Background
Thirty-five years navigating complex land use and water issues. Facilitated hundreds of millions in water rights deals. Respected authority on water, land use and environmental law matters.
Few can rival Wayne Forman’s experience handling high-profile land use, water, environmental and condemnation matters. Public entities and private companies throughout the Rocky Mountain region have counted on his experience to handle challenging land use and water issues, including water rights litigation and transactions, defense of land use entitlements, easement litigation, federal and state permitting, oil and gas disputes, and eminent domain proceedings.
Wayne’s experience includes a multi-year negotiation with the EPA and Department of Justice over alleged storm water violations, precedent setting litigation before the Colorado Supreme Court on oil and gas regulation, all aspects of Colorado water law and defense of land-use entitlements on behalf of landowners and developers throughout Colorado.
Wayne’s passion for the Rocky Mountain’s land and water resources extends beyond his legal practice. In his free time, he volunteers as a board member of the Colorado Water Trust, which has restored nearly 12 billion gallons of water to 444 miles of rivers and streams across the state.
Representative Matters
- Successfully defended in Douglas County District Court and the Colorado Court of Appeals a challenge to the rezoning of the Sterling Ranch development involving the required showing of water adequacy under state law.
- Represented a national apartment builder in defending challenge to city approval of project and in challenging city resolution applying growth control ordinance. Negotiated settlement with neighbor groups and the city to allow project to proceed.
Insights & Publications
Insights & Publications
News
News
Credentials
Education
- J.D., 1984, University of Colorado Law School, Order of the Coif
- B.S., 1980, Cornell University
Admissions
- Colorado
- Wyoming
- U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
Memberships
American Bar Association
Colorado Bar Association
Denver Bar Association
Community Involvement
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Board Member, Colorado Water Trust
Board Member, Children’s Diabetes Foundation
Former Chairman, Jefferson County Open Space Advisory Committee
Former Board Member, Jeffco Outdoors Foundation
Former Chair and Board Member, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Rocky Mountain Chapter
Former Green Circle Volunteer, National Sports Center for the Disabled
Former Board Member, Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute Regional Advisory Board
Recognition
AWARDS:
“Wayne is very good at controlling situations to achieve a positive outcome.” – Chambers USA, 2023
“He’s a good lawyer with good judgment and a broad practice. He has lots of experience and knowledge.” – Chambers USA, 2018
Best Lawyers in America, 2023-2025
Chambers USA, 2005-2025
Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law, 2021, 2023-2025
Law Week Colorado, Barrister’s Best “Best Agriculture Lawyer,” 2020
5280 Top Lawyers, Natural Resources – Water, 2015-2020
Who’s Who in Energy, Denver Business Journal, 2014
Colorado Super Lawyers, 2009
University of Colorado Law Review, University of Colorado School of Law
University of Colorado School of Law, American Jurisprudence Book Awards: Contracts, Torts, Criminal Procedure, Property, Civil Procedure
University of Colorado School of Law, William Arthur Award
University of Colorado School of Law, Wolf Law Review Scholarship
