Alan G. Hill Biography
Alan has been practicing law in Colorado since 1981, with a focus on water matters since 1986. Mr. Hill has obtained positive results for his clients, including municipalities and special districts as well as agricultural users and developers.
Mr. Hill’s practice emphasizes water rights litigation, development and protection, including acquisition and sale of water rights. His extensive experience has included obtaining water court decrees in Colorado’s special water courts for appropriative rights of substitution and exchange and approval of plans for augmentation, direct flow and storage rights, substitute water supply plans, and tributary and nontributary groundwater rights.
These water court cases typically involve multiple parties (ten or more), and complex engineering and hydrogeology issues. While many of these cases are resolved through negotiation with the parties, he has also obtained successful results through litigation. He has substantial experience in the water courts of Colorado, including numerous trials, and appeals to the Colorado Supreme Court.
He has obtained water court decrees for municipalities (including the City of Louisville), special districts (including Perry Park Water and Sanitation District, Park Center Water District, Four Mile Fire Protection District, and Cherokee Metropolitan District) and private entities (including Classic Homes, Flying Horse, Rainbow Falls Mountain Trout, Lazy Bull Ranch, Boulder Mountain Lodge, and Case International). Additional services have been provided on an ongoing basis in monitoring and filing appropriate objections to competing water rights claims in various water courts.
Mr. Hill has negotiated agreements for the multi-million dollar purchase and sale of water rights, for water service and for joint use of water. He has researched and provided title opinions for complex water rights transactions involving water rights, including the sale of water rights, and water rights being used as collateral. These opinions were relied upon by banks, municipalities, special districts, and individuals.
Acting as general counsel for special districts, Mr. Hill’s services include inclusion and exclusion of lands, negotiation and preparation of intergovernmental agreements, negotiation and preparation of various agreements for the purchase of property, and agreements relating to the special district’s service obligations. He has also represented the special districts in civil litigation.
Mr. Hill represents clients in civil litigation, and advises clients in real estate transactions. He also represents small businesses, advising them on business entity formation, leases, and collection matters.
Bar Admissions and Experience
Colorado (1981); U.S. District Court, District of Colorado (1981); U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit (1982).
Education
Fort Lewis College (B.A., Magna Cum Laude 1978); University of Colorado School of Law (J.D. 1981)
Rating, Memberships and Volunteer Work
Mr. Hill has earned the preeminent “AV” rating – the honor of being recognized by his peers for legal excellence. This rating reflects the highest level of legal skills and ethical responsibility that a lawyer can achieve.
Mr. Hill is a member of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations (Member, Water and Environmental Law Sections), and has practiced before the Water Courts in all seven divisions, District Courts throughout Colorado, the Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court.
He recently completed his second four-year term as a member of the Fort Lewis College Board of Trustees.
Presentations
- Presenter, Water Rights in Colorado, “Prior Appropriation Water Law Made Simple.” November, 2022
- Presenter, Water Rights in Colorado, “Prior Appropriation Water Law Made Simple.” July, 2019
- Presenter, Water Rights in Colorado, “Water Law Fundamentals.” May 2018
- Moderator, What Colorado Water Court Judges and Referees Want You to Know. November, 2016.
- Presenter, Water Laws and Regulations, “Development of Water Laws,” “Understanding Colorado Surface Water Rights,” and Understanding Colorado Groundwater Rights.” February, 2016.
- Presenter, Water Rights in Colorado, “The Prior Appropriation System.” May, 2015.
- Presenter, Water Rights in Colorado, “The Prior Appropriation System,” and “Adjudicating Water Rights in Colorado.” July, 2013
