WATER RIGHTS | WATER QUALITY | ENVIRONMENTAL + LAND USE LAW
With sophisticated legal expertise and a personable approach, Geoff manages and resolves technical water rights, water quality, and environmental issues for his clients.
Geoff’s practice focuses on water rights, water quality, and environmental and land use law.
WATER RIGHTS
Geoff is a seasoned water rights practitioner who is adept in all aspects of water law. He represents municipalities, commercial and industrial businesses, private landowners, and ranches looking to acquire, develop, and protect water rights throughout Colorado. He assists his clients by evaluating water rights for purchase, preparing water court applications and filings, and helping his clients with water rights portfolio planning and protection. Geoff has experience assisting clients with changes of water rights, plans for augmentation, and well permitting issues. He has also advised clients on the purchase and sale of water rights up to $20M in value and regularly performs due diligence evaluations of water rights in conjunction with real estate transactions.
WATER QUALITY
Geoff represents one of Colorado’s largest water conservancy districts and others in a wide variety of water quality matters. He advises clients on water quality standards, participates in rulemaking proceedings in front of the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission (WQCC), resolves discharge and permitting matters with the Colorado Water Quality Control Division, and assists in the implementation of 401 Certifications for large water storage projects on both sides of the Continental Divide.
ENVIRONMENTAL + LAND USE LAW
Geoff assists commercial property owners with environmental due diligence investigations during real estate and corporate transactions, including review and evaluation of Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments. He also represents landowners seeking to obtain or challenge special use permits and other land use approvals involving environmental issues. Geoff also has experience advising clients on the Endangered Species Act, NEPA, and other environmental regulatory matters.
More About Geoff
Geoff serves on BHGR’s Mentoring Committee and Sustainability Committee.
EDUCATION + ADMISSIONS
EDUCATION
J.D., University of Michigan Law School
B.A., College of William and Mary (Summa Cum Laude)
Geoff is a member of America’s most prestigious academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa.
ADMISSIONS
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
Colorado
ASSOCIATIONS
Boulder County Bar Association
Colorado Bar Association
PUBLICATIONS + PRESENTATIONS
Recent Developments in Colorado Water Law, Speaker, Water Rights in Colorado Conference, National Business Institute (July 2013).
Lauren E. Schmidt & Geoffrey M. Williamson, Recent Developments in Climate Change Law,” 37 Colo. Law. 63 (2008).
Contributor, Colorado Energy News, an online publication covering Colorado’s energy industry (2010-2011).
Editor and Contributor, FOREcast: Funding Opportunities for Renewable Energy, a quarterly newsletter published by Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP (2009-2010)
PUBLISHED CASES
Jim Hutton Educational Foundation v. Rein, 418 P.3d 1156 (Colo. 2018).
Kerr v. Hickenlooper, 824 F.3d 1207 (10th Cir. 2016).
Strich v. U.S., 793 F.Supp.2d 1238 (D. Colo. 2011).
Consolidated Delta Smelt Cases, 717 F.Supp.2d 1021 (E.D. Cal. 2010).
HONORS + AWARDS
The Best Lawyers in America® – Environmental Law (2025)
OUT + ABOUT
When he is not in the office, you will find Geoff camping and skiing with his wife and children, running in competitive trail and mountain races, and enjoying time with his energetic Aussie. Geoff also serves on the Board of Directors of Resource Central, an award-winning nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people save water, reduce waste, and conserve energy.