Partner

Geoff M. Williamson

Legal Assistant

Calli George

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

In the News

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