I am a seasoned attorney and policymaker with extensive experience in transportation, environmental, and energy law. Over my career, I have represented or led in federal agencies, having served as the General Counsel for the United States Department of Transportation and Director of Environmental Programs for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. I’ve also represented state departments of transportation, local governments, transportation agencies, and private entities across the country. My practice has focused on navigating complex federal and state regulations to deliver innovative solutions for infrastructure, sustainability and safety challenges. Known for my strategic counsel, I have played a pivotal role in advancing policies and projects that balance development, environmental stewardship, and community needs, including implementation of the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) renewal of the Moffat Tunnel lease and provision for passenger rail access in Colorado, and development of and Colorado’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Roadmap.
Representative Experience
State of Colorado. Represented the State in P3 procurement of major highway improvements.
Transit Environmental Processes. Represented transit providers in environmental processes regarding proposed transit improvements.
Colorado Local Governments. Representing local governments in efforts to promote proposed local highways and avoid incompatible highway proposals.
P3 Highway Litigation. Successfully resolved litigation against a large P3 highway project in Colorado.
Interstate Highway P3 Approval. Represented a private entity in securing approval for a major public-private partnership for an interstate highway in Colorado.
Highway and Transit Connections. Represented public and private entities in efforts to secure highway and transit connections to airports, infill development, and other projec
Previous Transit and Highway Projects
State of Colorado. Represented the State in P3 procurement of major highway improvements.
Transit Environmental Processes. Represented transit providers in environmental processes regarding proposed transit improvements.
Colorado Local Governments. Representing local governments in efforts to promote proposed local highways and avoid incompatible highway proposals.
P3 Highway Litigation. Successfully resolved litigation against a large P3 highway project in Colorado.
Interstate Highway P3 Approval. Represented a private entity in securing approval for a major public-private partnership for an interstate highway in Colorado.
Highway and Transit Connections. Represented public and private entities in efforts to secure highway and transit connections to airports, infill development, and other projects.
Previous Airport Projects
Large and Small Airports. Represented airports including the City of Los Angeles (LAX), the City of Chicago, Maryland Airport Administration, and the City of Philadelphia in efforts to secure approvals and defend airport development projects.
Federal Transportation and Environmental Laws. Counseled airports on the full range of federal transportation and environmental laws.
FAA Airspace Changes. Represented airports and public entities across the country regarding FAA airspace changes.
Federal Grant and Regulatory Compliance. Represented airport sponsors in administrative and judicial litigation regarding compliance with federal grant and other regulatory requirements.
City of Phoenix. Represented the City in successful litigation and post-litigation settlement regarding FAA flight route changes.
Coalition of Airports. Represented a coalition of airports in litigation to reverse an FAA decision to close control towers.
City of Minneapolis. Represented the City in litigation against the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport that resulted in a settlement providing noise insulation to almost 10,000 homes.
Airport Airspace Protection. Represented a hub airport in successful litigation against the Federal Aviation Administration for failing to protect airport airspace from a proposed wind project.
Historic Property Litigation. Represented a hub airport against a nationally prominent wealthy landowner in litigation involving noise and overflights of a historic property in Florida.
Clean Air Act. City and County of Denver, City and County of San Francisco, and City of Los Angeles. Represented the cities in defense of False Claims Act actions regarding alleged noncompliance with the Clean Air Act.
Previous Environment, Air, and Water Projects
Clean Air Rulemaking and Compliance. Represented cities in clean air rulemaking and compliance issues across the country.
Alternative Fuel Infrastructure. Represented a national foundation in efforts to promote alternative fuel use and infrastructure.
Water Infrastructure Development. Represented a Colorado municipal entity in NEPA and Clean Water Act processes regarding the development of new water infrastructure.
Drinking Water Infrastructure Permitting. Represented a Utah municipality regarding drinking water infrastructure permitting and compliance.
Clean Vehicle Rulemakings. Represented local governments and NGOs in clean vehicle rulemakings.
Urban Military Base Reuse. Represented an authority in rezoning of a former urban military base to enable infill reuse of property.
Crystal River Water Rights. Secured settlement to eliminate conditional water rights on the Crystal River in Pitkin County, Colorado, that threatened client interests.
High-Definition Television Towers. Secured injunctions against construction of high-definition television towers on behalf of a Colorado municipality.
Clean Air Act Compliance and Enforcement. Represented public and private entities in Clean Air Act compliance and enforcement matters.
Previous Electricity and Energy Projects
Solar Policy and Net Metering. Represented a solar industry trade association in Colorado PUC dockets and settlements regarding net metering and solar policy issues.
Utility Service Dispute. Represented a large electric customer in a dispute with a utility regarding inadequate service.
Clean Air Act Regulatory Matters. Represented power generators, fuel providers, motor vehicle manufacturers, and non-governmental organizations in Clean Air Act regulatory matters.
Power Purchase Agreements. Represented an independent power producer in Colorado Public Utilities Commission dockets to renew expiring power purchase agreements for gas-fired assets, including electric resource planning and Colorado Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act dockets.
Coal-Fired Facility Retirement. Represented independent power producers in PUC litigation to retire coal-fired facilities in the Denver metropolitan area to provide opportunities for IPP assets.
Demand Side Management Dockets. Represented a major demand side management provider in DSM dockets.
Environmental Tariffs. Represented brownfield development interests in successful PUC litigation to strike environmental tariffs that would have burdened infill development.
Wind Power Purchase Agreements. Represented wind IPPs in PUC dockets regarding power purchase agreement awards.
Transmission Line Upgrades. Represented a municipality in disputes regarding proposed transmission line upgrades.
Hydroelectric Water Rights. Represented a local government in a dispute regarding the feasibility of using conditional water rights for hydroelectric purposes.
Energy Project Land Use Ordinances. Represented a local government developing land use ordinances relating to energy projects.
Energy Generation Asset Transactions. Represented parties in due diligence regarding energy generation asset transactions.
Resources and News
Law Alerts
News
Presentations
Publications
TRB Publications
Rail & Transit Law Alert – STB Proposes New Environmental Review Regulations
Law Alerts | March 27, 2026
Looking into the Crystal Ball: What Legal Implementation Challenges Will Part 108 Bring?
Presentations | August 11, 2026The Big Sky North Coast Corridor of Opportunity: Its Transformative Impact on People and Communities
Presentations | August 3, 2026The Rent’s Too Darn High: Managing Review of and Conflict over Airport Leases
Presentations | June 12, 2026
The View from the Ground: Airport and Community Perspectives on ATC Reform
Publications | August 1, 2017
