Meet the Team
Jith Meganathan
Founder and Principal Consultant
Jith Meganathan advises organizations navigating California's complex legislative, budget, regulatory, and public policy landscape. Drawing on a rare combination of senior-level experience in the Governor's Office, the California Legislature, regulatory advocacy, litigation, and the technology sector, Jith helps clients develop strategies that deliver results across government decision-making processes.
Most recently, Jith served as Deputy Legislative Affairs Secretary for Governor Gavin Newsom, where he advised the Governor on technology policy, public safety, and civil legal matters and helped advance hundreds of legislative and budget proposals. Prior to that, he served as Chief Consultant to the California Assembly Privacy & Consumer Protection Committee and as Principal Consultant to the Assembly Judiciary Committee. He has led work on some of the state's most significant issues involving artificial intelligence, consumer privacy, emerging technologies, and the civil justice system.
Throughout his career, Jith has built a reputation for solving complex policy challenges, negotiating among diverse stakeholders, and translating legal and technical issues into practical solutions. Before entering public service, he practiced corporate and nonprofit law, taught law school, served in the federal courts, and worked in the technology industry as both a software engineer and technology executive.
Jith holds a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School and a B.S., with Honors and Distinction, from Stanford University.
Laurel Firestone
Principal Consultant
Laurel Firestone helps public agencies, nonprofits, foundations, tribes, utilities, and mission-driven organizations navigate complex water policy challenges, build effective partnerships, and achieve lasting impact. With more than 20 years of experience spanning government, law, nonprofit leadership, and public policy, Laurel brings diverse partners together to develop practical solutions to some of California's most complex public water challenges.
Most recently, Laurel served as a member of the California State Water Resources Control Board, following appointment by Governor Gavin Newsom. In that role, she provided governance and policy oversight for California's drinking water, water quality, water rights, enforcement, and multibillion-dollar funding programs. She played a leadership role in advancing major statewide initiatives focused on drinking water access, affordability, environmental justice, tribal engagement, conservation, and climate resilience.
Prior to her state service, Laurel co-founded and led the Community Water Center, building it into a nationally recognized environmental justice organization. As Co-Executive Director and General Counsel, she guided organizational growth, led multidisciplinary teams, and helped secure landmark policy achievements, including California’s Human Right to Water Act and long-term state funding for safe drinking water solutions.
Laurel holds a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Harvard Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies, magna cum laude, from Brown University.