Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Name	Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Founded	1968
Headquarters	Denver, Colorado
Number of offices	16
Number of attorneys	400+
Practice areas	Litigation; Corporate; Real Estate; Government Affairs; Energy; Native American Law; Natural Resources; Cannabis; Environmental
Key people	Donald B. Brownstein; Lee E. Schreck; Michael B. Hyatt

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is a United States law and lobbying firm founded in 1968 with headquarters in Denver, Colorado. The firm provides legal services and government affairs representation across sectors including energy, real estate, healthcare and technology, and maintains offices in multiple U.S. cities and international hubs. Its work intersects with litigation, transactional matters, regulatory advocacy and public policy, engaging with federal, state and tribal institutions.

History

The firm was founded amid the social and political currents following the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Vietnam War era, and the broader transformations in Denver legal markets. Early growth paralleled developments in Colorado natural resources policy, the expansion of Interstate 70 (Colorado) infrastructure projects, and the maturation of the Rocky Mountain energy sector. Over subsequent decades the firm expanded through lateral hires and mergers, aligning with markets reshaped by events such as the deregulation movements of the Reagan administration and the technological shifts driven by companies like Microsoft, Apple Inc., and Intel Corporation. The firm’s practice evolved alongside major legislative and regulatory milestones including the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the enactment of federal statutes affecting Native American sovereignty. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the firm added specialists in areas influenced by decisions from the Supreme Court of the United States, rulings by the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, and policies from administrations including Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

Practice Areas

The firm’s practice groups cover a spectrum that intersects with major industries and institutions: litigation and dispute resolution involving tribunals such as the United States District Court for the District of Colorado and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; corporate and transactional work connected to firms like Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and BlackRock; energy and environmental matters touching ExxonMobil, Chevron, and renewable companies such as NextEra Energy; government affairs and lobbying before bodies including the United States Congress, state legislatures like the Colorado General Assembly, and municipal councils in cities such as Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Seattle. The firm advises on real estate and land use issues involving municipal planning authorities, healthcare transactions with organizations like Kaiser Permanente and HCA Healthcare, and tribal law matters with entities such as the Navajo Nation and the Ute Indian Tribe. Practice areas also include gaming and hospitality matters related to operators like MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment, and regulatory counseling in industries influenced by the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Communications Commission.

Notable Clients and Cases

Representations have involved major corporations, public entities, and tribal governments, often intersecting with high-profile disputes and regulatory proceedings. The firm has engaged with clients in matters adjacent to cases before the United States Supreme Court, appeals in the Tenth Circuit, and administrative proceedings at agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior. Past work has connected the firm to energy transactions similar to projects undertaken by BP, infrastructure efforts like those of Bechtel Corporation, and municipal financings reminiscent of issuances by the City and County of Denver. The firm’s government affairs practice has represented interests before congressional committees such as the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and has advised corporate clients in sectors served by firms like Amazon (company), Facebook (Meta Platforms), and Tesla, Inc..

Offices and Locations

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck maintains a geographically diverse footprint with offices in major U.S. and international markets. Offices are situated in cities that include Denver, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, New York City, Salt Lake City, Boise, Idaho, and Albuquerque. The firm’s locations place it near federal institutions such as the United States Capitol, state capitals like Sacramento, California and Santa Fe, New Mexico, and industry hubs including Silicon Valley and the Gulf Coast energy corridor. International outreach has linked the firm to cross-border matters involving partners in regions connected to Mexico City and London.

Leadership and Key Personnel

Leadership has included founding partners and subsequent chairs and managing partners who have held roles intersecting with public office and policy circles. Key personnel have included lawyers with prior experience in state administrations, former staffers to members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, and advisors with backgrounds in agencies such as the Department of Energy and the Department of Justice. The firm’s bench has featured attorneys recognized alongside peers at firms like Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Latham & Watkins, and Kirkland & Ellis, and former public officials who later appeared in news coverage alongside figures such as John McCain, Joe Biden, Mitt Romney, Hillary Clinton, and Ronald Reagan.

Rankings and Recognition

The firm has received rankings from professional publications and directories similar to Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, U.S. News & World Report, and Law360. Its attorneys have been listed in industry lists produced by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, and honored by local chambers such as the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. The firm’s government affairs practice has been evaluated in lobbying tallies compiled by outlets like The Hill, Politico, and Roll Call.

Pro Bono and Community Involvement

The firm engages in pro bono representation and community initiatives collaborating with nonprofit organizations and institutions such as the American Civil Liberties Union, Natural Resources Defense Council, and regional charitable foundations. Attorneys have participated in programs with law schools including University of Colorado Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, and Harvard Law School, and supported civic projects involving agencies like United Way and local bar associations. The firm’s community work connects to cultural institutions and events in regions served by organizations like the Denver Art Museum and civic partnerships with municipal parks and recreation departments.

Category:Law firms based in Colorado