Jim Martin

Jim has a wealth of knowledge and experience in environmental and natural resources law, the legislative and administrative process, the political arena, and academia. He utilizes this broad base to help clients solve permitting and compliance issues, interact with agencies and legislators, and focus on the “big picture” of energy resource development.

Before joining Beatty & Wozniak in 2013, Jim was the Regional Administrator for EPA’s Region VIII. Here, Jim maintained the ultimate responsibility for all federal environmental laws in six western states and on 26 Indian reservations.

Jim also held roles in leadership in Colorado state agencies impacting the energy industry. Jim served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources under Governor Ritter, a cabinet level position in which he supervised over 2,000 state employees; and the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in which he managed an annual budget of over $470 million. In both capacities, he served on the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (now the Energy & Carbon Management Commission). Previously, he served on the Air Quality Control Commission, as well as other boards and commissions.

Earlier in his career, Jim worked for Congressman and then Senator Tim Wirth for seven years, both in the nation’s capitol and in Colorado, and was involved in several high-profile resource and energy issues. He has also worked with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and started his legal career advising four Columbia River treaty tribes on their fishing and water claims. Jim is admitted to practice law in Colorado and New Mexico and before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Ninth and Tenth Circuits and the D.C. Circuit.

In his spare time, Jim enjoys hiking, camping, rafting, and pretty much anything that gets him outside in the Rocky Mountain West.