Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is pleased to announce that Ryan A. Smith, a shareholder in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office, has been named chair of the firm’s Natural Resources Department. Smith’s appointment is effective as of March 1.
Smith joined the firm in 2011 and currently serves as chair of the firm’s American Indian Law and Policy Group and a member of the Energy, Environment & Resource Strategies (EERS) Group. Before joining Brownstein, he served as a senior legislative advisor to former Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and deputy counsel for the Arizona Department of Water Resources. In government and in private practice, Smith has been instrumental in the development of federal legislation relating to western natural resources.
“Ryan is a leader in the field of natural resources law and policy,” said Adam Agron, managing partner of the firm. “As chair of the firm’s Natural Resources Department, Ryan will draw on his extensive background in government and private practice to guide and expand the firm’s high-profile national work in the natural resources sector.”