John Buchanan
Attorney
John has practiced as an attorney with a focus on water rights since 2012, representing a broad range of clients including agriculture, oil and gas, special districts, municipalities, ski resorts, and real estate developers. John also focuses on helping homeowners obtain and protect their water rights in the Denver Basin aquifers located primarily in Douglas, Elbert, and El Paso counties.
John’s career in water law began when he was awarded the Harrison Fellowship while studying at University of Colorado Law, which involved work on large-scale hydropower projects in Beijing, China. John interned and, after graduation, worked full time at Buchanan and Sperling (no relation to founding partner Tim Buchanan) and Buchanan, Sperling & Holleman, then starting a solo firm for several years before joining Hayes Poznanovic Korver in the spring of 2024.
From the beginning of his legal career, John had the opportunity to work on several high-profile projects and cases, and he has argued several appeals to the Colorado Supreme Court and has litigated cases in the water courts and the Colorado Ground Water Commission. John’s expertise covers a wide range of areas, including adjudications of water rights, plans for augmentation, and exchanges; drafting and reviewing deeds and contracts; and advocating for and opposing legislation and administrative regulations.
A guiding principle of John’s practice is working with opposing parties and regulators to find common ground and creative solutions that benefit his clients by reducing conflict and saving time and expense.
When he is not working, John is a proud father and husband and enjoys spending his time in Colorado’s beautiful outdoors hiking, fishing, skiing, and camping.