Our Firm

Sandy White and David Jankowski began practicing water and natural resources law together in 1974.  In 1984, they formed White & Jankowski with the conviction that a small, focused firm is best suited to provide legal services in these fields.  Over the years, other partners and associates have joined White & Jankowski providing distinguished legal consulting, litigation, and negotiation services.  We are assisted by a team of friendly, efficient, and meticulous staff.  Please visit Our People to learn more about our lawyers and support staff.

White & Jankowski has a long record of tackling large cases and complex issues that belie the firm’s small size.  During the 1970s and 1980s, Dave and Sandy represented the State of Wyoming in the Big Horn adjudication involving millions of acre-feet of tribal water rights claims in northern Wyoming.  During the 1990s, the firm worked with the City of Thornton to adjudicate a change of water rights and exchange plan on the Cache La Poudre River intended to meet the bulk of the City’s anticipated future water needs.  We represented Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. in acquiring and changing a large portfolio of water rights on the Arkansas River.  While these matters involve smaller quantities of water, we understand their critical importance to the parties involved and devote the same attention and care as we do to the firm’s seminal cases.

White & Jankowski’s lawyers have extensive trial experience in complex multi-party cases lasting from one day to several months.  We have also been lead counsel in numerous appeals in Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and the federal court system, including cases tried by others and appearances as amicus curiae.  We have consistently been active in alternatives to litigation as well, including the “new way of doing business” on Colorado’s western slope, where numerous parties have agreed to a cooperative approach regarding future transmountain water projects.  A large percentage of our cases have been resolved through settlement.

Over three decades of practice, the firm has added a new generation of attorneys who continue to specialize in water rights and natural resources law.  We are well versed in the intricacies of modern litigation, including electronic discovery, database management and trial presentation technology.  We also stay current on our clients’ developments and technology, including advanced water diversion and treatment systems, modeling, and remote monitoring and operations.  However, the evolution of law and technology does not alter our founding principles.  We remain dedicated to learning our clients’ business and working as a team to develop creative, long-term solutions for their issues.