Katie Schroder

Katie Schroder leads the clean energy group and is a partner in the environmental and public lands group at Davis Graham. Her practice centers on energy development on federal lands, guiding developers through the full project lifecycle—from permitting to administrative and judicial litigation.

Katie Schroder leads the clean energy group and is a partner in the environmental and public lands group at Davis Graham. Her practice centers on energy development on federal lands, guiding developers through the full project lifecycle—from permitting to administrative and judicial litigation.

Prior to joining Davis Graham in 2015, Katie was a partner at a boutique oil and gas firm. She began her career as an attorney-advisor in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of the Solicitor as part of the Solicitor’s Honors Program. After law school, she clerked for Justice Alex J. Martinez of the Colorado Supreme Court.

Project Counseling

Katie counsels developers of conventional, linear, and renewable energy projects on federal lands, advising on compliance with the Natural Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Federal Land Management and Policy Act, and Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service land use plans. She negotiates directly with federal agencies and has advised project proponents on agency authorizations of oil and natural gas, wind, and transmission projects, as well as advised on carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration projects. Her work spans projects qualifying for Determinations of NEPA Adequacy or categorical exclusions to environmental impact statements.

Administrative Appeals 

Katie represents clients in administrative appeals before federal agencies, including dozens of matters before the Interior Board of Land Appeals and appearances before the Interior Board of Indian Appeals. She routinely handles appeals before BLM State Directors, the Office of Natural Resources Revenue Director, and offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Forest Service.

Litigation

Katie has appeared in administrative litigation in federal courts across Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, North Dakota, California, Alaska, and the District of Columbia. She defends agency approvals, challenges adverse decisions, and has successfully litigated nationwide agency rules.

Federal Wildlife Laws

Katie advises on compliance with the ESA, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act on private and federal lands. She has extensive experience with candidate conservation plans for enhancement of survival permits under the ESA.

Federal Oil & Gas Leasing and Permitting

Katie counsels on federal oil and gas leasing and permitting, including competitive leasing, suspensions and reinstatements, and unit and communitization agreements. She also advises on federal royalty compliance and matters before the Office of Natural Resources Revenue.

Affiliations & Awards

• The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law 
  • Treasurer (2023-2024) 
  • Board of Directors (2020 – 2022) 
  • Chair, 65th Annual Institute (2019) 
  • Chair, Publications Committee (2011 – 2018) 
• Energy Outreach Colorado, Board of Directors 
• Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment, Advisory Council
• Western Energy Alliance, Board of Advisors 
• Colorado Cleantech Industries Association, Energy Fellows Institute (2021) 
• Davis Graham Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee 
• The Best Lawyers in America®, Natural Resources Law, 2021-2026 
  • “Lawyer of the Year,” Natural Resources Law, 2025
• Top Lawyer – Natural Resources Law, 5280 Magazine, 2021-2022, 2024 
• Public Land & Resources Committee, ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources, Former Chair 

Publications and Presentations

• “The Role of NEPA in Finality of Agency Decisions,” National Environmental Policy Act, Fdn. for Natural Resources & Energy Law, Paper No. 9 (2025) (with Sharon Buccino)
• “Critical Issues Associated with Leasing and Developing Federal Minerals in Southeast New Mexico,” Law of Permian Basin Oil & Gas Development and Operations, Fdn. for Natural Resources & Energy Law, Paper No. 9A (2023) (republished in The Foundation Journal for Natural Resources and Energy Law, Vol. 60, No. 2 (2023))
• “BLM Proposes Revised Regulations for Wind and Solar Rights-of-Way and Leases,” Energy Law Advisor (2023)
• “The Trajectory of Compensatory Mitigation in Public Lands Management,” Public Land Law, Regulation and Management, Fdn. for Natural Resources & Energy Law (2022) (with Kathleen Pritchard)
• “Bureau of Land Management Rules Affecting Royalty Reporting and Payment,” Federal and Indian Oil & Gas Royalty Valuation and Management, Paper No. 4, Rocky Mt. Min. L. Fdn. (2018)
• “Mitigation & NEPA: How Does a Procedural Requirement Impact Agency Decisions?” National Environmental Policy Act, Paper No. 11, Rocky Mt. Min. L. Fdn. (2017) (with Timothy R. Canon II)
• “An Evolving Landscape of Priorities for Species, Habitats, and Biodiversity,” International Mining and Oil & Gas Law, Development, and Investment, Paper No.19, Rocky Mt. Min. L. Fdn. (2017) (with Patricio Leyton & Nicholas L. Owens)
• “How to Put a Price on Nature,” Advanced Public Land Law: The Continuing Challenge of Managing for Multiple Use, Rocky Mt. Min. L. Fdn. (2017) (with Nels C. Johnson)
• “Permitting and Trespass Issues Associated with Horizontal Development on Federal Lands and Minerals,” Ch. 12, Rocky Mt. Min. L. Inst. (2016) (with William Lambert)
• “Complex Permits Under Section 10 of the Endangered Species Act,” RMMLF Endangered Species Act: Current and Emerging Issues Affecting Resource Development (2015) (with David Zippin)
• “Flexible FLPMA: Renewable Energy Development on Public Lands,” Public Land Law, Regulation & Management, Paper No. 7 Rocky Mt. Min. Law Fdn. (2014) (with Roxane Perruso)
• “Making Sure Your Well is the Only Thing Going Sideways: Federal Permitting Issues Associated with Horizontal Development on Federal Lands and Minerals,” Horizontal Oil & Gas Development, Paper No. 11 Rocky Mt. Min. Law Fdn. (2012)
• “Clean Air, Hazy Law: The Emerging Interplay between NEPA, FLPMA, and the Clean Air Act,” 55 Rocky Mt. Min. Law Inst. 14-1 (2009) (with Jennifer L. Biever