In the complex world of energy, land rights, and environmental regulation, Nigerian attorney Mayowa Gbenro is building a practice in Colorado at the intersection of oil and gas, land use, and property-rights disputes. With dual admission to the bars in Colorado and Nigeria, an LL.M. in International Business Transactions, and an ongoing LL.M. in Global Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law, he works as an associate attorney at a Denver-based firm specializing in oil & gas and eminent domain cases.
Gbenro’s practice is litigation-focused. He advises and represents landowners, mineral owners, and other non-industry clients in cases where regulatory and courtroom decisions can impact land use, operational impacts, and long-term planning. His practice primarily involves complex litigation, including proceedings before the Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) (formerly the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission) and in Colorado courts, where cases often turn on statutory interpretation, administrative procedure, and the development of a strong evidentiary record.
Beyond oil-and-gas litigation, Gbenro also handles eminent domain and condemnation cases, where private property rights intersect with infrastructure needs and government authority. These disputes often demand careful attention to statutory compliance, procedures, and the factual record, especially when the case depends on what the condemning authority can legally do and what the evidence shows.
Gbenro’s professional profile also includes judging and evaluation roles in legal education programs. He has volunteered as a scoring panelist for the Colorado Bar Association’s High School Mock Trial Program, including at the Denver Regional High School Mock Trial Tournament, where volunteers score student advocacy during trial rounds. The program is a statewide initiative and attracts participation from more than 100 teams and about 1,500 students, with volunteers helping evaluate student performance in simulated trial proceedings.
Having first trained and litigated in Nigeria, Gbenro brings a comparative perspective on how resource disputes develop when law, investment, and community interests conflict. This international outlook informs his work in a field where local conflicts can have wider effects on governance, legitimacy, and long-term land use.
Reflecting on his role, Gbenro noted that the law of land and resources is never static but constantly evolving with economic and social demands. “Every matter I handle represents more than just a legal issue; it affects livelihoods, infrastructure, and the way communities interact with their environment,” he said.
From his office in Denver, Colorado, Gbenro continues to build a litigation-focused track record in natural resources and property-rights disputes. With over ten years of experience and advanced legal training across two jurisdictions, he remains focused on contested matters at the core of Colorado’s natural resources and property-rights landscape.