Laurence (Trip) W. DeMuth, III

Energy & Infrastructure Litigation

Trip applies decades of complex litigation experience to assist clients in the energy and infrastructure sectors in large and sophisticated environmental and climate change-related matters. Climate change and associated regulatory developments and private and public lawsuits are creating high-stakes litigation risk. Trip aligns himself with clients to find a path forward.

Recently, following four weeks of trial, Trip and a team of Faegre Drinker attorneys saved a utility hundreds of millions of dollars defending against claims of poor operations and improper costs associated with the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Trip and the trial team successfully argued that the plaintiff’s claims of imprudent operations was a pretext to attempt to recoup its investment in coal after seeing the regulatory winds changing. Trip is a leader of the firm’s newly formed energy litigation team and draws on recent trial experience to guide clients through the complexities of energy and infrastructure disputes. 

Complex Litigation and Trials

In addition to leading multiple litigation teams in complex commercial, energy, infrastructure and construction, matters, and internal investigations, Trip also serves as a trusted advisor to clients, including serving on the steering committee for a multibillion-dollar international company as it considered expansion into China.

In 2011, Law Week Colorado recognized the jury verdict Trip won in a fraud and breach of contract case as the seventh-largest jury verdict in Colorado.

Recognition and Service

Trip is ranked in Chambers USA and Best Lawyers. He has been recognized by Law Week Colorado as a “Top Litigator.” Trip is also a member of the Boulder County District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit, a panel that reviews claims of injustice in Boulder County.

Prior Experience

Trip was a prosecutor in the Boulder County District Attorney’s office from 1984 to 2000. That experience has proven invaluable to the private practice clients he has represented in court since joining the firm in 2000.