Environmental Law
Mark J. Mathews
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2014 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Concentrates on oil and gas, environmental and land use law. Involved in many of the major disputes facing the energy industry in Colorado.
Mark Mathews has successfully represented oil and gas and mining clients and real estate development companies in litigation and regulatory rulemakings concerning oil and gas preemption and royalty issues, hazardous waste contamination, enforcement of oil and gas regulations, zoning and development disputes and land use permitting issues.
Mark is outside regulatory and litigation counsel for the Colorado Oil and Gas Association (COGA) and outside litigation counsel for the American Petroleum Institute (API). Mark also represents many oil and gas companies and energy investment companies in litigation. In recent litigation matters, Mark represented COGA, API, Extraction Oil and Gas, Martin Marietta Materials and several other energy companies in high profile matters concerning operational preemption between state and local governments, challenges to Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) permits, challenges to state oil and gas regulations and challenges to local government land use permits. In 2016, Mark was the lead attorney representing COGA in litigation that culminated in the Colorado Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling striking down Longmont’s ban and Fort Collins’ five-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing as preempted by state oil and gas law.
In addition, Mark frequently represents his clients before the COGCC. Mark has been involved in every major oil and gas rulemaking the last three years on behalf of COGA and individual operators, including rulemakings concerning flowline regulations, setback requirements and financial assurance regulations.
Finally, Mark represents a variety of real estate development companies on environmental contamination issues. Mark regularly counsels real estate clients involved in transactions concerning contaminated property. He also has negotiated and litigated matters involving penalty and environmental liability determinations.
Overview
- Stanford University, J.D., graduated 1987
- Yale University, BA
- California, The State Bar of California
- Colorado, Colorado Bar Association
- District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar
- American Bar Association - Member
- California Bar Association - Member
- Colorado Bar Association - Member
- Colorado Endowment for the Humanities - Board of Directors
- Deming School for Entrepreneurship at CU Leeds School of Business - Board Member
- Denver Bar Association - Member
- Denver Community Leadership Forum - Member
- Global Dental Relief Project - Board of Directors
- Himalayan Dental Relief Project - Member
- Live by Living - Member
- California, The State Bar of California
- Colorado, Colorado Bar Association
- District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar
- American Bar Association - Member
- California Bar Association - Member
- Colorado Bar Association - Member
- Colorado Endowment for the Humanities - Board of Directors
- Deming School for Entrepreneurship at CU Leeds School of Business - Board Member
- Denver Bar Association - Member
- Denver Community Leadership Forum - Member
- Global Dental Relief Project - Board of Directors
- Himalayan Dental Relief Project - Member
- Live by Living - Member
- Stanford University, J.D., graduated 1987
- Yale University, BA
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Environmental Law
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Natural Resources Law
Awards:
- Who's Who in Energy, Denver Business Journal, 2015
- Powerbook Top Ten Newsmaker Award, Denver Business Journal, 2015
- 5280 Top Lawyers, Natural Resources – Oil & Gas, 2015-2016
- Chambers USA, 2010-2016
- Colorado Super Lawyers, 2012-2013
- Editor, Stanford Law Journal
- Articles Editor, Stanford Environmental Law Journal
News & Media
Additional Information
- Experience
Successfully represented the Colorado Oil and Gas Association in litigation against Lafayette, Fort Collins, and Longmont regarding bans or moratoria on hydraulic fracturing activities, prevailing on summary judgment in each matter. This litigation involved precedent-setting issues pertaining to state versus local preemption of oil and gas activities, and culminated in two rulings by the Colorado Supreme Court striking down Longmont's ban and For Collin's five-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing.
Successfully represented a large oil and gas company in a high profile regulatory proceeding before the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission regarding potential violations related to the company's deep water injection wells and low-level earthquakes in the region. This work included assisting the company in obtaining permits for new deep water injection wells.
Successfully epresented several cement compnies in all land use, mining, contract and environmental litigation and land use matters regarding its facilities in Colorado, New Mexico, and South Dakota. This work includes assisting the company in obtaining federal government and tribal approval for a mine and conveyor system on federal and tribal property.
Represented numerous commercial real estate developers in remediating and developing contaminated properties, including the former Asarco Superfund Site in Commerce City, Colorado, to create one of the largest commercial infill developments in Colorado.
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