Spielman, Andrew
Preeminent natural resources attorney. Obtains and defends development approvals for energy, mining and recreation industries. Executive level experience in the ski industry. 

Andrew Spielman is a widely respected energy, public lands and natural resources lawyer assisting with policy and regulatory issues involved in developing new facilities, as well as in the public land use and environmental permitting process. Committed to client success, Andy helps navigate the cyclical nature of the energy industry. He represents ski areas; wind, solar and transmission developers; mining; and oil and gas companies in the public land use and environmental permitting process before governments across the nation. He helps private entities understand what it will take to get public agency approval. 

A leader in the legal industry as well as the energy industry, Andy is the former director of the Future of Oil & Gas Initiative at the Colorado School of Mines' Payne Institute of Public Policy. He has also served in senior positions at the EPA, including special assistant to EPA's administrator, and as chair of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and the Colorado Regional Air Quality Council. Previously he was chief operating officer and general counsel for the parent company of ski operations in Colorado and Alaska. Prior to that he served as chair of WilmerHale's Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Practice and was co-partner-in-charge of the Denver office. 

Practices & Industries

Practices

Representative Matters

  • Secured federal, stat and county land use approvals for more than 1 gigawatt of wind energy, including more than 1,000 megawatts in Eastern Colorado.

  • Represented 25 ski areas nationwide as public lands, NEPA forest service and land use counsel, securing approvals for a new ski area and year-round facilities expansions.

  • Assists clients with siting of interstate renewable energy transmission facilities serving solar and wind resource projects nationwide.

  • Assists clients with development approvals of interstate pipelines for natural gas transmission.

  • Counsel to an international gold mining company in a historic 1.5 million-acre voluntary, landscape level conservation agreement with the Department of the Interior, among other stakeholders, to promote the conservation of the sagebrush habitat and species in exchange for the potential to earn credits to offset the impact of future mining operations in the state of Nevada.

  • Assists clients with development approvals of interstate pipelines for natural gas transmission.

  • Represents major Independent Power Producers (IPPs) with ensuring compliance with federal and state wildlife laws.

  • Represents numerous public utilities and mining companies before the U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior.

News & Events
Publications & Presentations
Education
  • J.D., 1997, Georgetown University Law Center
  • M.G.A., 1990, University of Pennsylvania
  • B.A., 1988, University of Pennsylvania
Admissions
  • Colorado
  • District of Columbia
  • Hawaii
  • Alaska
Recognition

Best Lawyers in America, 2016–2019

Energy & Environmental Trailblazers, National Law Journal, 2017

Chambers USA, 2008–2018

The Legal 500 United States, 2016–2018

Colorado Super Lawyers, 2017

Barrister's Best, Law Week Colorado

  • Best Environmental Lawyer, 2016
  • Best Renewable Energy Lawyer, 2017
  • People's Choice, Best Renewable Energy Lawyer, 2009, 2012-2018

Who's Who in Energy, Denver Business Journal, 2012–2017, 2019

Denver's Top Lawyers, 5280 Magazine, 2015–2020

Who's Who Legal, 2012-2014

50 for the Future, Colorado Statesman, 2007

Forty Under 40, Denver Business Journal, 2006

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