Andrew Bassak recalls a visit from Stephen Mayne in February 2008, shortly after the latter joined the San Francisco office of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips. “Have you heard about what’s going on in McCloud?” Mayne asked. “I have a copy of the contract right here,” Bassak replied.

The contract was a deal between the McCloud, Calif., Community Services District and Nestlé Waters North America Inc., a subsidiary of the Swiss food conglomerate that markets bottled water under the Arrowhead brand.