Boulder, Colo. (October 1, 2019) — Somach Simmons & Dunn (“Somach”), a western regional water and natural resources law boutique, is pleased to welcome Leila C. Behnampour as an associate attorney in the firm’s Colorado office, where she joins shareholders Sarah Klahn and Ramsey Kropf in serving clients throughout the Rocky Mountain region and beyond.

Behnampour brings nearly a decade of experience in litigation and transactions involving water law, administrative law, real property, and local government law. Her clients have ranged from municipalities and special districts, to ditch companies, non-profit entities, private companies, and individuals. With an emphasis on collaborative solutions to complex water rights disputes, she helps clients navigate water court and Colorado state agency processes, including designated basin proceedings. In addition, she has helped numerous clients with water rights due diligence reviews and water acquisitions. 

“The firm is committed to strategic growth of our Colorado office,” said managing shareholder Tess Dunham. “Leila’s addition expands the level of expertise available to Rocky Mountain region clients, and strengthens the foundation established by Sarah Klahn and Ramsey Kropf, who joined us in July 2018 and July 2017 respectively.” The Colorado office now has five professionals, doubling in size over the past year. The team recently moved to a larger space near the West End of Pearl Street in downtown Boulder.

While in law school at Lewis & Clark, Behnampur received special recognition for an Honors Appellate Brief in the First Year Moot Court Program, in addition to completing the Pro Bono Honors Program. Upon graduation, she was chosen out of 84 candidates to serve as the law clerk for the Division 1 Water Judge and Chief Judge of the 19th Judicial District in Colorado. Three years later, she served as lead trial attorney in a water court case defending a large Front Range municipality’s water rights and successfully argued a motion to dismiss. Her knowledge of Colorado’s designated groundwater basins and involvement with the American Ground Water Trust provides added value for clients that rely on or are planning with groundwater resources.

About the Firm: Somach Simmons & Dunn is one of the largest boutique water law firms in the West, with offices in Colorado, California, and the District of Columbia. The firm’s 24 attorneys represent public and private sector clients across a range of water, air and land disciplines, including litigation, transactional and public policy matters. Learn more at www.somachlaw.com.