SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Trout Raley, has once again, recognized as one of the Best Law Firms (2024 Ed.), Metropolitan Tier 1, in Colorado for Water Law and Environmental Law. Additionally, Bennett W. Raley, Peggy E. Montaño, Deborah L. Freeman were listed as Best Lawyers® in America for Water Law and Environmental Law and Lisa M. Thompson was listed in Best Lawyers® in America for Water Law (2024 Ed.). Michael A. Kopp was recognized as a Ones to Watch by Best Lawyers® in America in Environmental Law, Litigation - Environmental, and Natural Resources Law (2024 Ed.). Congratulations to all!”  

Peggy E. Montaño and Bennett W. Raley were both recognized by 5280 Magazine's Denver's Top Lawyers 2024 in Water Law.

Help for Clients with Natural Resources and Water Law Needs

Established in 1992, Trout Raley Montaño Freeman Sinor Thompson P.C., d/b/a Trout Raley and formerly known as Trout, Raley, Montaño, Witwer & Freeman, P.C., concentrates its practice in the areas of water rights, natural resources and environmental law, water quality, public lands law, right of way acquisition, legislative matters and trials and appeals. Trout Raley attorneys have represented a number of water providers in the acquisition and defense of rights to surface and ground water and participated in hundreds of cases before the Colorado Water Courts regarding the determination and change of water rights under Colorado law. The firm’s experience includes both resource-related and general civil litigation in state and federal courts and representation of clients before state and federal agencies.

The attorneys at Trout Raley have advised clients with respect to the implementation and enforcement of interstate compacts in a variety of river basins in the West. They also have significant experience in the environmental permitting and regulatory field under a broad range of federal and state laws, including the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act and the National Forest Management Act.

Many of the attorneys at Trout Raley are AV Preeminent®  Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® and the firm recently received a Tier One rating as a Best Law Firm for Colorado Environmental and Water Law by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. The firm's lawyers jointly authored Acquiring, Using, and Protecting Water in Colorado, a book available from Bradford Publishing.