olivia atkins
Education, licensure & court Admission
University of Denver Sturm College of Law (2025) Pending admission to the New Mexico Bar
Olivia focuses on natural resources, environmental, and energy law, with a particular interest in regulatory matters before state agencies in New Mexico and Colorado. She assists in preparing complex well permit applications, compulsory pooling matters, and related administrative litigation. She regularly conducts research and drafting on issues involving statutory authority, due process protections, and the regulatory frameworks that govern oil and gas development.
During law school, Olivia earned her Certificate in Natural Resources Law with distinction and served as both a Staff Editor and the Business and Online Editor for the University of Denver Water Law Review. Her published article, Water Rights and Regional Equity: The Animas–La Plata Project and Its Implications for Tribal Sovereignty in Southwest Colorado, appeared in Volume 27, Issue 2 (Fall 2024) of the Water Law Review and examines the interplay among federal settlement agreements, tribal water rights, and western allocation doctrines.
Olivia also worked as a Research Assistant for the University of Denver’s Water Law and Natural Resources faculty on the Teacup Ditch Project in the San Luis Valley, supporting efforts to evaluate and protect historic agricultural water rights. She further gained practical insight into the challenges facing water users by volunteering on-site with local producers.
She received her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University, double majoring in German and Political Science. After graduation, she worked for Daimler in a strategic operations role focused on energy and mobility initiatives, an experience that deepened her interest in infrastructure and the evolution of energy systems, shaping her path toward a career in natural resources law.
Originally from Birmingham Alabama, Olivia now calls Durango home. She enjoys mountain biking, skiing, paddling, running, and exploring the San Juan Mountains with her fiancé, Evan.