Selena Z. Sauer is an Associate in the Kalispell office and a member of the Energy and Environmental Practice Group. Her practice in natural resources and environmental law spans from representing large facilities and government entities in significant environmental matters to negotiating easements and securing water rights for business entities and individuals. Selena enjoys navigating complex federal environmental compliance and permitting issues related to the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), or Resource and Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA),as well as state natural resources and environmental regulatory compliance and permitting. In addition to her regulatory and environmental litigation work, she also enjoys a strong water law and real property practice, including advising on water rights and representing clients before the Water Court, drafting deeds, negotiating easements, and litigating adverse possession and other quiet title actions.
Selena’s experience with high-profile, politically charged environmental litigation cases, makes her an integral part of a dedicated team that collaborates on significant matters for large clients, including quasi-governmental entities and major facilities. She emphasizes the importance of teamwork in tackling these complex issues, noting that the scale and significance of these cases demand a collective effort that would be impossible without a strong, cohesive group. By developing strategic solutions and addressing complicated problems, Selena ensures that her clients receive the highest level of service while maintaining responsiveness to both her clients and her team. Along with her passion for environmental law, Selena’s early work on water law at the Utten Center in New Mexico, and years as a mineral rights attorney in Colorado provide her with a wide expertise in natural resources, property law and title to round out her practice.
Selena’s passion for environmental issues flourished while she worked in New Mexico, at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in litigation support and environmental compliance and permitting. At LANL, one of the largest and most heavily regulated federal facilities in the country, Selena immersed herself in a diverse array of unique environmental matters.
Selena received her J.D. from the University of Mexico School of Law, where she served as Co-Editor in Chief of the Natural Resources Journal, earned a Natural Resources and Environmental Law specialization certificate, and received the Albert E. Utton Natural Resources Law Award for excellence in Natural Resources.
Selena remains active in her community, serving as a presenter at the Northwest Montana Job fair and educating young people on the legal field. She also supports the local high school speech and debate team and is a judge for the National Speech and Debate Association’s high school competitions. Selena is a member of The Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law’s (FNREL) Scholarship Committee which awards scholarships to law students with a passion for environmental law and regularly updates chapters of the FNREL publication “American Law of Mining”.
In her free time, Selena is an outdoor enthusiast and can be found skiing, rafting, mountain biking, hiking, and camping.