPP suit.
  • Shelby County v. Holder, 570 U.S. 529 (2013). Researched and drafted a significant section of an amicus brief in a landmark case regarding the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
  • Behunin v. Superior Court, 9 Cal.App.5th 833, 215 Cal.Rptr.3d 475 (2017). Successfully defeated a claim of attorney-client privilege in the first published decision in California addressing whether attorney-client privilege extends to communications between a litigant and a public relations consultant retained to assist with “litigating in the press.”
  • California-American Water Co. v. Marina Coast Water Dist., 2 Cal.App.5th 748, 206 Cal.Rptr.3d 439 (2016). Represented a large water utility involved in a water desalination project in Monterey County that collapsed due to a financial conflict of interest of a public official who worked on the project. Alex successfully obtained affirmance of the trial court order declaring agreements implementing the project void ab initio pursuant to Government Code section 1090.
  • California-American Water Co. v. Marina Coast Water Dist., 18 Cal.App.5th 571, 227 Cal.Rptr.3d 110 (2017). Successfully obtained affirmance of a trial court order awarding a water utility client over $1 million in contractual attorneys’ fees, despite the underlying contract’s status as void ab initio and unenforceable.
  • Special Water Supply Edition: California Environmental Law & Policy Update

    7.25.25

  • California Judge Awards Monetary Damages to Investors Charles, Michael Schwab in Libel Suit

    Multi-million dollar default judgment entered against Nicholas Behunin after he fails to appear at multiple court hearings, ending decade-long legal battle and unsuccessful smear campaign against Schwab family

    Press Release

    2.27.24

  • Suit Involving Giant Names Finally Settled

    Press Mention

    2.27.24

  • Trespass Claim Stemming from Activists' Blocking Horse Race Track Not Covered by California Anti-SLAPP Law

    Michael J. Betz, Alexander J. Doherty, and Robert R. Moore in Reason

    Press Mention

    7.13.22

  • Allen Matkins Elects Jonathan Consani, Alexander Doherty, Amanda Donson, Jared Kassan, Morgan Medlin, and Shannon Snell to Partnership

    New Partners are based in the each of the firm’s five offices: Century City, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and San Francisco

    Press Release

    6.29.22

  • Allen Matkins Welcomes Litigation Attorney Alexander J. Doherty

    Press Release

    8.18.14

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