Partner
Geoff M. Williamson
Legal Assistant
Geoff Williamson represents a wide variety of public and private clients in water, environmental, and land use matters. His work includes water rights litigation in Colorado’s water courts and advising clients on a broad range of water and environmental issues arising out of real estate and corporate transactions. Geoff also handles water quality issues and has experience across the western U.S. with other federal environmental statutes such as the Endangered Species Act and NEPA. In addition to his water and environmental work, Geoff has represented public and private companies of all sizes in breach of contract and other business disputes.
Geoff began practicing law at BHGR in 2005, and then worked at a national law firm in Denver and a boutique water law firm in Boulder before returning to BHGR in 2018. Geoff earned his law degree at the University of Michigan Law School and holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the College of William & Mary, where he graduated summa cum laude as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Experience
Water Rights
Geoff’s water rights practice encompasses all aspects of Colorado water law, including water court applications, the purchase and sale of water rights, and due diligence evaluations. Geoff represents municipalities, ranches, homeowners, corporations, and others seeking to acquire, develop, and protect water rights throughout Colorado. Geoff has extensive experience assisting clients with changes of water rights, plans for augmentation, and well permitting issues.
Water Quality
Geoff’s water quality practice includes participation in rulemaking hearings before the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission relating to water quality standards, temporary modifications, and water quality policy. Geoff also assists clients with discharge permitting issues and other matters involving the Water Quality Control Division.
Environmental Law
Geoff handles environmental due diligence efforts during real estate and corporate transactions, including a review of Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments. Geoff also has experience advising clients on Endangered Species Act and NEPA issues, both in the context of property development and litigation.
Land Use
Geoff has experience representing property owners in land use proceedings, including special use permitting and telecommunications tower siting applications.
EDUCATION & ADMISSIONS
JURIS DOCTOR
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LAW SCHOOL, 2004
BACHELOR OF ARTS
COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY, 1999
Colorado
2004
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
2006
U.S. District Court, Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
2012
U.S. District Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
2012
Professional Associations
American Bar Association
Boulder County Bar Association
Colorado Bar Association
Community Involvement
Volunteer Coach, Bear Creek Elementary School Cross Country and Track Program (2015 to 2018)
Colorado Cancer Research Program, Board of Trustees (2010 to 2017)
CO-LABS, Board of Directors (2014 to 2016)
Metro Volunteer Lawyers, Pro Bono Volunteer (2009 to 2014)
Leadership Boulder Country, Class of 2012
Boulder County Bar Association, New & Young Lawyers Section Co-Chair (2007 to 2009)
Publications
Speaker, “Recent Developments in Colorado Water Law,” Water Rights in Colorado Conference, National Business Institute (July 2013)
Lauren E. Schmidt & Geoffrey M. Williamson, “Recent Developments in Climate Change Law,” 37 The Colorado Lawyer 63 (November 2008)
Contributor, Colorado Energy News, an online publication covering Colorado’s energy industry (2010 to 2011)
Editor and Contributor, FOREcast: Funding Opportunities for Renewable Energy, a quarterly newsletter published by Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP (2009 to 2010)
Geoffrey’s Blog
Partner Peter Nichols Talks Super Ditch Project at the Colorado Law Conference on Natural Resources
The University of Colorado Boulder hosted the 42nd Annual Colorado Law Conference on Natural Resources on June 16th and 17th. The Colorado River was the focus of this year's conference given the dramatic decline in the levels of Lakes Powell and Mead. Low Water At...
Updated Client Alert: Current State of Colorado Eviction Procedure and Other Changes to Landlord-Tenant Law Effective October 4, 2021.
As of October 4, 2021, the 30-day notice requirement for filing a residential eviction suit for failure to pay rent has expired and Governor Polis has stated that he does not intend to renew that protection. Governor Polis had previously extended Executive Orders D...
“Workouts & Workarounds” in Commercial Real Estate
On Tuesday, November 17, 2020, managing partner, Giovanni Ruscitti, moderated a panel on "Workouts and Workarounds" within the Boulder Valley commercial real estate industry. This session was part of BizWest's annual Boulder Valley Real Estate Conference. Joining him...
In the News
Merritt Named Co-Chair of the Firm’s Trusts, Estates, Probate, and Tax Practice
Shelly Merritt, a partner at Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti, has been named the co-chair of the Firm's Trust, Estates, Probate, and Tax Practice. Merritt has over thirty years of experience representing individuals, families, closely-held businesses, executives, and...
BHGR Introduces the Women’s Leadership Committee
Just in time for Women's History Month, Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP formed and formally introduced the BHGR Women's Leadership Committee. The Women's Leadership Committee is comprised of sixteen female attorneys and was established to recognize and cultivate a...
BHGR Partnership Expands with 2023 Elections
The Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti partnership gathered at our Boulder office on January 31, 2023. In that meeting, attorneys Geoff Williamson and Benjamin Wilson were elected Equity Partners, and Elizabeth Froehlke and DJ Goldfarb were elected Non-Equity Partners,...
Firm Happenings
Updates in California Employment Law: Additional Requirements for Pay Data Reporting and Pay Transparency
Updates in California Employment Law: Additional Requirements for Pay Data Reporting and Pay Transparency On September 27, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 1162 ("SB 1162"), expanding California's data reporting requirements under Government...
Client Alert: What Employers Must Convey Upon Employee Termination or Separation
Colorado's most recent legislative session, concluding in early May, pushed through several new employment-related laws that concern employers and employees alike. Senate Bill (SB) 22-234 should be of particular interest to employers, as it requires employers to...
Client Alert: Colorado Places New Restrictions on Non-Compete Agreements Between Employers and their Employees
Colorado has long disfavored non-compete agreements within the state. Historically, under C.R.S. § 8-2-113, restrictive covenants were void and unenforceable except for under specific circumstances, including: the purchase and sale of a business or the assets of a...