Back Bio

John W. Andrews

John W. Andrews

Counsel| Salt Lake City

John Andrews has over 30 years of practice experience in public lands, real estate, minerals and Native American law issues. He is a recognized expert in real estate issues involving federal public lands, particularly federal land exchanges and dispositions. For over 20 years John was chief legal counsel for Utah’s state land management agency, where he directed federal legislative efforts to acquire hundreds of thousands of acres of mineral lands for Utah’s state school trust, while also providing legal representation in areas as diverse as renewable energy leasing, real estate entitlement and development, coal, hardrock mineral  and oil & gas leasing, eminent domain matters, environmental regulation, mineral royalty disputes, federal land planning and NEPA matters, and negotiations with Indian tribes.

Education

  • 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)

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • U.S. Department of the Interior, Royalty Policy Committee (2017-2018)
  • Western States Land Commissioners Association, Legal Committee Chair (2012-2016)
  • Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, Trustee-at-Large (2007-2009, 2017-present)
  • 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)

Representative Presentations and Publications

  • "Spending Bill Includes Unique Path To Conservation Goals," Author, Law360 (April 18, 2018)
  • "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 Minderal 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)

Professional Recognition and Awards

  • Utah Legal Elite, Government Lawyers, Utah Business Magazine (2018)
  • Utah Legal Elite, Energy and Natural Resources, Utah Business Magazine (2017)
  • Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award, Utah Congress of Parents and Teachers (Utah PTA) (1998)

Community Involvement

  • Utah Museum of Natural History
    • Associates Board (2001-2007)
    • Executive Committee Officer (2004-2006)
  • Vision Dixie
    • Executive Committee/Steering Committee (2006-2008)

Other Professional Experience

  • State of Utah, School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, Salt Lake City, Utah
    •  Chief Legal Counsel (1995-2018)
    •  Associate Director (2004-2018)
  • Utah Attorney General's Office, Assistant Attorney General (1994-1995)
  • Van Cott, Bagley, Cornwall & McCarthy (1986-1993)
  • Utah Supreme Court, Intern to Justice Christine Durham (1984)

Bar Admissions

  • Utah

Court Admissions

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