Steven O. Sims

Steven O. Sims is a leading authority in western water law with over four decades of experience handling water court litigation, acquisitions, permitting, and regulatory strategy. He represents municipalities, industrial developers, and energy companies in highly complex water rights matters throughout the western United States.

Mr. Sims earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Puget Sound School of Law in 1979 and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado. He is licensed to practice in Colorado, New Mexico, several U.S. District Courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court, bringing a seasoned legal perspective to water-related disputes and negotiations.

Mr. Sims has handled more than 750 water law cases and over 20 appeals before state supreme courts. As the former First Assistant Attorney General in the Colorado Attorney General’s Water Unit, he helped shape legal strategies and regulatory frameworks for major water resource projects and high-impact water policy decisions.

Mr. Sims’ notable work includes advising the City of Aurora on its $700 million Prairie Waters Project and securing Pecos River water rights for the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission. Clients trust him to navigate water supply needs for residential, industrial, and energy developments—often in the most legally and politically challenging environments.

Mr. Sims has received consistent recognition from Best Lawyers in America (2010–2025), 5280 Top Lawyers (2015–2025), and Law Week Colorado’s Barrister’s Best (2023). His accolades reflect his deep influence on regional water law and the respect he commands in both public and private sectors.

Beyond legal practice, he has served on several planning and water advisory boards, including the City of Greeley Water and Sewer Board and the Colorado Water and Power Authority. Steven O. Sims continues to be the go-to counsel for clients seeking water access, security, and compliance in development projects throughout the West.

Law Office Affiliations

• Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
• Member, Colorado Water Congress State Affairs
• Executive Council, Colorado Bar Association, Water Law Section

Licensed State

• Colorado
• New Mexico

Education

• University of Puget Sound School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Colorado

  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges