Robert W. Peterson

Mr. Peterson is a strong part of the firm's family law team and represents clients regarding divorce, child custody, and protective orders.

Mr. Peterson also practices extensively in the areas of water rights, natural resources, real estate, energy and utility law. He has wide-ranging experience representing purchasers and sellers of water rights; conducting evaluations and due diligence reviews of water rights; acquiring administrative approval to change the points of diversion, places of use and types of use of water rights; handling complex private and public water development projects; negotiating and drafting real estate and energy leases; researching, reporting and curing title to developed and undeveloped property; resolving complex real estate probate issues; and litigating various civil matters, including family law.

He has experience working with state and federal regulatory agencies, and has represented clients in proceedings before administrative agencies and courts. He also has experience in local government law and has assisted clients with planning and zoning activities before city and county planning and zoning authorities. Mr. Peterson has represented electric utilities, gas utilities, public water supply entities, financing institutions, developers, commercial resorts, mining companies, water companies, agricultural water users, oil and gas companies, and individuals. He has written articles and given presentations on a variety of water rights issues.

Prior to practicing law, Mr. Peterson received a bachelor's degree in wildlife biology and a master's degree in natural resource policy. He understands the complex competing demands for property and natural resources and the political, economic, and social contexts in which disputes arise, and how to effectively represent clients dealing with natural resource issues.

Prior to joining Hanks and Mortensen, Mr. Peterson practiced law with the firm of Holme, Roberts & Owen, LLP, and was a whitewater rafting guide on numerous rivers throughout the western U.S.