Denise A. Dragoo, Partner at our Salt Lake City law office
Denise A. Dragoo vcard
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Denise A. Dragoo

Partner
Biography

Denise Dragoo is a partner in Snell & Wilmer’s Salt Lake City office, where she focuses on natural resources, coal law, water law, environmental law, mining law, public land law, and issues affecting the oil and gas industry, as well as mine safety and health law. She has worked extensively on environmental permitting for mining and energy-related projects, many of which are located on public land. She also assists clients with compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and related administrative appeals. She practices before the U.S. Department of Interior Board of Land Appeals, the Utah Board of Oil, Gas and Mining, and state and federal environmental agencies.

Denise’s legal career has spanned over 40 years, during which time she has held leadership positions with the State Law Resources Board, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Mountain States Legal Foundation, and the Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute. She is also very active in the community, having recently served as President of The Alta Club and holding board and leadership positions with the Utah Foundation, The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Junior League of Salt Lake City. In October 2021, Dragoo was elected to the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law Board of Trustees.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • Utah


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Utah
  • United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • United States District Court


Education

  • Washington University School of Law (LL.M., Environmental and Land Use Law)
    • Howard Stamper Scholarship
  • University of Utah College of Law (J.D.)
    • Utah Bar and Gavel Society
    • Articles Editor, Journal of Contemporary Law
  • University of Colorado (B.A., History, with honors)
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • Lawdragon, Top 500 Energy Lawyers (2023-2025)
  • Utah State Bar Outstanding New Lawyer Training Program Award (2018)
  • University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law Alumna of the Year (2016)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Energy Law, Environmental Law, Environmental Litigation, Government Relations Practice, Mining Law, Natural Resources Law (2006-2025)
    • Salt Lake City Lawyer of the Year, Natural Resources Law (2017 and 2024)
    • Salt Lake City Lawyer of the Year, Mining Law (2015)
    • Salt Lake City Lawyer of the Year, Government Relations Practice (2014)
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business®, Energy & Natural Resources (2010-2024)
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Energy & Resources (2007-2024)
    • Top 50 Women (2013-2014, 2016-2024)
    • Top 40 Women (2007-2011)
    • Top 100 (2021)
  • Lawdragon Top 3000 Leading Lawyers in America (2010-2011)
  • Super Lawyers®, Energy & Resources
    • Business Edition (2011)
    • Corporate Counsel Edition (2009-2010)
  • Utah Business Magazine Utah’s Legal Elite
    • Energy/Natural Resources (2009-2011, 2013-2019, 2021-2022)
    • Environmental (2012, 2020)
  • Women Lawyers of Utah Woman Lawyer of the Year (1997)

Representative Litigation

  • Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance v. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, et al., 620 F.3d 1227 (10th Cir. Sept. 23, 2010) (affirming federal district court decision upholding federal mine permit)
  • Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, 163 IBLA 142, GFS (Min) 36 (2004)
  • Jesse H. Knight, 155 IBLA 104, GFS (Min) 14 (2001)
  • Lodestar Energy, Inc., 155 IBLA 286, GFS (Min) 21 (2001)
  • White Oak Mining & Construction Co., Inc. v. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, decided December 30, 1998, IBLA 97-239
  • East Jordan Irr. Co. v. Morgan, 860 P.2d 310 (Utah 1993)
  • Hidden Valley Coal Co. v. Board of Oil, Gas and Mining, 866 P.2d 564 (Utah Ct. App. 1993)
  • Jensen v. Dinehart, 645 P.2d 32 (Utah 1982)
  • White Oak Mining and Construction Co., Inc. v. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, decided February 4, 1997, 138 IBLA 109
  • Ashley Creek Phosphate Co. v. John D. Archer, decided November 29, 1995, 134 IBLA 206
  • PacifiCorp, dba PacifiCorp Electric Operations, Utah Power and Light Co., and Energy West Mining Co. v. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, decided September 26, 1994, 131 IBLA 17
  • Sunnyside Reclamation and Salvage, Inc., decided October 30, 1992, 124 IBLA 238
  • Utah Power and Light Co., decided March 6, 1991, 118 IBLA 181
  • Utah Power and Light Co., decided August 15, 1990, 115 IBLA 366
  • Kaiser Coal Corp., decided August 5, 1988, 103 IBLA 312

Previous Professional Experience

  • Appointed by Governor Gary R. Herbert to serve as a member of the Utah Governor’s Energy Advisory Council. This Council provides guidance to the Office of Energy Development (OED) and the Governor regarding the rapidly changing energy landscape in Utah, nationally and abroad. Council members are selected for their comprehensive breadth of experience in the energy sector. Their tasks include reviewing Utah State’s Energy Policy, OED’s activities in energy planning (including Utah Energy Infrastructure Authority and the state’s new Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan), as well as OED’s incentives, programs and other direct engagements. (2015-2020)
  • Van Cott, Bagley, Cornwall and McCarthy, Shareholder, Officer, Director
  • Fabian and Clendenin, Shareholder, Director
  • State of Utah, Department of Natural Resources, Special Assistant Attorney General

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • Utah Women’s Forum, President (2024-present)
  • American Bar Association
    • SEER Section Leadership Council (2009-2013)
    • Public Lands Committee, Chair (1993-2001, 2013-2017)
    • Governance Committee, Vice Chair (2013-2014)
    • Mining Committee, Vice-Chair (1997-2000)
  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow (1993-present)
  • Utah State Bar
    • Judicial Conduct Commission, Past Chair and Member (1992-2002)
    • Natural Resources Section, Distinguished Lawyer (1996)
  • Women Lawyers of Utah, Inc. (1980-present)
  • National Mining Association, Coal Policy Task Force (1998-present)
  • Utah Mining Association, Executive Committee
    • Second Vice Chairman (2020-2023)
    • Board of Directors (2019-2022)
  • Utah Law & Justice Center, Founding Board Member
  • Commercial Real Estate Women Network, Utah Chapter (CREW Utah)
  • The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation)
    • Special Institutes Committee, Trustee (2000-2023)
    • Site Selection Committee, Member (2023-present)
    • Trustee (1988-2023)
    • Grants Committee, Chair (1990-2020)
    • Executive Committee (2002-2004)
  • Rocky Mountain Mining Institute
    • Administrative Liaison Officer (2022-present)
    • Board of Directors (2018-2022)
    • President (2012)
  • Mountain States Legal Foundation
    • Litigation Board, Past Chair, Member
  • Legal Aid Society, Board Member (1993-2005)
  • “And Justice for All” Board Member (1998-2005)
    • Chair (1999-2001)
  • State Law Resources Board, Board of Directors (2025)
    • President Director (2013-2014)
  • Salt Lake City Land Use Appeals Board (1996-2005)
  • Utah Board of Bar Commissioners, Commissioner (1991-2002)
  • Salt Lake City Futures Commission (1996-1998)

Community Involvement

  • University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, Board of Trustees (2021-Present)
  • Utah Foundation, Board of Trustees (2018-present)
  • Alta Club, Member
    • President (2020)
    • Vice President (2019)
    • Board of Directors (2012-2015)
  • Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Board of Trustees (2017-2021)
  • Utah Museum of Natural History, Fundraising Committee (2000)
  • Junior League of Salt Lake City, Community Outreach Board of Directors (2018)

Representative Presentations and Publications