Alan J. Gilbert ’73

Alan J. Gilbert ’73, of Greenwood Village, Colo.; Mar. 26. After Brown he earned his JD from the University of Michigan School of Law and headed to Denver. He had a long and varied legal career, working in private practice and government service. In 1977, he joined the law firm of Sherman & Howard, becoming a partner a few years later. In 2000, he joined the Colorado Attorney General’s office and served as solicitor general for the State of Colorado from 2000 to 2004, handling high profile legal issues and acting as lead lawyer on cases going before the Supreme Court. He moved to Washington, D.C., in 2005 to become the deputy chief of staff for newly elected U.S. Senator Ken Salazar, then returned to private practice in Colorado in 2006, resuming his environmental and natural resources work with the Denver firm of Holme, Roberts & Owens. In 2010 he was appointed senior advisor for the Rocky Mountains and Southwest by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. He resumed private practice in Denver again in 2014 with Ryley Carlock & Applewhite and then with Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, before starting his own firm in January. During this time he was also an adjunct professor at the University of Denver Sturm School of Law teaching environmental law and energy management. He held leadership positions in the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law and the Environmental Law section of the Colorado Bar Association. He was also a frequent lecturer and author on environmental topics. Aside from his professional career, he was a car enthusiast and raced Formula Fords and Formula 2000s with the Sports Car Club of America. He also enjoyed fishing and downhill and cross-country skiing. He is survived by a sister, a brother, a niece, and three nephews.