​Kent Holsinger, Manager
[email protected]
(720) 330-8243
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Kent Holsinger, Manager

Kent Holsinger is the founder and managing partner of Holsinger Law, LLC.  Kent’s emphasis is on lands, wildlife and water law.  His efforts have been recognized in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, New York Times, the New Yorker and on National Public Radio, among many others.  Kent has helped draft legislation and has testified before Congress and the Colorado General Assembly many times.    
 
He is frequently cited as an expert in the media and in trade publications and has authored publications on the use of water for oil and gas operations, hydropower, wildlife law, water quality and politics and the media.  Kent previously served as the Assistant Director for Water at the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and worked in Washington, D.C. for U.S. Senator Wayne Allard and Congressman Bob Schaffer. 
 
Ken was named People's Choice for Best Water Lawyer in Colorado by Law Week in 2020.  He currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Colorado Aeronautical Board and as a Member of the Board of Mountain States Legal Foundation.  Kent has been named to to Who's Who in Energy and Who's Who in Agriculture by the Denver Business Journal and by Colorado Farm Bureau respectively.  He has been named to 5280’s Top Lawyers in Colorado for Agricultural and Rural Law for several years and has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers.  Kent formerly served as president of the Colorado Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society and as Vice Chairman to Colorado’s Conservation Easement Oversight Commission.  He is a member of the National Western Association and Secretary to the Board of Western Energy Alliance. 

Experience

Federal
 
  • Represented northwest Colorado Counties in U.S. District Court on challenges to land use plan amendments for greater sage grouse
  • Testified before Congress many times on topics including:  the Colorado River; settlement of Tribal reserved water rights; proposed improvements to the Endangered Species Act; and curtailing excessive and abusive environmental litigation
  • Recognized by House Resources Committee Chair for contributions to amendments to the Endangered Species Act that passed the U.S. House of Representatives
  • Helped initiate, organize and represent a coalition of agricultural, industry and local governments throughout the West to challenge the science behind Obama Administration land use plan amendments 
  • Represented clients in federal courts in Colorado, Wyoming, California and Washington, D.C.  as well as the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court 
  • Lead negotiator on water, Platte River Cooperative Agreement for Endangered Species
  • Television and radio appearances on federal intervention with state water rights
 
State
  • Helped initiate, craft and pass legislation to update the 1921 Irrigation District Act in Colorado
  • Helped secure water supplies for oil and gas operations for one of Colorado’s largest oil and gas producers
  • Litigation against the City of Loveland’s moratorium on hydraulic fracturing
  • Represented clients in the COGCC wildlife rulemaking
  • Represented clients on the Division of Water Resources rulemaking on produced water
  • Co-Chair, COGA Water Committee
  • Testified numerous times before the Colorado General Assembly on water rights, hydropower, drought mitigation and the Endangered Species Act
  • Helped initiate ground-breaking private land conservation in Colorado’s North Park and represented clients on conservation easement matters around Colorado   
  • Represented clients on modifications to El Paso County’s 1041 Regulations
  • Helped initiate, craft and testify at a hearing on hydroelectric power before the Colorado General Assembly
  • Helped initiate, craft and develop an informational magazine on hydroelectric power in the West
  • Second chair to condemnation case for access to a reservoir and water rights
  • Television and radio appearances on Endangered Species Act issues

awards and recognition

  • 5280 Top Lawyers
  • Super Lawyer, Rising Star
  • Colorado Home Builder’s Association
  • Colorado Cattlemen’s Association
  • Colorado Wool Grower’s Association
  • Colorado Water Congress, Federal Affairs Committee
  • Featured in the New Yorker article and subsequent book on the Colorado River
by author David Owen
  • Congressional Record, 106th Congress
  • Chairman Richard Pombo, House Natural Resources Committee
  • Distinguished Alumni, Berthoud High School

