Meet the Outstanding Attorneys Beyond Denver
Law Week Colorado is pleased to recognize four outstanding attorneys practicing largely beyond the Denver metro area. These attorneys, nominated by their peers, were selected for their exceptional legal work, contributions to their communities and dedication to their clients and the legal profession.
Join us in celebrating this year’s honorees and learning more about the work they’re doing across Colorado.
Grounding the law in soil and water
For Laura Chartrand, understanding complex natural resources law starts with her boots on the ground, walking an irrigation ditch alongside a rancher or surveying where an electrical substation will sit on the prairie.
“Laying eyes on the project helps me understand the context of what my client is trying to accomplish,” said Chartrand, a director in Fennemore’s Natural Resources practice group. “Being outside of Denver makes it that much easier to integrate into practice.”
Based in Fort Collins, Chartrand practices through Fennemore Forward, the firm’s platform enabling seasoned practitioners to work remotely while delivering counsel across the American West. With years of experience spanning private practice and public service, Chartrand has built a career bridging the divide between technical environmental science and practical solutions.
Law was not Chartrand’s first calling. An eighth-grade ambition to become a volcanologist gave way to an early career in higher education administration, where she had the opportunity to guide university judicial proceedings. Eventually, Chartrand felt drawn back to the physical sciences and natural resources. She moved from the East Coast to earn her J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, focusing on water and environmental law.
“In higher education, I helped students navigate consequences and learn from their choices,” she recalled. “Law is similar: People need someone with expertise to help them navigate challenges, whether they are protecting an investment, preserving their quality of life or saving resources for future generations.”
Her subsequent legal career led her to public policy. Chartrand served as regional solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior and deputy attorney general for Colorado’s natural resources and environment section, advising on public lands, energy rulemaking and interstate water compacts.
“Working inside those agencies amplifies your critical thinking,” she said. “You understand how decisions are made, which helps you guide clients through the bureaucracy effectively.”
Her regulatory insight proved instrumental when Chartrand helped represent Moffat County and the City of Craig in Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association’s 2023 Electric Resource Plan before the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. The landmark settlement resulted in $73 million in tax payments, community transition funds and water rights for Moffat County and Craig, alongside an additional payment through Xcel Energy’s related commission proceedings.
“Having grown up in a rural area where paper mills closed, I understand the devastation when a primary employer leaves,” she said. “Finding solutions that sustain these communities is vital.”
Her commitment to water and community stewardship extends deeply into civic leadership. Chartrand serves as commissioner and chairperson of the City of Fort Collins Water Commission. She is also advising an Eastern Plains community on preserving and repurposing a 1909 mercantile building into a civic gathering place.
When she steps away from law, Chartrand enjoys making pottery. She said, “It keeps you grounded, and staying grounded is what this work is all about.”