Experience
James F. Cress is a partner in the Denver office practicing in the commercial law and securities and natural resources groups. His natural resources practice emphasizes international and U.S. mining and oil and gas law transactions, including financing. His general corporate practice includes acquisitions and derivatives. He has been with the firm since 1988.
In the natural resources area, he has negotiated and documented complex acquisitions, asset dispositions and financings for coal, uranium, gold, copper, molybdenum, oil and gas and other mineral-producing clients. He has experience in private and U.S. federal mineral royalty matters, and has testified before Congress as a royalty expert. He has advised clients on the development, implementation and interpretation of mining law and regulation in the U.S., Asia, the former Soviet Union and Latin America. His international experience includes negotiation of substantial investments in developing countries, including investment agreement negotiations with various governments, and includes work in the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Ethiopia, Brazil, Suriname, Turkey, Haiti, Ghana, Armenia and Burma. He also teaches at the University of Denver’s Graduate Studies Program in Natural Resources and Environmental Law.
Mr. Cress’ general corporate practice includes development, implementation and documentation of derivatives trading programs for corporate end-users of derivative products, including oil & gas, precious metals, interest rate and currency hedging programs, as well as debt instruments with derivatives components.
Professional & Community Affiliations
Listed in International Who’s Who of Mining Lawyers, 1999-present
Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Mining, 2008-present
Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Denver College of Law (Graduate Studies Program in Natural Resources and Environmental Law), teaching International and Comparative Petroleum Law & Policy (2003-2004) and frequent lecturer (NR&E, Sustainable Development in Natural Resources)
American Bar Association, Section of Energy, Environmental and Resources Law (former Vice Chair, Public Lands Committee)
Colorado Bar Association, Mineral Law Section (Chair 2001-02; Vice Chair 2000-01; Secretary/Treasurer 1999-2000)
Sustainable Development Strategies Group, Director
Colorado Bar Association, International Law Committee
Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, (Revision Author, American Law of Mining (2d Ed.); Trustee-at-Large (2005-2007); Mining Chair for 1998 Annual Institute; Editorial Board, Form 5 LLC and Form 5A Joint Venture Agreement Committees, Form 7 Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement)
Colorado Mining Association (Co-Chair, Mining Law Review Committee, 1998-99)
University of Colorado Natural Resources Law Center, board member, 2000-2002
Annual Survey of Colorado Law (Author, 1989-96, Editor, 1996-98, Mining and Public Lands Law)
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