Leslie A. Fields
Owners' Counsel of America
Leslie A. Fields practiced almost exclusively in the area of eminent domain law for 33 years, before retiring in 2013. After graduating from the University of Denver College of Law in 1981, she commenced her legal practice with the firm of Gorsuch, Kirgis, Campbell, Walker and Grover. In 1985 she joined the firm of Faegre & Benson LLP (now Faegre Baker Daniels), where she became a partner and subsequently one of the managing partners of the firm.
Over her lengthy career, she counseled and represented her clients through every stage of a condemnation case, from preliminary negotiations for the acquisition of property, to the institution of condemnation proceedings, to the ultimate determination of just compensation through the litigation and appellate process. Leslie’s clients included individual landowners, developers, private pipeline companies, special districts, public service corporations, counties, municipalities, and urban renewal authorities.
During her professional career, Leslie has been involved in nearly every major governmental project within the state of Colorado, including for example the Denver International Airport; the Downtown Convention Center; Highways C-470 and E-470; the I-25 Highway Expansion Project, otherwise known as T-REX; and the RTD light rail project.
Leslie is listed in the Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. She has also been recognized by 5280 Magazine as one of the top 25 female lawyers in Colorado. Having argued numerous condemnation cases before both the Colorado Court of Appeals and the Colorado Supreme Court, Leslie was inducted in October 2007 into the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Leslie co-chaired the ALI-CLE Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Conference for many years. This national three-day conference, which generally occurs in January of each year, is attended by lawyers, judges, appraisers, right-of-way agents, and others from across the country and has become the go-to forum for not only reporting the law, but exchanging and developing new ideas on how to improve the area of eminent domain in general. Leslie was also the founding chair of the annual CLE International Eminent Domain Conference in Denver, Colorado, which is still being held today.
Leslie has spoken on eminent domain case law and legislation before Colorado judges at their annual Judicial Conference. Leslie was also a frequent contributor to the “Eminent Domain” chapter in Colorado Bar Association CLE’s Annual Survey of Colorado Law. She has authored numerous articles in her field of practice. In 2016, Leslie was recognized as a Law Star by the University of Denver Sturm College of Law for her lifetime of professional achievements.
Recently, Leslie decided to return to the legal field, not as a practicing attorney, but as the Executive Director of Owners’ Counsel of America. This organization serves the most experienced eminent domain lawyers in the country, who are dedicated to defending the rights of private property owners nationwide. For more information about Owner’s Counsel of America, see www.ownerscounsel.com.
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