John W. Utton, Attorney

Mr. Utton was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1965. He graduated with distinction from the University of Virginia majoring in economics in 1987. Mr. Utton earned his J.D. degree from Stanford Law School in 1990, where he was a member of the editorial board of the Stanford Law & Policy Journal.

After graduation from law school, Mr. Utton served as a law clerk to the Honorable James A. Parker, U.S. District Court Judge in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1990 to 1992. He then worked as a Special Prosecutor from 1992 to 1995 at the Office of the New Mexico Attorney General. In 1995, Mr. Utton joined the law firm of Sheehan, Sheehan & Stelzner, P.A. as an associate, becoming a shareholder in 1998.

Mr. Utton practices primarily in the areas of water rights administrative law and water planning; federal and state water rights litigation, including stream system adjudications; land use planning and zoning; and real estate and development. His clients have included private and public entities throughout the State of New Mexico, requiring representation in these areas. He is recognized by the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization as a Natural Resources Specialist in Water Law.

Mr. Utton has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of New Mexico Law School, teaching classes in natural resources and water law. He is a member of the American Bar Association Committees on Water Resources and Land Use Law.