Susan is a trusted advisor to water users, leveraging judicial experience to provide pragmatic solutions to complex water issues.
As a former water court referee with responsibility for resolving disputes in the Colorado River Basin, Susan has a deep understanding of the legal and technical challenges affecting water issues across Colorado, particularly the Front Range and Western Slope. In her role as referee for Water Division 5, Susan issued over a thousand rulings and managed the operation of the water court.
She provides practical guidance on water rights, water law, and related land-use matters to clients, including energy companies, municipalities, water providers, ranchers, private landowners, corporations, and real estate developers. Susan draws from her extensive trial court experience and relationships with the State and Division Engineer’s Offices to effectively advocate and develop strategies for her clients.
Susan effectively protects her clients’ interests in state and federal court and administrative proceedings to help advance their projects. Her litigation practice includes water law, land use matters, and civil litigation.
Prior to joining Holland & Hart, Susan served as Colorado Water Referee for Division 5 and as a District Court Magistrate for the 9th Judicial District in Colorado. In her role as a District Court Magistrate, Susan presided over numerous dockets, bench trials, and contested hearings in civil cases. She was also a shareholder in the Denver office of Ryley Carlock & Applewhite, and served as a law clerk to Justice Gregory Hobbs of the Colorado Supreme Court and to Judge Russell Carparelli of the Colorado Court of Appeals.