publications

  • Zinke Takes Rational Action on Sage Grouse, Denver Business Journal, Glenwood Post Independent, Craig Daily Press, Meeker Times, Jackson County Star (2017)
  • Co-author, Sue and Settle Litigation, Irrigation Leader Magazine (2017)
  • Chapter Editor, The Endangered Species Act, Colorado Bar Association Deskbook on Environmental Regulations (2016).
  • Unfounded Criticism of Colorado Tax Credits, Denver Post (2016)
  • Colorado Water Law for Landowners, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust
  • Natural Gas and Electricity Weekly, Observation of Water Law Essential for Fracking, (2014)
  • Unintended Consequences of the Endangered Species Act, Centennial Institute Policy Brief (2014)
  • IPAA, The Endangered Species Act at 40:  Challenges and Opportunities, (2013)
  • A Line of Sight, What’s the Fuss About Fracking? (2013)
  • Irrigation Leader Magazine, Greater Sage Grouse Listing Threatens the West (2013)
  • Denver Post Guest Column, Industry and Agriculture in Colorado (2013)
  • Co-author, Univ. of Denv. Water L. Review, Water, Oil and Gas:  the Legal and Technical Framework (2012)
  • Wetlands 101 for Water, Irrigation Leader Magazine (2011)
  • Colorado Resource Alliance, Endangered Species Act Listings and Litigation:
  • Breaking the Cycle? (2010)
  • Colorado River Energy Distributor’s Association, The House of Power and Light:  Hydroelectric Power in the Upper Colorado River Basin  (2005)
  • The Colorado River Storage Project:  Does the tail wag the dog?, University of Denver Water Law Review, (publication pending in January, 2006).
  • A tale of a mouse, a grouse and a house, Colorado Builder Forum Vol. 9, No. 4 at 38 (July-August, 2005)
  • Endangered species:  What every realtor should know, Colorado Realtor Magazine at 10 (February, 2005)
  • Good news for landowners:  Agency recommends Preble’s delisting, Colorado Builder Forum at 29 (January-February, 2005)
  • A Mouse by any other name?, Special District Association Newsletter at 7 (November/December 2004)
  • Review process begins:  Preble’s mouse one step closer to delisting, Colorado Builder Forum at 15 (May-June, 2004)
  • New battle over endangered species:  Water group petitions to delist Preble’s mouse, Colorado Builder Forum at 19 (January-February, 2004)
  • Water storage:  a must for Colorado’s Future, Colorado Builder Forum at 19 (July-August 2003)
  • Colorado continues to battle fires’aftermath, Colorado Municipal League, Nov. 22, 2002.
  • Forests at Risk, Colorado Farmer-Stockman, November, 2000 at 28.  
  • Colo. Rep. Looking Out for Farm Owners, Business and Legal Reports, Inc., January, 1999 issue.
  • Public figures can pay a high price for candor, Denver Post Guest Commentary, Dec. 10, 1998.   
  • Another raid on Colorado’s water?, Colorado Farmer-Stockman, June 1998 at 24.  
  • Co-author, Choosing a Business Form:  Limited Liability Companies, 15 PREV. LAW REP. 22 (1996).

representative presentations

  • Testimony on Examining Sue and Settle, Joint Subcommittee Hearing, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives (2017)
  • Testimony on Reforming the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. House of Representatives (2017)
  • The First 100 Days of the Trump Administration, Wyoming Stock Grower’s Annual Meeting, Leadership Program of the Rockies, Board of Directors, Kelley and Kafer Radio Show (2017)
  • Water Supply and Demand in Colorado, San Juan Water Conservancy District public forum (2017)
  • Flood Irrigation, Wyoming Water Development Commission (2017)
  • Wildlife Issues in Colorado, Colorado Farm Bureau Leadership Academy (2016)
  • Greater Sage Grouse and Land Use Plan Amendments, Rocky Mountain Coal Institute Annual Meeting (2016)
  • Wetlands Issues and Water Development, Ditch and Reservoir Company Association (2016)
  • Land Use Plan Amendments for Greater Sage Grouse, Utah Multiple Use Coalition (2015)
  • Environmental Litigation, Colorado Farm Bureau (2015)
  • Greater and Gunnison Sage Grouse, Colorado Mining Association Annual Expo (2015)
  • Endangered Species Issues in Colorado, Natural Resources and Env’tl Law Section, Colorado Bar Association (2015)
  • Water and Oil and Gas, Garfield County Energy Advisory Board (2014)
  • Critical Habitat, API in Houston (2014)
  • What Operators need to know about State Water Laws, COGA Annual Meeting (2013)
  • Conservation Agreements, IPAA in Fort Lauderdale (2013)
  • Oil and Gas and Conservation Easements, CCLT (2013)
  • Testimony on Taxpayer Funded Litigation…, Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. House of Representatives (2012)
  • Testimony against H.R. 4289…, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, U.S. House of Representatives (2012)
  • Testimony on Legislation to Amend the Endangered Species Act, Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. House of Representatives (2012)
  • Water, Oil and Gas, the Legal and Technical Framework (2012)
  • EUCI, Produced Water and Frac Water, Houston and Denver (2011 and 2012)
  • The Endangered Species Act:  the Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Wyoming Water Law Conference (2011)
  • Wildlife Laws and Water Development, Utah Water Law Conference (2011)
  • CLE International, the Endangered Species Act (2010)
  • Global Warming and the Endangered Species Act, Congressional Staff Briefing sponsored by the Partnership for America (2007)
  • Hydropower in the West / Information and Regulations, Energy Forum and Expo (2007)
  • What Every Company Should Have in their Regulatory Toolbox:  the Data Quality Act Western Business Roundtable (2006)
  • NEPA Streamlining, IPAMS Annual Meeting (2005)
  • Weather Modification, Wyoming Water Law Conference (2004)

education

J.D., University of Denver, Sturm College of Law                            May, 1997
 
B.A., University of Colorado                                                             May, 1991

admissions

  • State of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
  • Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • U.S. Supreme Court

professional and civic affiliations

  • Vice Chairman, Colorado Aeronautical Board
  • Secretary to the Board of Directors, Western Energy Alliance
  • Board Member, Mountain States Legal Foundation
  • Member, 33V Airport Association
  • Natural Resources and Water Law Sections, Colorado Bar Association

personal

​A Colorado native, Kent is active in the affairs of his family’s ranch in North Park.  Kent realized his lifelong dream of becoming a pilot in 2009.  In 2019, he broke a world speed record in class and category for the fastest flight between North America's highest airport (Leadville, Colo.) and its lowest (Death Valley, Calif.).  Kent ran the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. and enjoys painting landscapes, agricultural scenes and wildlife.