LINDA MICHOW

Ms. Michow is a founding and the managing partner of the law firm of Michow Guckenberger McAskin LLP, formerly known as Michow Cox & McAskin LLP, in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Her practice includes representation of Colorado municipalities on local government matters with a focus on land use, construction contracts and elections.

Ms. Michow currently serves as the City Attorney for the Cities of Lone Tree and Castle Pines. She is responsible for providing day-to-day legal advice on issues concerning annexation, zoning and land use planning, elections, taxation, urban renewal, real property, construction, liquor licensing and TABOR compliance. Ms. Michow has extensive experience drafting subdivision improvement and annexation and development agreements, intergovernmental agreements, public/private incentive agreements, construction contracts, comprehensive zoning, and subdivision regulations, as well as ordinances and resolutions concerning general municipal matters. Ms. Michow served as the lead attorney for the Streets at Southglenn and IKEA development projects in Centennial, which involved the negotiation and drafting of development and incentive agreements, rezoning ordinances, vested property rights ordinances and processing of final plats. Ms. Michow was instrumental in the formation of the Centennial Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Leadville Urban Renewal Authority and their respective ongoing operations. In addition, Ms. Michow assisted in the formation of the City of Castle Pines North Urban Renewal Authority, negotiating and drafting multiple tax sharing agreements with the engaged taxing authorities. When the voters of Castle Pines North approved the repeal of the formation of the URA, Ms. Michow drafted all legal documents to effectuate that result.

Ms. Michow served a pivotal role in ensuring legal compliance in the implementation of the City of Centennial 2011 Land Development Code through multiple ordinances, public hearings and zoning map amendments. Ms. Michow has worked on behalf of several municipal clients on complex, large-scale annexation and development projects, including the 2009 annexation and zoning of a 3,300-acre parcel to the City of Castle Pines.

Ms. Michow’s local government experience in private practice developed out of her former in-house position as a Senior Assistant City Attorney for the City of Arvada. During her employment with the City of Arvada, Ms. Michow served as the legal advisor to the Arvada Planning Commission, Board of Adjustment and the Liquor Licensing Authority. In addition, she provided legal advice to the Arvada Housing Authority, Public Works and Police Departments and the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities. Ms. Michow also served on the Arvada Planning Commission after she left employment with the City.

Before joining the Arvada City Attorney’s Office, Ms. Michow prosecuted criminal appeals as an assistant attorney general in the appellate section of the Colorado Attorney General Office.

Special Counsel to State and Local Governments

In addition to her regular City Attorney functions, Ms. Michow has served as an administrative hearing officer on land use applications and appeals. Ms. Michow also has represented the board of assessment appeals on behalf of Park County.

Urban Renewal Authority Counsel

Ms. Michow currently serves as counsel to the Leadville Urban Renewal Authority.

Expert Testimony

Ms. Michow has been qualified as an expert witness on the issue of reasonableness of attorneys’ fees in Gumina v. City of Sterling, Logan County District Court, 2002CV153.

REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS

• Advised on formation of Leadville Urban Renewal Authority.

• Lead city attorney for the IKEA Centennial project.

• Advised city on all aspects of adoption and implementation of new land development code and adoption of official zoning map, including phased, comprehensive rezoning of all city property.

• Testified as an expert witness on attorneys’ fees in Gumina v. City of Sterling. 

• Assisted in challenging county’s imposition of an administrative fee associated with distribution of sales tax shareback to city.

• Lead city attorney for the Streets at Southglenn redevelopment project.

• Lead city attorney in drafting urban renewal authority formation documents, finance and development agreements, and special district formation.

• Formulated ordinances, regulations, policies and procedures, and standard form contracts for newly operating cultural center.

• Responsible for drafting formation documents and assisting staff to create city’s first Housing Authority.

• Defended takings claim under Colorado’s “Impact Fee” statute (C.R.S. Section 29-20-201, et. seq.).

• Drafted substantial provisions of comprehensive zoning and subdivision regulations.

• Drafted comprehensive sales and use tax ordinance.

• Drafted comprehensive medical marijuana business ordinance including caregiver regulations.

• Assisted in the establishment of a new municipal court for a newly incorporated city.

• Drafted comprehensive “1041” regulations formally adopted through extensive public review and approval process.

• Drafted construction contracts and architect professional services agreements associated with development of Fitzsimons Campus.