David Neslin
Of Counsel
David Neslin assists clients with energy and environmental matters, including policy issues involving federal, state, and
local regulation, administrative proceedings before government agencies, and legal disputes arising under various resource and environmental laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Federal Land Policy and Management Act, and Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Act.
Prior to joining Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, David led the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) for four
years, where he oversaw record levels of oil and gas permitting, development, and production. Under his leadership, the COGCC also completed bellwether rulemakings to tackle emerging regulatory issues, including those involving
hydraulic fracturing, green completions, and waste management.
Prior to entering government service, David was a partner in the Denver office of Arnold & Porter LLP, where his practice
centered around permitting and litigation on behalf of major development projects facing complex regulatory requirements and extensive public opposition. While at Arnold & Porter LLP, he had extensive dealings in the recreation industry, including the representation of Vail Resorts in securing federal, state, and local approvals for the largest
ski area expansion in Colorado history.
While with the State of Colorado, David served as chair of the State Review of Oil and Natural Gas Environmental Regulations,
which conducts peer reviews of state environmental programs, and as Colorado’s representative to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, which provides leadership on domestic oil and gas issues. He also assisted the Ground Water
Protection Council in developing and promoting the hydraulic fracturing website: www.FracFocus.org.
David has worked with federal and state legislators, regulators, industry representatives, environmental groups, and
other stakeholders to encourage the responsible regulation of energy development, and he frequently writes and speaks on the subject. David has been listed in the Denver Business Journal’s Who’s Who in Energy from 2013 to 2019. He has also been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the fields of Energy Law and Natural Resources Law and has earned the AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating™ from Martindale-AVVO®.
Practices & Industries
Admitted In
Colorado
Education
University of Washington, J.D., cum laude, Order of the Coif, 1983
University of Washington, B.A., 1980