James Eklund
Of Counsel, Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
James Eklund is of counsel at Squire Patton Boggs, where he utilizes his background as Colorado’s lead water official to advise private and public entities on environmental, public policy, regulatory, and legislative matters. Appointed by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, he served as director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board from 2013 to 2017, the state’s principal representative on the Colorado River responsible for negotiation strategy with six other states, Mexico, Congress, and several federal agencies. Eklund was previously senior deputy legal counsel to Hickenlooper, monitoring Colorado’s public-private partnership on the Denver-Boulder turnpike. Prior to that, he was a Colorado assistant attorney general working on natural resources issues.