- J.D., Loyola Law School - Chicago, cum laude, Lead Articles Editor, Loyola Law Journal
- B.A., University of Colorado
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- Colorado
Tom Snyder has more than 25 years of commercial litigation experience, with a focus in the telecommunications and public finance industries. He has served as lead trial attorney for several telecommunications carriers in lawsuits concerning right-of-way, traffic pumping, inter-carrier compensation, billing, franchising, breach of contract, and local taxation practices before courts and utility commissions throughout the country.
Tom also is a well-known attorney in public finance and other municipal litigation. He was lead counsel in successfully defending the City of Aurora, Colorado in several highly publicized legal challenges seeking to enjoin the financing of the Gaylord of the Rockies Convention Center and Hotel. Tom currently is representing Aurora in a challenge to statewide methodology used in tax incremental financing (TIF) calculations. He similarly has represented other cities, counties, urban renewal authorities, school districts, and bondholders against challenges to the financing of hundreds of millions of dollars intended for public development projects. He has defended several of these entities against challenges concerning public financing ballot issues and election results. Tom also has represented several of these municipal clients in complex contract, eminent domain, and construction lawsuits.
Tom has tried more than 50 cases to decision. He has obtained several multimillion-dollar judgments and settlements, and he has successfully defended many companies against multimillion-dollar breach of contract, statutory, and tort claims. In 2013, Law Week Colorado named Tom a “Lawyer of the Year." Tom also is the founder and president of the nonprofit Colorado Poverty Law Project, which provides free legal representation to the disadvantaged through a staff of 20 lawyers and other employees; see copovertylawproject.org.
Tom also is a well-known attorney in public finance and other municipal litigation. He was lead counsel in successfully defending the City of Aurora, Colorado in several highly publicized legal challenges seeking to enjoin the financing of the Gaylord of the Rockies Convention Center and Hotel. Tom currently is representing Aurora in a challenge to statewide methodology used in tax incremental financing (TIF) calculations. He similarly has represented other cities, counties, urban renewal authorities, school districts, and bondholders against challenges to the financing of hundreds of millions of dollars intended for public development projects. He has defended several of these entities against challenges concerning public financing ballot issues and election results. Tom also has represented several of these municipal clients in complex contract, eminent domain, and construction lawsuits.
Tom has tried more than 50 cases to decision. He has obtained several multimillion-dollar judgments and settlements, and he has successfully defended many companies against multimillion-dollar breach of contract, statutory, and tort claims. In 2013, Law Week Colorado named Tom a “Lawyer of the Year." Tom also is the founder and president of the nonprofit Colorado Poverty Law Project, which provides free legal representation to the disadvantaged through a staff of 20 lawyers and other employees; see copovertylawproject.org.
Publications
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"Putting A Price On Dirt: The Need For Better-Defined Limits On Government Fees For Use Of The Public Rights-Of-Way Under Section 253 Of The Telecommunications Act Of 1996," Vol. 64, FED. COMM. L. J., 137.
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"Green Building Regulations Duel in Court," Law Week Colorado, April 2010 (author)
Speaking Engagements
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"Broadband Market Analysis, Franchising and Antitrust Issues – Regulatory, Legal and Industry Challenges," CLE International Telecommunications Law Seminar, Denver, CO, December 2012
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"Franchising and Rights-of-Way – Regulatory Issues," CLE International Telecommunications Law Seminar, Denver, CO, December 2011
Community Involvement
- Colorado Poverty Law Project, Founder and boardmember, (2015-present)
- Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Boardmember, (2008-2015)
Telecommunications
- Obtained a defense verdict for a telecommunications carrier following a jury trial on a $193 million breach of contract claim filed by a city in New Mexico federal court.
- Obtained an injunction on behalf of a telecommunications carrier following a bench trial in New Mexico federal court, permanently enjoining a city from enforcing unlawful telecommunications ordinance pursuant to 47 U.S.C. § 253.
- Obtained an injunction on behalf of a telecommunications carrier against a city following a bench trial in Iowa federal court, and appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, permanently enjoining the city from enforcing unlawful telecommunications ordinance pursuant to state law.
- Received agreements from cities in Oregon, Iowa, and New Mexico, following separate lawsuits, to rescind ordinances imposing unlawful requirements, fees, and taxes on telecommunications carriers.
- Obtained judgments for a large telecommunications carrier following bench trials in Maryland and Oregon, refunding overpaid franchise fees and taxes.
- Obtained a dismissal of a breach of contract claim filed against a large telecommunications carrier with the Nebraska Public Service Commission.
Energy
- Obtained full defense awards, and a large award on counterclaims, for a Colorado ethanol producer following two successful arbitrations of breach of contract claims brought by a railroad carrier.
- Obtained dismissal of oil company from class action challenging drug testing.
- Obtained a full-dollar settlement payment for a natural gas processor in a measurement dispute concerning natural gas liquid.
Public Finance
- Successfully defended the City of Aurora, Colorado in several lawsuits and appeals challenging the public financing of the $820 million Gaylord Hotel project.
- Obtained decision from Colorado Supreme Court in favor of bondholder in taxpayer case challenging TABOR election for metro district taxes.
- Successfully defended the City of Loveland, City of Aurora, and the Poudre School District in ballot issue and election contests to public financing ballot issues.
- Super Lawyers® 2021
- Law Week Colorado, Lawyer of the Year
- Colorado Lawyers Committee, Task Force of the Year, 2010
- Colorado Lawyers Committee, Task Force of the Year, 2007
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