MICHAEL SHORT - Key Persons
Albert Barker represents a wide range of interests in the most influential Idaho cases and projects in the areas of water law, environmental and natural resources law, mining, construction law, and commercial litigation matters before the Idaho Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit, state and federal trial courts and administrative agencies. He has been counsel in water rights and right-of-way litigation, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Superfund and other environmental litigation. He represents insureds in environmental insurance coverage matters and has extensive experience in construction and commercial projects and resulting litigation. Albert served as counsel to the Boise Project Board of Control and its member irrigation districts in developing, constructing and operating the Lucky Peak and Arrowrock Hydroelectric Projects and their lowhead hydroelectric projects. He has helped permit and develop many hydroelectric projects, both in Idaho and in other states.
Albert has been practicing in Idaho since 1982 and is a founding partner of Barker Rosholt & Simpson LLP. He is recognized as a Band 1 lawyer in Natural Resources & Environment by Chambers & Partners. Mountain States Super Lawyers acknowledged his expertise in Energy & Natural Resources. The American Lawyer, Corporate Counsel have rated him as a Top Rated Lawyer in Construction Law and a Top Rated Lawyer in Energy, Environmental and Natural Resources. He holds a preeminent "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
In 2013, Mr. Barker was appointed by Governor Otter to serve on the Idaho Water Resource Board; he was reappointed by Governor Otter to a second term in 2017. In 2021, he was appointed to a third term on the Board by Governor Little.
Mr. Simpson began his career as an engineer in structural design and construction, and in the Electric Utility industry, and furthered his education by attending law school at the Lewis and Clark Northwestern College of Law, graduating in 1990. Mr. Simpson is one of the three founding partners of Barker Rosholt & Simpson, LLP. He has served as a member of the National Water Resources Association's Policy Development Committee since 2001, and in 2010 was appointed by the Governor of the State of Idaho as a representative to the Western States Water Council. Mr. Simpson was invited by Governor Little to participate in the Governor's Salmon Task Force and the appointment was effective beginning in June 2019. He is also one of Idaho Water User Association's Representatives for the Columbia Basin Partnership negotiations.
Mr. Simpson has been instrumental in assisting clients in litigation and administrative proceedings concerning conjunctive administration of ground and surface water, endangered species act, remediation of ground and surface water, adjudication of Native American water right issues and power generating facilities.
After graduating magna cum laude from St. John's University, with a B.A. in Philosophy, Mr. Short received his Juris Doctor from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 2010. During law school, he focused in international and environmental law and earned Certificates in Environmental Law, International Legal Studies, and Civil Law. In addition to his studies, he served as a teaching assistant for summer abroad programs in Vienna and Budapest, and at the University of Akureyri's Polar Law LLM program in Iceland.
Mr. Short grew up in Boise's North End, and after beginning his practice of law in New Orleans, he decided to return home. When not working, Mr. Short enjoys playing and refereeing hockey and travelling whenever possible.
Scott Magnuson started out practicing law in the State of California, however, moved back to Idaho and has been practicing here since 2008. He practices in firm's areas of water rights, natural resources, and environmental law and litigation, and additionally in the firm's appellate practice. In addition to being licensed in California, Scott also has experience and has represented the firm's clients in a wide range and variety of matters involving easements, property rights, contracts, employment issues, personal injury, property damage, insurance claims and various other transactional and litigation matters.
With over twenty years' experience representing individual water users, canal companies, municipal providers, and irrigation districts, Travis handles water right permitting, adjudication, and administration throughout the State of Idaho. Travis also counsels clients on general business, administrative, real property matters and related litigation, including an emphasis on non-profit corporations. He regularly appears before Idaho's adjudication courts and the Idaho Department Water Resources and has advised on a variety of real property and water right sales, including guiding a local company through a $25 million sale of its water rights. Travis has successfully represented local canal companies and irrigation districts before the Idaho Supreme Court, securing important decisions protecting senior water right interests.
Travis is a former chair of the Idaho State Bar Water Law Section and is a member of the Fifth District Bar Association and Theron W. Ward American Inn of Court. Travis also participates and advises committees serving the Idaho Water Users Association and Water District 01.
A lifelong Idaho resident, Travis attended college and law school at the University of Idaho in Moscow. He interned with Governor Phil Batt, focusing on natural resource and environmental issues and served on the Idaho Law Review. Travis has served on various non-profit boards, including as President of the University of Idaho Alumni Association. Travis and his wife Mandi have three sons. Travis and his family enjoy camping, whitewater rafting, fly-fishing, and rock climbing.