John has over 30 years of practice experience in public lands, real estate, mineral, environmental, and energy law matters. Before joining Snell & Wilmer in 2018, he was chief legal counsel and associate director for Utah’s state land management agency, where he provided legal representation and management for a 3.4 million acre land portfolio. His current practice focuses on land and permitting issues associated with the ongoing energy transition, including utility scale hydrogen, solar and wind projects, geologic carbon sequestration, lithium extraction, and development of low carbon cement products. John continues to work with clients in traditional mining, oil and gas, ranching, and real estate development matters. John also works on complex land and mineral title and royalty issues, federal and state land exchanges, NEPA, tribal law, endangered species and wildlife, state legislative interaction, and other issues involving western lands.
University of Utah College of Law (J.D., 1986)
Associate Editor, Journal of Energy Law & Policy (1983-1985)
Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia (Exchange Student in Law, 1985)
Thesis Topic: "Commonwealth Natural Resources & Environmental Legislation and the Australian Constitution"
Colby College (B.A., Economics and History, 1981)
U.S. Department of the Interior
Royalty Policy Committee (2017-2019)
Western States Land Commissioners Association
Legal Committee Chair (2012-2016)
Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation
Trustee-at-Large (2007-2009, 2017-2019)
Utah State Bar
Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Law (ENREL)
Section Lawyer of the Year (1998)
Section Chair (2002-2003)
Officer/Committee Chair (1997-2003)
"Renewable Energy and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022," Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Webinar (September 9, 2022)
"Federal Land Exchanges and Land Sale Legislation – New Developments,” American Association of Professional Landmen, Mining and Land Resources Institute (2018)
"Swapping with the Feds: An Updated Look at Federal Land Exchanges," Author, Proceedings of the 51st Annual Rocky Mtn. Mineral Law Institute (2005)
"Special Institute on Severed Minerals, Split Estates, Rights of Access and Surface Use in Mineral Extraction Operations," Presenter, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation (2005)
"Wilderness and Roadless Issues," Presenter, ABA Section on Energy, Environmental and Resources (SEER) Annual Fall Meeting (2004)
"Urban Sprawl, Resource Conflicts and Economic Development: A Case Study in Reconciling Conflict," Panelist, ABA SEER Conference on Resources Law – 21st Century Challenges of Access to Public Lands & Resources (2001)
"State Trust Lands – Reconciling the Public Interest in Environmental Protection with Trust Management Principles," Presenter, Proceedings of the 44th Annual Rocky Mtn. Mineral Law Institute (1998)
The Best Lawyers in America®, Natural Resources Law (2020-2023), Environmental Law (2021-2023)
Salt Lake City Lawyer of the Year, Natural Resources Law (2023)
Utah Legal Elite, Government Lawyers, Utah Business Magazine (2018)
Utah Legal Elite, Energy and Natural Resources, Utah Business Magazine (2017, 2020)
Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award, Utah Congress of Parents and Teachers (Utah PTA) (1998)