Robert D. Comer has a diverse legal and scientific background focused on achieving business solutions to regulatory, compliance, permitting, operating and transactional challenges in the mining, oil, gas, energy and other natural resource industries. Bob has held senior leadership positions with industry and the federal government and is well known for his ability to design and implement effective solutions to legal challenges impeding permitting, operations and corporate objectives.
During his tenure with the U.S. Department of the Interior, Robert served as Associate Solicitor in Washington, D.C., where he directed legal strategy nationwide on matters pertaining to mining, oil, gas, energy, renewables, land use and water. As Rocky Mountain Regional Solicitor, where he led one of the most active energy and litigation portfolios in the Department. Bob also has served as General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer for a dual-exchange listed gold company and as Associate General Counsel for a Fortune 500 mining, mineral processing and specialty metals company, where he had legal responsibility at most company operating facilities and more than 30 superfund/NRD properties.
Bob is considered a leading authority in natural resource permitting and compliance and has led numerous projects. He has counseled industry and government executives on a wide array of issues involving energy transmission, public land access, rights of way, NEPA permitting, endangered species, water quality and rights, wetlands, mineral estate title and security, royalties, superfund, toxics, environmental and land use permit compliance, enforcement, and litigation. Bob also has led negotiations involving commercial and mineral transactions, oil, gas and other mineral leasing and mining law claims, and has participated in mergers, acquisitions and related due diligence efforts.
Bob currently serves as Chair to the Colorado Bar Association Section on Natural Resources and Energy Law, a Board Member of the American Exploration and Mining Association (formerly Northwest Mining Association), on the Advisory Board of the Western Energy Alliance, on the Advisory Board of the University of Colorado Innovative Energy Initiative and on the Board of Directors for Manufacturer's Edge (formerly Colorado Association of Manufacturing and Technology).
Robert was the Distinguished Natural Resource Practitioner in Residence at the University of Denver School of Law, a Trustee to the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, a Director and Officer of the Colorado Mining Association and has Chaired the American Bar Association's National Committees on Mining, Public Lands and Resources and Water Quality and Wetlands. He received his Bachelor of Arts cum laude and Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Master of Forest Science from the Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
