Overview
Bill Kyriagis represents business and real estate clients in litigation, bankruptcy and land use matters. Bill’s litigation practice covers a broad spectrum of commercial litigation, though his clients are primarily concentrated in the real estate, development and finance industries. He frequently represents landlords in breach of lease and commercial eviction cases, and represents lenders in collection actions, including in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Colorado. Bill represents real estate developers in land use and development disputes, both public and private, and has handled multiple pieces of litigation centering around the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act (CCIOA). In the land use context, Bill counsels clients on a variety of local government issues, including posturing land use matters for potential litigation and pursuing claims when necessary.
Bill has also developed expertise regarding the issues faced by landlords and property owners related to Colorado’s medical marijuana industry, and issues surrounding Colorado’s decriminalization and regulation of the recreational use of marijuana by adults (Amendment 64). Bill has worked on a number of pro bono cases, including a successful First Amendment challenge to local government land use regulations, and assisting tenants in landlord/tenant disputes.
Bill currently serves on the firm’s Technology Committee. Bill also blogs at www.rockymountainrealestatelaw.com, where his posts include discussion of real estate-related litigation issues and the real estate implications of Colorado’s marijuana laws.
Specialties
Medical Marijuana and Amendment 64
As Colorado’s medical marijuana industry has evolved, Bill Kyriagis has been on the forefront of the unique issues confronted by landlords, property owners and local governments in connection with medical marijuana dispensaries and grow operations. Bill has given multiple presentations on Colorado and national medical marijuana issues, including at a 2011 national American Bar Association conference. Bill has advised local and national clients on medical marijuana issues, and has provided counsel on Colorado-specific medical marijuana leasing issues. He also recently co-authored a chapter on land use issues in a forthcoming book on Colorado medical marijuana law.
In November of 2012, Colorado became one of two states to pass a ballot initiative aimed at decriminalizing and regulating the recreational use of marijuana by adults. Colorado’s Amendment 64 raises a host of complex legal, political and economic issues that Colorado and federal authorities will be addressing in the coming months. The potential for significant new demand for retail and industrial space also presents both opportunities and risks for the real estate industry. Bill has been closely following developments surrounding Colorado’s Amendment 64, and will be writing and speaking about these issues as Colorado moves forward with its efforts to create a regulated market for marijuana.
Publications
-
Speaker: Colorado Medical Marijuana Law, Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association Lunch and Learn, October 25, 2012
Speaker: CREJ Office & Industrial Summit, Industrial Legal Update - Medical Marijuana, September 6, 2012
-
Contributing Author: Chapter 5-Land Use Regulation of Medical Marijuana Facilities, in Colorado Medical Marijuana Law by Ann Toney, JD (2012)
-
Speaker: Medical Marijuana Issues, CLE Land Use Conference, December 1-2, 2011
-
Speaker: Colorado Medical Marijuana Laws, Kaplan College, Thornton, Colorado, June 14, 2011
-
Speaker: Medical Marijuana Land Use Issues, ABA Section of State and Local Government - National Conference, Portland, Oregon, May 12, 2011
-
Quoted in ABA Journal Law News Now article, Medical Marijuana is No Get-Rich-Quick Scheme, December 1, 2010
-
Speaker: Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association - Overview of Medical Marijuana Law, September 30, 2010
-
Speaker: Legal Regulatory and Land Use-Medical Marijuana and Other Hot Topics, Colorado Real Estate Journal Industrial Owners & Managers Conference & Expo, September 15, 2010
Awards & Community Involvement
-
Impact Denver (2011)
-
Bernard J. Seeman Scholarship for 2004-2005
-
Chief Justice Francis J. Knauss and Emma Gurr Knauss Scholarship for 2005-2006
-
Chief Justice Luis D. Rovira Scholarship for 2006-2007
-
John D. Fleming and Charles J. Kelly Memorial Scholarship for 2006-2007
-
Colorado Super Lawyers List-Rising Star (2012-2013)