Ryan is a uniquely talented lawyer who has proven experience solving complex problems relating to water and real estate. Through his understanding the complexities of water law in Colorado, including the nuances of multiple jurisdictions and drainage basins, along with his real estate acumen, Ryan has a proven ability to tackle nearly any litigation or transactional issue relating to water and land in the region.

Ryan leads JVAM’s Water Law practice group. His water work involves assisting individuals, businesses and governmental entities throughout Colorado acquire, maintain, develop, and protect rights to use water. This includes adjudicating water rights, changes of water rights, plans for augmentations, and exchanges; designing and adjudicating new water supplies for residential, municipal, agricultural, industrial, and other uses; advising ditch companies, municipal water suppliers, and other entities regarding water rights, operations, and related matters; opposing water claims that might adversely affect a client’s water rights; evaluating water rights as part of real estate acquisitions and transactions; obtaining well permits; and drafting well-sharing and ditch operation agreements. Through his career, Ryan has participated in hundreds of cases before the Colorado Water Courts.

Ryan’s real estate and land use practice includes working on all aspects of real estate transactions and land use development. Ryan also assists businesses with formation and operations matters and represents both buyers and sellers in business sales. Ryan’s litigation style combines a results-oriented approach, creative legal strategies, and fervent advocacy to obtain successful results at reasonable costs. Ryan has successfully litigated diverse issues on behalf of individuals, businesses, and government entities before administrative boards and state and federal courts throughout Colorado and Washington State.

Originally from Seattle, Ryan began his legal career in the Roaring Fork Valley. Ryan returned to Seattle for a stint as an Assistant Attorney General at the Washington State Office of the Attorney General, where he represented a state agency that managed 5.6 million acres of forest, range, agricultural, aquatic, and commercial land. After living in the Big City, Ryan and his wife decided to return to the Roaring Fork Valley so they could enjoy the mountain lifestyle and raise their family.

When not working, Ryan can usually be found spending time with his wife and three children or doing something outside, preferably skiing or fly-fishing.