WilmerHale announced on May 21 that Ken Salazar, formerly the U.S. ambassador to Mexico and secretary of the interior, is rejoining the firm as senior counsel based in the firm’s Denver office, which he founded in 2014 as its first partner.
Salazar also served as Colorado’s attorney general and as a U.S. senator. He has handled complex regulatory interstate and international matters in natural resources, environmental, Native American, business law, trade with Latin America, the legislative process and law enforcement. He is scheduled to officially rejoin the firm in early June.
Salazar recently concluded his tenure as the top U.S. diplomat in Mexico, a position he held from 2021 to 2025. During his time as ambassador, he led efforts by both countries to bring Mexican drug cartel leaders to justice in the US. Before his ambassadorship, Salazar was a partner at WilmerHale for eight years. He chaired the firm’s energy, environment and natural resources practice group which he is rejoining.
From January 2009 to April 2013, Salazar served in the Obama administration as the 50th interior secretary after being confirmed unanimously by the U.S. Senate. As interior secretary, Salazar led the nation’s efforts to achieve energy independence, overseeing the exploration and development of conventional and renewable energy resources on public lands and oceans. Under his leadership, more than 11,000 megawatts of renewable energy projects were permitted on public lands, and the first offshore wind energy plan for the Atlantic Ocean was created.
As a U.S. senator from Colorado, Salazar was a sponsor and leader in the enactment of major energy legislation, including the 2005 Energy Policy Act, the 2006 Gulf of Mexico Security Act and the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act. He was also a key architect of the 2009 Omnibus Public Lands Law, one of the most significant conservation measures enacted in 50 years, according to the announcement from the firm. He served the Energy, Finance, Agriculture and Veterans Affairs committees.
During his time as Colorado Attorney General, Salazar oversaw thousands of civil and criminal legal matters and investigations, including high-profile cases such as the Columbine High School shooting. He also led the resolution of complex natural resource and environmental conflicts, including longstanding natural resource damage cases.
Salazar’s legal career began in Denver, where he practiced natural resources and water law, representing clients in both transactional and litigation matters.
He holds a law degree from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Colorado College, and honorary doctorates from those schools, as well as the University of Massachusetts, the University of Denver and the Colorado School of Mines.
Salazar is admitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court.