Julia E. Rhine

Brownstein’s team worked for nearly two years to successfully secure on a behalf of our client, Civitas Resources, Inc, an Operator Agreement with the City of Thornton for the first new oil and gas development in the jurisdiction in almost a decade. The project includes 10 wells and innovative safety and sustainability terms that exceed local and state requirements, including water quality testing programs, monitoring, the plugging and abandoning of existing wells within and nearby to the city, and financial reimbursements, as well as higher financial assurance and insurance requirements.

Successfully represented Extraction Oil and Gas, Inc. in Boulder District Court against Boulder County’s challenge to Extraction’s development plan involving creating a large drilling and spacing unit and pooling multiple leases. The Court ruled against Boulder’s theory that pooling restrictions in the leases precluded Extraction from establishing a drilling and spacing unit or from  pooling the leases contained in that unit and held for Extraction on all points of law.

Won a major ruling in Adams County District Court on behalf of client, Colorado Oil & Gas Association (COGA) and the American Petroleum Institute (API). COGA and API jointly filed suit in October to overturn a number of oil and gas regulations adopted by the City of Thornton. Colorado District Court Judge Edward Moss ruled that many of Thornton’s regulations, including its setback regulations, were illegal and operationally preempted by state law.

Has represented clients in all major oil and gas rulemakings in Colorado since 2017, including the metamorphic “Mission Change” Rulemaking required by Senate Bill 19-181.

Has successfully litigated the validity of several approved oil and gas development permits, vindicating the state's right to relax the rules of evidence in administrative proceedings and not to respond to non-substantive, irrelevant public comment.

Obtained favorable settlement agreement for client in Denver District Court in oil and gas lease dispute involving several thousands of mineral acres.