Kole W. Kelley

Kole advises clients in the agriculture, natural resource, water,  and advanced energy industries related to complex farm and ranch management, employment, real property, and regulatory issues. From his experience sorting cattle and throwing irrigation tubes, to helping clients solve farm and ranch, title, survey, mineral, and water issues, Kole brings a practical approach to developing legal project strategies; navigating the federal, state, and local permitting processes; and monitoring the ongoing governmental rulemakings that impact his clients’ projects.

Kole provides general counsel services to agriculture and oil and gas clients, advises clients through mining and oil and gas transactions, solves title questions, provides water rights counsel, and helps clients navigate public lands law. Kole has experience representing clients before the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, and Colorado Water Court, drafting oil and gas development plans, and assisting clients as they navigate implementing solar energy projects. Kole’s knowledge extends to regulatory matters across the Rocky Mountain West.

With a drive to make a meaningful impact, Kole actively volunteers on several non-profit boards, including the Leadership, Policy, and Governance Foundation, Colorado Junior Swine Association, the Colorado Farm Bureau, and the Douglas County Farm Bureau.

Outside of the legal field and volunteering, Kole can be found overanalyzing a fantasy football lineup, rooting on the Colorado Avalanche, shoveling pig pens on his family’s ranch, or at a livestock show with a focus on making the next generation better.

• J.D., University of Denver Sturm College of Law
• B.S., Adams State University

• Best Lawyers in America^®, Ones to Watch, Energy Law, Natural Resources Law, Real Estate Law, 2026
• Denver Business Journal, Leaders in Agriculture, 2025
• Denver Business Journal, Who’s Who in Agriculture, Water Resources Law, 2021

• Presenter, “Understanding Colorado Surface Water and Groundwater Rights: Agricultural Water Use,” HalfMoon Education Inc., December 17, 2025
• Interview, “Kole Kelley | Succession Planning,” Farm Broadcaster, Lorrie Boyer, June 13, 2025
• Co-Author, “Cross collaboration among Denver and Nogales lawyers fuels agribusiness knowledge, seeds positive culture and client relations,” Fennemore Blog, March 10, 2025
• Featured, “Announcing the 2025 Leaders in Agriculture awards program honorees,” Denver Business Journal, March 1, 2025
• Co-Author, “Denver voters reject slaughterhouse and fur ban initiatives,” Fennemore Blog, December 11, 2024
• Co-Author, “Economic Realities if Colorado Amendment 309 is Adopted,” Fennemore Blog, November 1, 2024
• Co-Author, “Business Contracts in 2025: Straightforward Answers for Nuanced Situations,” Fennemore Blog, August 14, 2025
• Author, “Supreme Court Ruling Narrows Scope of Clean Water Act: Kole Kelley Shares Insights on Navigating the Murky Legal Waters,” Fennemore Blog, July 10, 2024
• Presenter, “Administrative Law Outlook in Agriculture,” Elite Leadership Academy, Colorado Farm Bureau
• Co-Author, “Energize Denver: Moving toward a more sustainable Denver,” Colorado Real Estate Journal, December 2023
• Author, “The Renewable Revolution: It’s a Race to the Top,” Firm Blog, October 2023
• Leadership, Policy and Governance Leadership Academy (2023)
• Co-Author, “WOTUS: The Water Definition Battle That Defines the Nation,” 46 MITCHELL HAMLINE L. REV. 76, (2019).
• Colorado Farm Bureau Elite Leadership Academy (2020)
• Author, “New Rules in the Land of Cool Sunshine,” 21 DENV. WATER L. REV. 271, Case Note (Spring 2018).
• Author, “Let There Be Water: Israel’s Solution for a Water-Starved World” 21 DENV. WATER L. REV. 271, Book Note (Spring 2018).
• Guest Lecturer, “Water Law in the West,” University of Arkansas Honors College Signature Seminar Series and L.L.M. in Agriculture and Food Law program (2018).
• Guest Lecturer, “What’s Next in Colorado Water Law,” Adams State University Agribusiness program. (2018).
• Author, “A Tough Economic Choice for Water Rights Holders in the San Luis Valley,” DENV. WATER L. REV. Blog Post (Mar. 7, 2016).
• Author, “House Bill 16-1005 (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-96.5-101)” 20 DENV. WATER L. REV. 119, (Fall 2016).
• Author, “Najas Realty, LLC v. Seekonk Water Dist.” 20 DENV. WATER L. REV. 138, (Fall 2016).

• Member, Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training program
• Chair (2025-Present), Vice-Chair (2021-2025), Colorado Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee
• Chair, Colorado Bar Association Agricultural and Rural Law Section, 2024-Present
• President, Colorado Junior Swine Association, 2023-Present
• President, Douglas County Farm Bureau, 2023-Present
• Board Member, Leadership, Policy, and Governance Foundation, 2023-Present
• Co-Board of Governors Representative – Colorado Bar Association Agricultural and Rural Law Section, 2024-Present
• Member, Colorado Farm Bureau Membership Task Force, 2024-Present
• Member, Colorado Livestock Association, 2024- Present
• Member, Action Colorado, 2023-Present
• Vice-Chair, Agricultural and Rural Law Section, Colorado Bar Association, 2022-2024
• Board Member, Colorado Junior Swine Association, 2022-2023
• Presidential Selection Committee, Adams State University , 2023
• University of Denver Water Law Review, Editor-in-Chief, Volume 22, 2019

• Colorado