Bruce A. James

Bruce A. James

Shareholder

Background

Thirty-five years guiding notable real estate projects in Denver and across the nation. Significant experience in urban redevelopment, hotel and resort developments and public private partnerships. Exceptional community leader.

 

Bruce James’ clients value his expansive expertise in public/private partnerships, hotel and resort properties, urban redevelopment projects and complex joint ventures. He brings a roster of local and national successes—the redevelopment of Denver’s historic Union Station and Dairy Block, the newly opened Populous Hotel in Denver, recent hotel developments in Seattle, Southern California, Boston and the Caribbean, and the Stanly Ranch Resort under development in Napa, to name a few—to his work.

Bruce inspires confidence among both his clients and colleagues through strong leadership. He served as managing partner at Brownstein from 2003–2013, guiding the firm’s growth from 80 lawyers to more than 250 lawyers and policy advisors. Bruce also served as general counsel for the firm and co-chair of the Real Estate Department.

Bruce has not only served in key leadership roles at Brownstein, but has had an ongoing leadership role across many fronts in Denver. Bruce served as co-chair of Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s successful 2011, 2015 and 2019 mayoral campaigns. He has also served as chair of Visit Denver, Downtown Denver, Inc., the 16th Street Mall Steering Committee, and served on the Denver 2030 Winter Olympics Exploratory Committee and the 2026 Denver World Cup Bid Committee. His recent efforts also include co-chairing the recent Downtown Denver Security Action Plan Task Force as the downtown business community, in collaboration with government officials, seeks to find solutions to ensure Denver remains a clean, safe and vibrant city.

    Representative Matters

    Hotels and Hospitality

    • Represented Urban Villages in the acquisition and development of the Populous Hotel, voted in 2025 by Esquire magazine as the best new hotel in the world.
    • Represented a joint venture of The Nichols Partnership and BMC Investments in the development of the Moxy Hotel on the Hill in Boulder, one of the few hotels in recent years to open on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder.
    • Represented the owner of The Art Hotel, a nine-story, 165-room, art-themed luxury property at East 12th Avenue and Broadway in Denver.
    • Represented a joint venture among Grand American Inc., McWhinney and Sage Hospitality, in the redevelopment of Dairy Block in lower downtown Denver.
    • Advised McWhinney on its acquisition of a site from Hyatt and negotiation of hotel and franchise agreements for the Austin Hyatt Centric in the heart of downtown Austin, Texas.

    Urban Redevelopment

    • Representing Invent Development Partners with respect to Train Denver, an 800,000 square-foot master-planned, mixed-use and transit-oriented development in Denver’s River North (RiNo) Art District.
    • Representing a joint venture led by Formativ Development Company on the development of a large multi-family project in RiNo.
    • Representing the Auraria Higher Education Center on student and affordable housing projects on the Auraria campus.
    • Represented McWhinney in its acquisition and redevelopment of Foothills Mall in Fort Collins. The property was purchased out of foreclosure and will be substantially renovated as part of a national trend to “densify” Mall properties by converting former interior Mall space and large parking lots into a vibrant mixed used development.
    • Represented Clayton Early Learning in the sale of the 155-acre Park Hill Golf Course in Denver to Westside Investment Partners for $24 million. Our work with Clayton Early Learning involved evaluating potential litigation and condemnation as Clayton sought to navigate the complexities of potentially redeveloping the course.

    Public/Private Partnerships

    • Represent the joint venture of Continuum Partners and CIM in their ongoing efforts to redevelop the former University of Colorado Health Sciences Center at 9th and Colorado in Denver into a 30 acre mixed-use development. Our efforts have included acquisition of the site, negotiation of tax increment financing with the Denver Urban Renewal Authority, various leases and construction contracts and ongoing disposition and financing work for the project.
    • Represented Union Station Alliance, the development and investment group responsible for the redevelopment of Union Station in Denver. Our representation included counsel on construction, hospitality, commercial real estate, public/private partnerships, historic tax credits and joint venture issues, among many others. Within two years the iconic Denver train station was transformed into both a multi-modal transit hub that caters to Amtrak and RTD light rail and bus passengers, and a destination for tourists and local residents.

    Finance & Lending

    • Advised KKR, a leading global investment firm,  as lender in connection with the recapitalization of a $1.7 billion portfolio of 95% leased, Class A office properties held by investment vehicles managed by Drawbridge Realty.  Since closing in February KKR has continued to add to the loan pools.
    • Advised KKR as lender in connection with a $2.6 billion portfolio of multi-family projects located across nine states.

    Insights & Publications

    News

    Credentials

    Education

    • J.D., 1985, University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Order of St. Ives
    • B.B.A., 1982, University of Michigan

    Previous Experience

     

     

    Admissions

    • Colorado

    Community Involvement

    COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

    Board of Directors, Executive Committee Member and Past Chair, Visit Denver - The Convention and Visitors Bureau

    Former Board Member:

    Co-Chair, Hancock for Denver Mayoral Campaign 2011, 2015 and 2019

    Corporate Leadership Committee, 2026 Denver World Cup

    The Other Side Academy Denver

    Downtown Denver, Inc. (Former Chair)

    Denver Civic Center Conservancy

    16th Street Mall Steering Committee, Downtown Denver Partnership (Co-Chair)

    Denver 2030 Winter Olympics Exploratory Committee (Chair of Legal Subcommittee)

    Colorado Convention Center Expansion Project Leadership Team

    Biennial of the Americas

    City Year Denver

    Family Tree Inc.

    Junior Achievement

    Littleton Hospital

    The Denver Brass

    Former Chair, South Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and South Denver Economic Development Group

    Recognition

    AWARDS:

    "Bruce James is someone to bring in for the complex and hard situations. He is incredibly knowledgeable and has great gravitas." "Bruce is a great attorney who goes above and beyond. He understands the confluence of business, law and politics very well, and can provide counsel that very few other attorneys could match." "He has a balanced approach to tough legal issues, always has clients' best interest in mind and provides top-level legal services." - Chambers USA, 2024

    "Bruce is the best attorney I have ever worked with. He is sophisticated, practical and provides a nice balance of business vs legal advice." "He is a go-to attorney who has strong business sense."  – Chambers USA, 2022

    5280 Top Lawyers, 2017-2025

    Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2025

    Chambers USA, 2005-2025

    Colorado Super Lawyers, 2006-2025

    Honorary Partner, Downtown Denver Partnership, 2018

    Lawdragon, "100 Managing Partners You Need To Know", 2008

    Decorative image for view more block
    Meet more team members