Experienced water law and litigation attorney expands firm’s presence in Rocky Mountain region.

Boulder/Denver, CO – July 12, 2018 – Somach Simmons & Dunn (“Somach”), a western regional water and natural resources law boutique, is pleased to announce that Sarah Klahn has joined the firm as a shareholder in Colorado.  With more than 20 years’ experience handling complex water cases, Klahn will split her time between the firm’s existing Boulder office and a collaborative workspace in Denver, which caters to lawyers and law firms.

“Sarah blends a unique technical background in science and mathematics with a pragmatic approach to both trying and settling cases,” said Tess Dunham, Somach’s managing shareholder.  “I especially appreciate her business perspective gained through a prior managing partner role.”

Klahn’s clients include municipalities, ranchers, industrial and other private entities in Colorado, New Mexico and Idaho, for whom she has tried cases of first impression, settled large complex matters with durable negotiated solutions, and won appeals in both Idaho and Colorado Supreme Courts.  She was an expert witness in the Colorado redistricting case Hall v. Moreno.  Recently, Klahn was selected as the first hearing officer for the Truckee River Operating Agreement which provides for prospective means to resolve disputes under a complex agreement dividing up the waters of the Truckee and Tahoe basins.

“I’m thrilled to be joining a firm with a long tradition of deep commitment to water and environmental law excellence, established by Somach’s founding shareholders,” said Klahn.  “The firm also embodies and supports entrepreneurial efforts of their members, as reflected in a willingness to utilize a modern coworking environment for my Denver office.”

A 1997 graduate of the University of Wyoming College of Law, Klahn served as the first president of the College of Law’s Board of Advocates.  She has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, teaching Water Law and Advanced Indian Water Law.  She is a regular speaker and writer on water law topics, including co-authorship of Law of Water Resource Utilization, published this year by the American Bar Association.  A marathon open water swimmer, Klahn is planning to swim the width of Lake Tahoe this summer.

Coupled with Klahn’s addition, Somach is wrapping up construction on a 3,700 square-foot expansion of its headquarter office in Sacramento’s Bank of the West Tower.  “The option to lock down additional premium space amid historically low vacancy downtown coincides nicely with projected firm growth,” said Dunham.

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About the Firm:  Somach Simmons & Dunn is one of the largest boutique water law firms in the West, with offices in Sacramento, California, Colorado, 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.