Montgomery and Andrews Law Firm

Overview

Mr. Draper has practiced with the firm for over 30 years, primarily in the area of natural resource law. In recent years, he has concentrated on water rights issues, including interstate water rights. His practice includes transactions involving water rights, New Mexico State Engineer administrative proceedings and appeals to the courts, stream system adjudications, and interstate proceedings in the original jurisdiction of the U. S. Supreme Court. He has been involved in many Supreme Court proceedings, including three arguments before the nine justices and over 270 days of trial before Court-appointed Special Masters.

Education

Mr. Draper grew up in Albuquerque, NM, graduating from Highland High School. He attended Princeton University and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with high honors. He received his law degree from the University of New Mexico magna cum laude. He was awarded The Diploma in Graduate Legal Studies with distinction by the University of Stockholm Faculty of Law. Finally, he received the degree of Master of Arts in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College.

Professional Memberships and Activities

Mr. Draper is a trustee of the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Utton Transboundary Resources Center at the University of New Mexico School of Law. He serves on the board of directors of the Princeton University Class of 1969 Community Service Fund. He is a member of the Long Range Planning Committee for St. John’s College in Santa Fe. He is a member of the bars of New Mexico, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U. S. Supreme Court.

Honors

Mr. Draper is an “av” lawyer in Martindale-Hubbell, a “Star Performer” in Chambers USA 2004-, a “Southwest Super Lawyer” and has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since 1991.

Publications

Mr. Draper is the co-author of Consumer Protection in Sweden (Univ. of Stockholm, 2d ed. 1986); and “Environmental Laws and Regulations Governing Gold Mining in the West – Current Issues,” 36 Rocky Mtn. Min. L. Inst. Proceedings, Ch. 5 (1990).

Speaking Engagements

Mr. Draper was the Commencement Speaker at St. John’s College in Santa Fe in 2005. He has also made numerous presentations at professional seminars and conferences, including presentations at the Western Water Law and Eastern Water Law conferences of the American Bar Association.

Professional Development

Mr. Draper has co-chaired, with his partner Louis W. Rose, the Annual New Mexico Water Law Conference since its inception in 1993.

Representative Cases/Transactions

Counsel of record for the State of Kansas in Kansas v. Colorado, No. 105, Orig., with more than 270 days of trial and hearings before Special Master Arthur L. Littleworth and oral arguments to the Court resulting in decisions at 514 U.S. 673 (1995); 533 U.S. 1 (2001); and 543 U.S. 86 (2004).

Counsel of record for the State of Kansas in Kansas v. Nebraska & Colorado, N. 126, Orig., resulting a Decree of the Court at 538 U.S. 720 (2003).

Counsel for the State of Montana in Montana v. Wyoming & North Dakota, Motion for Leave to File Bill of Complaint granted 128 S.Ct. 1332 (2008).

Representative Clients

Mr. Draper provides legal representation or counsel to the States of New Mexico (Lower Rio Grande River), Kansas (Arkansas River and Republican River) and Montana (Yellowstone River); the County of Sandoval, New Mexico; Intel Corporation; New Mexico Utilities, Inc.; Angel Fire Resort; Red River Ski Area; Llano Community Ditch Association; and others.