Somach Simmons & Dunn | Attorneys at Law
Ryan Mitchell is a seasoned water attorney who assists public and private entities in securing and protecting reliable access to water resources. His practice navigates the complex legal landscape of water rights in the American West and has litigated water rights cases with state, tribal, and federal implications. His practice also includes transactional and diligence matters outside of court.
Ryan has particular expertise handling water rights issues in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. His in-depth knowledge of Colorado’s prior appropriation system and unique water court procedures has allowed him to successfully advocate for municipalities, agricultural users, industrial clients, and other water users across the state’s seven water divisions. In New Mexico, Ryan has played a key role in defending tribal water rights, working closely with Native American communities to protect their historic claims. In Arizona, Ryan has facilitated negotiations between competing stakeholders related to the development and protection of water resources. He also has experience evaluating constitutional issues related to the nexus of state and federal water laws, and interstate compacts.
Ryan began his legal career by clerking for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, where he handled various and sometimes conflicting water, environmental, tribal, and wildlife issues. Upon graduating law school, he served as a judicial clerk for the Montana 13th Judicial District, where he experienced everything from complex civil litigation to contested probates to homicides. Prior to joining Somach Simmons & Dunn, Ryan worked with a western Colorado law firm where he routinely assisted in acquiring and defending water rights, and planning and developing water supplies. He has represented a wide array of clients from water conservancy districts to HOAs to ski areas. Throughout his career, Ryan has demonstrated a talent for creative problem-solving and an ability to balance competing interests in high-stakes disputes.
While attending Vermont Law School, Ryan was an Articles Editor for the Vermont Law Review and Legal Writing Fellow.
In his free time, Ryan enjoys the outdoors by camping, skiing, and running.
