William A. Hillhouse II

Bill Hillhouse practices out of Denver, but works throughout the state of Colorado.  He joined our firm in 2012.  Bill has extensive litigation and transactional experience in virtually every area of water law, including water rights adjudications, augmentation plans, exchanges, changes of water rights, disputes over the exportation of water, disputes over priorities, groundwater regulations, interstate compacts, water quality battles, negotiation and drafting of water transactional documents, performance of due diligence, development of water use plans, and defense of state enforcement actions.  He represents cities, industries, special districts, water organizations, individual water users, and water investment groups.  Bill also has served as an expert witness in water cases.  He is a former staff attorney for the National Water Commission and adjunct professor of water law at the University of Denver Law School. Bill was named the Best Lawyers' 2012 and 2017 Denver Water Law Lawyer of the Year.  Bill also has substantial litigation experience with other natural resources.

Practice Areas

Water Law

Natural Resource Law

Litigation

Publications

Law Review: Revising Editor, Stanford Law Review, 1963-1964

Awards

2012, 2017 Colorado Water Law Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers®

2006-2010, 2012-2015 Colorado Top Rated Energy and Natural Resources, Super Lawyers®

Professional Associations and Memberships

Denver Bar Association

Colorado Bar Association

American Bar Association

Bar Admissions

Colorado, 1965

California, 1965

U.S. Court of Appeals 10th Circuit, 1965

U.S. Supreme Court, 1972

Education

Stanford University, Stanford, California, 1964, Bachelor of Law

Stanford University, Stanford, California, 1961, Bachelor of Arts
With Great Distinction

Birth Information

 Colorado Springs, Colorado