As an attorney and hydrologist, Graham Gilbert has comprehensive knowledge and experience to help clients navigate issues related to water rights and water development projects.  

Capabilities

Biography

Graham Gilbert is a member of Parsons Behle & Latimer’s environmental and natural resources practice team. His practice focuses on water law, including appropriation, management, and sale of water rights and development of water projects. In addition, Graham regularly assists clients with real estate matters, including acquisition, entitlement, development, and disposition of real property. He also assists clients with environmental matters, including purchase, sale, and cleanup of environmentally impaired properties and water quality permitting.  Graham holds a water rights certification from the Rural Water Association of Utah and the Utah Division of Water Rights.

Graham's background as a hydrologist gives him a deep understanding of technical issues and allows him to effectively communicate with regulators, engineers and scientists and to develop practical solutions for clients. Prior to his legal career, Graham provided services to Colorado clients, including water conservation districts, municipalities, ski resorts, ranches, and oil and gas companies. Graham’s experience includes preparation of technical information in support of water rights applications and change applications; development of technical information to support NEPA reviews for ski area expansion and reservoir development; design and management water quality monitoring programs; completion of water quality analyses; and the preparation and management of stormwater pollution prevention plans. 

Experience

Securing and Changing Water Rights

Assisted clients with appropriating new water rights, changing existing water rights and securing related approvals (e.g. requests for reinstatement, requests for extension, requests for reconsideration, reports of conveyance, etc.).

Water Rights Hearing

Represented clients at hearings before the Utah State Engineer/Utah Division of Water Rights.

Due Diligence in Water Rights Developments Across Five States

Completed due diligence for acquisition and sale of water rights, including tribal water rights, for industrial, commercial, ski resort, golf course and residential developments in Utah, Nevada, California, Colorado, and Arizona.

Accomplishments

Academic

University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law (J.D., highest honors, 2011)

  • Quinney Award Recipient (5th Ranked Student)
  • The Order of the Coif
  • Articles Editor, Utah Law Review 

Lewis & Clark College (B.A., Environmental Studies, with honors, summa cum laude, 2002)

Professional

Judicial Clerk to The Honorable Jill N. Parrish (2011-2012)

Water Rights Certification, Rural Water Association of Utah and Utah Division of Water Rights (2019)

Utah's "Legal Elite:" Energy/Natural Resources, Utah Business Magazine (2021)

Best Lawyers in America™ "Ones to Watch," Environmental Law, Natural Resources Law (2021-2024)

Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Rising Stars Edition, Energy & Resources (2019-2021)

Associations

Professional

The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (previously Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation)

Rural Water Association of Utah

Utah Water Users Association

American Bar Association

  • Planning Committee, Annual ABA Water Law Conference (2013-2018)
  • Environment, Energy, and Resources Section 

Utah State Bar

  • Energy, Natural Resources, and Environmental Law Section
  • Appellate Practice Section 

Salt Lake County Bar

  • Young Lawyers Division

Community

Law Student Programs Coordinating Committee, The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (previously Rocky Mountain Mineral Foundation) (2021- 2023)

Mentor of Undergraduate and Law Students at the University of Utah (2016-Present)

Insights

Presentations

Credentials

Licensed

Utah
U.S. Dist. Court, Dist. of Utah
Utah Supreme Court

Education

University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law