Carolynne C. White

Carolynne C. White

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Background

Deep relationships with local and state governments. Thrives on helping clients navigate complex redevelopment and urban renewal projects. More than 30 years of real estate law experience.

Challenging, controversial and complicated land use and real estate deals are the cornerstone of Carolynne White’s practice. With more than two decades of experience, Carolynne focuses on the zoning and entitlement process as it relates to redevelopment—both infill and urban renewal. She also helps clients identify and manage public financing tools such as tax increment finance, districts and public improvement fees (PIFs). Clients rely on her ability to guide them through multiple regulatory environments handling all the roadblocks along the way to achieve optimal outcomes. 

A champion for her clients throughout all phases of a project, Carolynne utilizes her strong local and state relationships with elected officials and staff statewide to ensure that her clients always have the best information and the opportunity to be heard. She brings creative solutions and is never afraid to try a new strategy. Building her relationships with municipalities since long before she began working at Brownstein, Carolynne served as a staff attorney for the Colorado Municipal League and for the Denver Water Board. 

Carolynne applies her passion for problem solving to her leadership roles in a several community and civic organizations. She serves on the board of directors for the Adams County Regional Economic Partnership, Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities and the Aurora Economic Development Council. 

    Representative Matters

    • Represented Simon Premium Outlets, part of the Simon Property Group, the leading US-based commercial real estate company and the largest real estate investment trust and largest shopping center operator in the US on the development of the new Denver Premium Outlet mall, on all aspects of the project, including transactional, entitlements, and negotiation of an incentive package. The project is a $134M, 94-acre premium outlet mall in Thornton, Colorado, and is expected to generate circa $100M in revenue for the city of Thornton over its lifetime.

    • Counsel to Evergreen/Clear Creek Crossing, the 100-acre mixed-use project in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, that includes a wide range of uses, including retail, hotel, multifamily residential and employment. Our Colorado-based real estate team negotiated a $35M incentive and public finance package for the project.

    • Successfully represented GCC Energy, LLC, operator of an existing coal mine in La Plata County, CO, in much contested negotiations and interim hearings with the Board of County Commissioners for a land use permit for continued mine operation ensuring that over 250 local miners' and truck drivers' jobs remained secure. This controversial project involved more than five years of public meetings and more than 47 technical expert reports for the King II coal mine, which produces circa one million tons of coal per year. The firm continues to advise Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua regarding on-going permit compliance issues and permitting for related facilities.

    • Successful representation of municipality seeking over $140 million in state funding for large-scale development projects under Colorado's Regional Tourism Act.

    • Represented CBS Outdoor Inc. on Denver compliance and land use issues involving outdoor advertising devices, including matters involving ordinance changes to the Denver sign code.

    • Represented Alberta Development Partners, LLC in the development and financing of Cornerstar, a new mixed-use center containing 158 acres of retail and residential space in Aurora, Colorado. Brownstein handled the leasing and selling of portions of the center to national and regional retailers such as Target, Dick's Sporting Goods, Best Buy, Office Depot, 24 Hour Fitness and Sunflower Market.

    • Counsel to Westminster Promenade West in its mixed-use redevelopment. The project includes commercial, multi-family residential, live-work, and vertically integrated office, retail and hotel space. Our work includes obtaining approval from Westminster City Council for an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan and Master Official Development Plan, and securing $4.295 million in sales and admission tax incentives to support the project.

    Insights & Publications

    News

    Credentials

    Education

    • M.P.A., M.U.R.P., 2006, University of Colorado at Denver
    • J.D., 1993, University of Denver Sturm College of Law
    • B.A., 1987, University of New Mexico

    Previous Experience

    Staff Attorney, Colorado Municipal League (1999-2004)

    Staff Attorney, Denver Water Board (1994-1999)

    Admissions

    • Colorado
    • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
    • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
    • U.S. Supreme Court

    Memberships

    American Bar Association

    American Planning Association

    Colorado Bar Association

    Colorado Bar Association Legislative Policy Committee, 1998-1999

    Colorado Municipal League

    Colorado Women's Bar Association

    Denver Bar Association

    International Council of Shopping Centers

    National Association of Industrial and Office Properties

    William E. Doyle Inns of Court, 1991-2009

    Community Involvement

    COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

    Chair, Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Adams County Economic Development

    Board of Directors, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities

    Board of Directors, Economic Development Council of Colorado 

    Board of Directors, Metro North Chamber of Commerce

    Board of Directors, Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute

    Former, Board of Directors, Downtown Colorado, Inc.

    Former, Colorado State University Real Estate Council

    Board of Directors, Florence Crittenton Services, 2009-2016

    City and County of Denver, Zoning Task Force, 2005-2010

    DU Law School Alumni Council, 1993-1999, 2006-2012

    • Vice Chair, 2009-2011; Chair, 2011-2012

    Metro State Foundation Board Member, 2008-2010

    Sen. Michael Bennet Appointee, Bipartisan Selection Advisory Committee, 2015

     

    Recognition

    AWARDS:

    "Carolynne is a strong land use attorney who helps her clients navigate the challenging political environment." "Carolynne is fantastic. She is very smart and communicates well." "Carolynne is extremely knowledgeable and capable." - Chambers USA, 2024

    "Carolynne is absolutely a highly regarded legal mind and leader in her land use law specialty." "She is incredibly intelligent, creative, dedicated and a pleasure to work with." - Chambers USA, 2023

    Best Lawyers in America, 2013-2025

    • Municipal Law Lawyer of the Year, Denver, 2023, 2025
    • Land Use and Zoning Law Lawyer of the Year, Denver, 2020, 2023

    Chambers USA, 2016-2024

    CREW Denver Top Achiever Award in Law, 2017

    LEED Accredited Professional

    5280 Top Lawyers, Real Estate, 2017, 2024-2025

    Top Women Lawyer, Law Week Colorado, 2011, 2018

    Colorado Super Lawyers, 2006-2007, 2018-2024

    Board of Governors, Colorado Bar Association, 1998-2000, 2003-2004, 2006-2008

    Board of Trustees, First Vice President, Denver Bar Association, 2006-2007

    Board of Trustees, Second Vice President, Denver Bar Association, 2003-2004

    Editor, Colorado Lawyer, “Government and Administrative News” column, 1999-2006

    Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates, Denver Bar Association, 1999-2005

    Denver Bar Association Young Lawyer of the Year, 1999

    Board of Directors, Legal Aid Foundation, 1995-1998

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