TIMOTHY COX

Tim is a founding partner with the law firm of Michow Cox & McAskin, LLP. His practice includes representation of Colorado municipalities and counties on a broad range of local government matters.

From September 2007 through December 2020, Tim served as the City Attorney for the City of Lakewood, the largest municipality in Colorado to contract for legal services. As City Attorney, Tim was a member of the City’s Leadership Team and provided day-to-day legal advice to the City Council and City staff on issues such as open meetings and open records, zoning and land use planning, contracts, real property, annexation, telecommunications, public works, and elections. Tim helped prepare the City for the advent of Light Rail in 2013, and has drafted regulations in such areas as construction defects and medical and recreational marijuana.

Prior to forming Michow Cox & McAskin in March, 2016, Tim was with the local government law firm of Widner Michow & Cox LLP. During that time, he became the Town Attorney for the Town of Lyons, a position he held for 11 years, including the challenging period following the devastating floods of September 2013. In addition to his duties for Lakewood, Tim has been the Town Attorney for Lochbuie, an Assistant City Attorney for Centennial, and has provided legal services to Central City, Leadville, and Park County.

Tim has also worked in the public sector, as an Assistant County Attorney, and later as the Acting County Attorney, for Jefferson County, Colorado. He provided legal counsel to the county administrator, the clerk and recorder, the sheriff and the public works, road and bridge, human resources, technical services, open space, facilities, and public information departments, among others. As Acting County Attorney, he supervised one of the largest local government legal staffs in Colorado, consisting of 22 attorneys and 13 support staff. He was the legal advisor to the planning director, zoning administrator, planning commission, board of county commissioners and board of adjustment on land use issues, and was responsible for handling all of the County’s land use litigation.

Before joining the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office, Mr. Cox was in private practice with Kennedy & Christopher, P.C. in Denver, Colorado, and Roche, Carens & DeGiacomo, P.C., in Boston, Massachusetts.

REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS

• Orchestrated multi-departmental effort to adopt one of the first comprehensive municipal medical marijuana ordinances in Colorado.
• Drafted one of the first municipal ordinances in Colorado regulating construction defects litigation.
• Researched and drafted comprehensive ordinance for regulating campaign finance at the municipal level.
• Advising city on all legal aspects of construction of light rail line.
• Advised city on several initiative and referendum petitions, including complex issue involving vested rights.
• Assisted in drafting ordinance creating transit mixed-use zone districts in anticipation of light rail line construction.
• Defended town in dispute with neighboring city over interpretation and application of intergovernmental agreement regarding shared wastewater treatment plant.
• Drafted and negotiated new cable television franchise agreement.
• Defended county in court of appeals regarding interpretation of subdivision plat language.
• Negotiated acquisition of extensive public rights-of-way from adjacent city.
• Primary legal advisor to city’s general improvement districts, including representation of district in conjunction with issuance of bonds to finance new water supply system.
• Served as city’s representative on the board of the Greater Metro Telecommunications Consortium, advising city administration on a wide range of telecommunications issues.
• Assisted in the drafting and implementation of town’s first planned unit development ordinance.
• Successfully defended a wide range of Rule 106(a)(4) appeals, including rezoning and plat approvals and denials, board of adjustment variances, and appeals from interpretations of zoning regulations.
• Enforced county regulation limiting development in geologically sensitive area against takings and other constitutional claims in trial and appeals court.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Lakewood Civics 101.        “What is Government,” Lakewood, Colorado, September 2016, 2012 and October 2011.

Sherman & Howard’s 15^th Annual Construction Law Seminar. “Municipal Perspective on Construction Defects law,” September 2015.

CLE International. “That Hardship has Sailed: Variances,” Denver, Colorado, November 2014.

Colorado Municipal League. “Come Hell or High Water: The Role of the Municipal Attorney in Responding to a Catastrophic Flood,” Vail, Colorado, June 2014.

Lakewood Civics 101          “Planning,” Lakewood, Colorado, November 2010 and September 2009.

CLE International. “Medical Marijuana: Legal Issues Facing Local Governments,” Denver, Colorado, January 2010.

Lakewood Citizens’ Planning Academy. “Legal Issues in Land Use and Planning,” Lakewood, Colorado, September 2008.

Colorado Municipal League. “Fair Campaign Practices Act Update,” Steamboat Springs, Colorado, June 2008.

Colorado Municipal League. “Legal Short Shots – Open Meetings Law,” Breckenridge, Colorado, June 2006.

Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute. “Ethics Considerations for Planners and Attorneys,” Denver, Colorado, March 2004.

Colorado County Attorneys Association. “Rule 106(a)(4): Strategies for a Successful Defense,” Colorado Springs, Colorado, November 2003.

Denver Regional Council of Governments — Boards of Adjustment Workshop. “The Role and Authority of New Board Members,” Denver, Colorado, April 2001.