I represent clients with a range of legal issues associated with project development, particularly projects that involve purchasing, selling, or redeveloping contaminated sites. My goal is to cost-effectively help clients navigate the legal hurdles necessary to reach their business objectives and effectively manage legal and financial risk along the way.
Representative Experience
River Mile Development, Denver, Colorado
Represent the master developer in negotiating cleanup requirements and other environmental terms and conditions of agreements with the City and orders with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment associated with the redevelopment of the 58-acre property, which is currently home to the Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park and available cost recovery opportunities
PuebloPlex, Pueblo, Colorado
Represent the local redevelopment authority (LRA) in negotiating cleanup requirements and other environmental terms and conditions associated with the transfer of approximately 16,000 acres of property within the former U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot; advising the LRA with regard to environmental due diligence and environmental risk management during acquisition and redevelopment, including regulatory compliance and cleanup, environmental insurance, institutional controls, cost recovery opportunities, environmental disclosure, remediation funding sources, NEPA, and other redevelopment-related issues
Lowry Redevelopment Authority, Denver, Colorado
Represented the Authority with respect to the closeout of agreements for the privatization of cleanup at the former Lowry Air Force Base
Eagle Valley Transportation Authority, Eagle County, Colorado
Advised eight local entities in drafting and negotiation of an IGA and other legal requirements under state law to form a regional transportation authority and obtain voter approval of associated sales and lodging taxes. Advised the authority board with regard to initial steps necessary to “stand up” the new authority and initiate regional transportation services.
National Western Center Redevelopment, Denver, Colorado
Represented the City and County of Denver, Colorado, in developing and negotiating the governance structure and framework agreements for expanding and redeveloping the current home of the National Western Stock Show into a new 270-acre state-of-the-art, multi-purpose campus to house the National Western Stock Show; serve as a hub for year-round creative, P-20 experiential educational, research and commercial activity that promotes, supports, and helps to preserve the western lifestyle while highlighting innovation and global issues of health, food systems, water, and the environment; and provide an attractive environment for additional agricultural business and science investments that position the State as an agricultural innovations cluster leader; currently represent Denver in administering its obligations under the framework agreements and in structuring and soliciting partners for development of future phases of the project
Central I-70 Project, Denver, Colorado
Advised the Colorado Department of Transportation in structuring of a customized hazardous materials and environmental risk management regime (including specific provisions governing groundwater conditions)
The Boring Company's O’Hare Express System, Chicago, Illinois
Advised the City of Chicago in structuring hazardous materials and environmental risk management provisions of the P3 contract
Stapleton Airport Redevelopment, Denver, Colorado
Represent the master developer of the former Stapleton International Airport property; drafted and negotiated core agreements related to the project, including the structure and implementation of the real estate purchase, the $650 million, publicly-financed infrastructure agreements, environmental risk mitigation and insurance, the development agreement, and other key documents and negotiations related to the project; drafted and negotiated environmental disclosures to be provided to prospective homebuyers and tenants, and assisted the client in several areas related to construction at the project site, including developing construction materials management plans, drafting construction contracts, negotiating the form of easements and other access agreements, and addressing land use and other entitlement issues
Redevelopment of the Former Gates Rubber Company Site, Denver, Colorado
Represented the master developer in environmental due diligence, negotiation of purchase and sale agreement, environmental insurance coverage, voluntary cleanup plans, professional service and construction contracting, and infrastructure funding agreements; currently represent the master developer in completion of environmental cleanup, insurance administration, and property sales
Mining Waste Related Issues, Park City, Utah
Represented a Utah municipality in negotiation of a settlement agreement and order on consent for engineering evaluation/cost analysis and removal action related to discharges from drainage infrastructure constructed within historical mine tailings; currently represent the client in implementation of the agreement and order and various cleanup and development-related matters associated with historical mining operations in and around the City
Remediation and Resale of Former Industrial Dry Cleaning Site, Seattle, Washington
Represented national brownfields developer in negotiating agreements for management of historical insurance policy claims, cleanup funding and implementation, purchase and resale of a contaminated industrial property near Lake Union
Federal Center Station Neighborhood, Lakewood, Colorado
Represented the purchaser of the site with respect to environmental due diligence, insurance, and environmental risk management
Lender Environmental Due Diligence for Acquisition and Construction Loan, Former ASARCO Smelter Site
Represented lender in reviewing environmental compliance and crafting terms suitable to acquisition and construction loan
Lowry Range, Denver, Colorado
Represented the redeveloper of a site owned by the Colorado State Land Board encompassing a portion of the former Lowry Bombing Range and the former Lowry Training Annex in negotiating a remediation agreement with the Colorado State Land Board and a consent order with the Colorado Department of Public Health for management of unexploded ordnance and other environmental issues associated with redevelopment of the property
Redevelopment of Former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Denver, Colorado
Represented master developer of biomedical science park in environmental due diligence for former facility transferred under federal BRAC program; scope of representation included negotiation of environmental provisions of acquisition and environmental cost sharing agreements, voluntary cleanup plan approval and implementation, negotiation of an environmental insurance policy, National Contingency Plan compliance, and contribution claim demands to reimburse costs of cleanup
Acquisition of Former Coal Burning Power Plant, Chicago, Illinois
Represented national brownfields developer in negotiating agreement for purchase of decommissioned coal burning power plant and associated environmental insurance policy
Environmental Due Diligence and Real Property and Asset Purchase and Sale Transactions
Routinely advise and represent real estate developers, lenders, and their legal counsel in conducting environmental due diligence, regulatory compliance and cleanup, and environmental risk management in real estate and various asset purchase and sale transactions
Environmental Compliance and Cleanup
Routinely advise and represent clients with respect to regulatory requirements and in negotiating the terms of regulatory orders, agreements, and approvals for environmental cleanup
Surface Use Agreements for Surface and Mineral Interest Owners
Routinely advise and represent surface developers and mineral interest owners in negotiation of surface use agreements and associated land use proceedings under the Colorado Surface Development Notification Act
Construction Contracting
Routinely assist clients in negotiating, drafting, and administering construction contracts for a variety of residential, commercial and industrial facilities, and public infrastructure
Resources and News
Awards and Recognition
News
Presentations
Publications
TRB Publications
The Best Lawyers in America® Announces Lawyer Rankings, Firm Attorneys Included
Awards and Recognition | August 15, 2024Chambers USA Ranks Kaplan Kirsch among Nation’s Top Law Firms in 2024 Guide
Awards and Recognition | June 6, 2024
Chambers USA Ranks Kaplan Kirsch among Nation’s Top Law Firms in 2024 Guide
Awards and Recognition | June 6, 2024
Firm Attorneys Present at the Colorado Bar Association’s 42nd Annual Real Estate Symposium
Presentations | July 12, 2024Brownfield Redevelopment: Addressing Environmental and Other Issues in Urban Redevelopment
Presentations | November 30, 2022Polly Jessen Presents Webinar on Environmental Indemnity in Real Estate Transactions
Presentations | July 28, 2021
Consequential Damages Provisions in Construction Contracts: Legal Issues
Publications | January 27, 2023
Consequential Damages Provisions in Construction Contracts: Legal Issues
Publications | January 27, 2023