John has an extensive background in water resources law and policy and federal environmental law. He began his law practice after completing a 20-year career in the U.S. Army which included two assignments in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Program. After attending the National Law Center at George Washington University and graduating in 1978, he joined the U.S. Department of Justice in the Environment and Natural Resources Division. He first worked in Washington, D.C. and later in the Division's Denver office, handling complex water and related environmental litigation in the state and federal courts in the Rocky Mountain area, including Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. He retired from the Department of Justice in 1991 and became Of Counsel with this firm's predecessor in 1992 and became partner in 2004.

John's experience includes the entire spectrum of water rights litigation in the Colorado water courts ranging from simple applications and oppositions to the largest and most complex matters. While he was a trial attorney in the Department of Justice, John was lead attorney for the United States in the opposition to the application of American Water Development, Inc. (AWDI) in the San Luis Valley and the applications of Aurora and Arapahoe County in the Gunnison River.  Both of those were major cases involving trans basin diversions. In private practice, John represented a family-owned ranch in a successful lawsuit against a commercial rafter for trespass for floating through private property. He also represented a group of landowners successfully opposing a ballot initiative proposing an amendment to the Colorado Constitution which would have opened streams flowing through private property to the public. John represents the Arkansas Valley Ditch Association, Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District, ranchers, real estate developers and property owners in water rights and related matters including plans for augmentation, changes of water rights, quiet title suits and similar issues.
 
While he was serving as Assistant Director of Civil Works for Environmental Programs in the Office of the Chief of Engineers in Washington, John was involved in formulating the policies and drafting the regulations implementing the Clean Water Act Section 404 program, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act and others.  After retiring from the Department of Justice in 1991, he was a fellow at the Natural Resources Law Center, University of Colorado School of Law, for the spring semester in 1992 researching and writing on the then emerging "can and will" doctrine of Colorado water law. He has also taught water law at the University of Denver College of Law and has been a presenter in many short courses in water law.

During John's army career he served in command and staff positions in the United States, Korea, Germany, and Vietnam.  He served two tours of duty in Vietnam with infantry and combat engineer units.  He retired in 1978 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

John is active in the Water, Environmental and Agricultural Law sections of the Colorado Bar Association. John has a B.S. from the United States Military Academy, West Point, a M.S. from Stanford University in Civil Engineering and a J.D. from George Washington University.