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Law firms to merge, focus on water law

John Rebchook, Rocky Mountain News

Published October 12, 2007 at midnight

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Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, a regional law firm based in Denver, will merge with the California law firm Hatch & Parent on Jan. 1, creating a powerhouse water practice.

"Together, we will have over 30 water lawyers, making us one of the, if not the, largest water practices in the country," Bruce James, CEO and managing partner of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, said Thursday.

James said the Denver firm has been "intrigued" by expanding its water practice and went looking for a leader in the industry to buy and merge."

"Out here in the West, we live and die with water issues," James said. "Water is just a critical issue for the West and our lifestyles. We want to position ourselves in a growing field that is not only important today but 20 years down the road. Geographically, we will not only be able to serve Colorado but the entire nation, especially in the West."

James compared the purchase of Hatch & Parent, where 19 of its 30 lawyers specialize in water issues, to its purchase in January of Schreck Brignone of Las Vegas. That deal gave Brownstein a foothold in the gaming industry. Hatch & Parent's name will be changed to that of the Denver firm.

James said he expects the firm to hire more water lawyers, as well as attorneys in related fields. Legal issues associated with water can include everything from endangered species to environmental litigation, he said.