Associate
Megan Gutwein
Legal Assistant
Megan Gutwein’s practice focuses on water law, water quality, real estate, civil litigation and business transactions. Megan assists clients in water court litigation and administrative proceedings, including adjudication of water rights, changes of water rights, and augmentation plans.
Megan graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in 2016 (Order of the Coif), where she earned a Natural Resources Law & Policy Certificate. During law school, Megan was a Notes & Comments editor for the Colorado Natural Resources, Energy & Environmental Law Review, and also published her student note in the same journal. Throughout this time, she volunteered for the Acequia Assistance Project and completed the Public Service Pledge.
Megan gained a variety of experience during law school by interning for Honorable Gregory J. Hobbs of the Colorado Supreme Court, the Fort Collins City Attorney’s Office, the Boulder County Attorney’s Office, and the Sierra Club. Additionally, she was a student attorney in the Natural Resources Law Clinic where she provided legal assistance to clients regarding water rights matters.
Megan earned an M.S. in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources at Colorado State University, and published her research in the peer-reviewed journal Rangeland Ecology and Management. She also holds an Honors B.S. in Restaurant and Resort Management from Colorado State University.
During her free time, Megan enjoys snowboarding, rock climbing, practicing kung-fu, and riding her motorcycle.
EDUCATION & ADMISSIONS
JURIS DOCTOR
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO SCHOOL OF LAW,ORDER OF THE COIF, 2016
MASTER OF SCIENCE
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, 2011
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, 2000
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
2016
Colorado
2016
Utah
2019
Publications
Co-Author: “All We Really Need to Know We Learned in Kindergarten: Share Everything (Agricultural Water Sharing to Meet Increasing Municipal Water Demands),” Colorado Natural Resources, Energy & Environmental Law Review, Vol. 27 No. 2 (Summer 2016)
Author: National Conservation Area Designation: When You Need a Shovel, Not a Backhoe, 27 Colo. Nat. Resources, Energy & Envtl. L. Rev. 71 (2016).
Co-Author: Integrating Conservation and Financial Objectives on Private Rangelands in Northern Colorado: Rancher and Practitioner Perceptions. 66 Rangeland Ecology & Mgmt. 330 (2013).
Megan’s Blog
Water access on the Front Range
Attorney, Megan Gutwein, participated in BizWest's Confluence Colorado Water Conference on Thursday, October 22. Joining Megan were panelists Brad Wind, general manager, Northern Water, Patrick McMeekin, vice president of land development and partner, Hartford Homes....
Boulder’s Climate Change Suit Sent Back to State Court
The Tenth Circuit recently held that a suit filed in Colorado state court by local governmental entities for global warming-related damages allegedly caused by oil and gas companies cannot be removed to federal court. Plaintiffs – the City of Boulder, Boulder County...
“Doing more to address climate change…”
Boulder, CO - Partner, Rudy Verner, joined Mario Molina, executive director of Protect Our Winters (POW), his team, supporters and athletes at Food Lab for discussion addressing climate change. POW is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by professional snowboarder...
In the News
Firm Director of Marketing Honored in the 2022 Boulder Valley 40 Under Forty
BizWest announced the 2022 Boulder Valley 40 Under Forty on May 4, 2022. Honored among the "40", is firm director of marketing, Ashley Cawthorn. She recounts her initial days with the firm and why being a part of Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti was the perfect fit. "I...
Rudy Verner Moderates A Panel On Climate-Action at BizWest’s Net Zero Cities
Partner Rudy Verner joined four panelists in kicking off BizWest's Net Zero Cities event held at The Ranch Event Complex in Loveland, CO this morning, May 4, 2022. The session titled 'Climate-Action Bootcamp' was geared toward the private sector and went beyond the...
BHGR and Boulder Ballet
For nearly five years, Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti has supported Boulder Ballet. We were honored to continue this tradition and support for the arts this year and look forward to the years to come. Images by Amanda Tipton Photography | FB- Amanda Tipton-Photographer...
Firm Happenings
CA CLIENT ALERT: The Supreme Court Holds That Individual Claims Brought Under California’s Private Attorneys General Act Can Be Compelled to Arbitration
California employers scored a victory with the Supreme Court’s June 15, 2022 decision in Viking River Cruises, Inc. v. Moriana, Case No. 20-1573, which finds that individual claims brought under California’s Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) can be compelled...
Kathleen Alt Talks Remote Work and the Challenges Companies Might Already Be Experiencing
In an article published in the Daily Camera today, Monday, April 25, partner Kathleen Alt offers some updates on the complexities of remote work, particularly, out-of-state remote workers. Check out the article here*. Writer: Paula Aven Gladych Contributors: Kathleen...
Client Alert: Colorado – New Criminal Penalties for Employer’s Use of Illegal Non-Compete Agreements
Buried within recent legislation passed by the Colorado General Assembly lies a provision that will likely materially alter the relationship between employers and their employees. Colorado has long disfavored the restrictive covenants utilized by employers to curtail...