Education | | J.D., 2002, University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Order of St. Ives | | M.S., 1982, University of Wisconsin-Madison | | B.S., 1977, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire |
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Memberships | American Bar Association
Colorado Bar Association |
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| John is a member of the firm's Litigation and Natural Resources groups. His practice concentrates on water rights, environmental compliance, public lands and land use.
Calling on an extensive set of experiences related to environmental issues, John represents private and public companies, as well as local government entities. He works regularly on state water rights issues, hazardous waste compliance and remediation, and environmental due diligence in real estate transactions.
John holds a master’s degree in environmental chemistry. Before entering the legal profession, he was employed as an environmental consultant. He conducted and managed environmental compliance audits and provided regulatory compliance support to both government and private-sector clients. In addition, John had technical and management responsibilities for site investigation and remediation projects related to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). |
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Representative Matters | | East Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District (ECCV) acquired shares in the Burlington Ditch and sought to convert them to municipal use. Water users opposing the application argued that the proposed change would injure their water rights by allowing ECCV to use more water after the change than the Burlington farmers had when using the water for agricultural purposes. In 2008, the Division 1 water court agreed and found ECCV's proposed use injurious, on May 31, 2011 the Colorado Supreme Court affirmed the decision. Brownstein lead a group of five opposers at trial and on appeal. | | Assisted Graham Packaging Company, L.P. in a $568 million strategic acquisition of another manufacturer and supplier. In the transaction, Graham Packaging Company acquired all of the limited partnership units of the target company from the company's limited partners and all of the stock of each of the company's three corporate general partners from their stockholders. A manufacturer and supplier of technology-based, customized blow molded plastic containers for the branded food and beverage, household, personal care/specialty and automotive lubricants product categories, Graham Packaging Company is a portfolio company of Blackstone Capital Group. | | Brownstein defended Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua, S.A. de C.V., against EPA allegations that the Tijeras facility failed to report certain emissions as required by the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA). | | Represented a national homebuilder in defense of a nationwide enforcement action concerning alleged violations of construction storm water requirements under the Clean Water Act. Successfully negotiated a consent decree entered in federal district court in Virginia which resolved all claims.
| | Brownstein served as lead counsel and principal negotiator in adjudicating and purchasing direct flow and storage water rights for the Silverton Ski Area. | | view all >> |
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