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Kristin Nichols

Associate

555 17th Street, Suite 3200, Denver, CO 80202
P 303.290.1613
OVERVIEW

Kristin represents energy and natural resource clients in various litigation and regulatory compliance matters related to project development on federal, state, and tribal lands.

Kristin protects her clients’ interests by challenging federal agency regulations and permitting decisions, as well as defending project approvals. She also helps clients navigate complex federal and state regulatory processes, including obtaining the necessary authorizations to develop and maintain energy and natural resource projects on public lands.

Clients rely on Kristin’s specialized experience in energy and natural resource litigation covering a broad array of substantive areas, including the National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the Mineral Leasing Act, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, and areas of federal Indian law and tribal law.

EXPERIENCE

Experience

  • Advises clients in litigation before federal courts.
  • Advises clients in litigation before federal administrative boards, including the Interior Board of Land Appeals, Interior Board of Indian Appeals, and appeals before the Office of Natural Resources Revenue and Bureau of Indian Affairs.
  • Assists clients with federal and state permitting and regulatory compliance related to the development, operation, and reclamation of energy and natural resource projects on public lands.
  • Assists clients with land and title due diligence and associated legal research related to the acquisition of mineral properties.
CLIENT RESULTS

Client Results

  • Represented oil and gas producer in federal administrative appeal involving lease reinstatement of a federal oil and gas lease from the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM").

  • Represented coal producer in federal district court litigation and administrative appeals challenging BLM coal leasing decisions under the National Environmental Policy Act.

  • Represented coal producer in federal district court litigation involving the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement's approval of a mining plan modification under the National Environmental Policy Act.

  • Represented coal producer in administrative appeal before the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
  • Represented geothermal producer in multiple federal administrative appeals and district court litigation related to BLM leasing decisions under the Geothermal Steam Act.
  • Represented pipeline company in dispute with Indian tribe.
PRACTICES

Practices

Environmental and Natural Resources
Environmental and Natural Resources Litigation
NEPA, Public Lands, and Cultural Resources
American Indian Law
Environmental Compliance and Enforcement
INDUSTRIES

Industries

Energy and Resources
Mining
NEWS AND INSIGHTS

News

Publications

"Colorado—Mining," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Mineral Law Newsletter—Vol. XXXVII, No. 3, 2020
"Colorado—Mining," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Mineral Law Newsletter—Vol. XXXVII, No. 1, 2020
"Colorado—Mining," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Mineral Law Newsletter—Vol. XXXVI, No. 3, 2019
"Colorado—Mining," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Mineral Law Newsletter—Vol. XXXVI, No. 1, 2019
"Colorado—Mining," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Mineral Law Newsletter—Vol. XXXV, No. 2, 2018
"National Environmental Policy Act," excerpted from the Second Edition of the American Law of Mining, Chapter 167, Co-Author, 2018, 2020
"Uranium Mining and Milling," excerpted from the Second Edition of the American Law of Mining, Chapter 177, Co-Author, 2018, 2020
"NEPA's Scientific and Information Standards—Taking the Harder Look," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Co-Author, November 2017

Speaking Engagements

"NEPA's Scientific and Information Standards—Taking the Harder Look," Special Institute on the National Environmental Policy Act, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Denver, CO, November 2017
EDUCATION AND ADMISSIONS

Education

University of Denver Sturm College of Law
J.D., 2013
  • Environmental and Natural Resources Law Certificate
  • Honors: Order of St. Ives
  • University of Denver Academic Law Scholarship
  • President, Natural Resources and Environmental Law Society (2012-2013)
University of California at Santa Barbara
B.A., 2008
  • Political Science and Global Studies

Bar Admissions

Colorado
Wyoming

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota
U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming
RECOGNITION

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™, Administrative/Regulatory Law; Energy Law; Environmental Law, 2022, 2023
PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC AFFILIATIONS

Professional and Civic Affiliations

  • Colorado Bar Association, Member, 2014-present
  • Denver Bar Association, Member, 2014-present
  • American Bar Association, Environment, Energy, and Resources Section, Member, 2011-present
    • Public Land and Resources Committee, Vice Chair At Large, 2019-present
    • Public Land and Resources Committee, Publications Vice Chair, 2017-2019
    • Public Land and Resources Committee, Membership Vice Chair, 2016-2017
  • The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law, Member, 2014-present
    • 2nd Young Natural Resources and Energy Lawyers Institute, Program Chair, 2022
    • Young Professionals Committee, Chair, 2021-present
    • Young Professionals Committee, Vice Chair, 2020-2021
    • Young Professionals Committee, Member, 2019-2020
DISCLAIMER

Unless you are a current client of Holland & Hart LLP, please do not send any confidential information by email. If you are not a current client and send an email to an individual at Holland & Hart LLP, you acknowledge that we have no obligation to maintain the confidentiality of any information you submit to us, unless we have already agreed to represent you or we later agree to do so. Thus, we may represent a party adverse to you, even if the information you submit to us could be used against you in a matter, and even if you submitted it in a good faith effort to retain us.

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