Madeleine Morse
PEOPLE

Madeleine Morse

Associate
morse.madeleine@dorsey.com

Overview

Madeleine advises clients on natural resources, environmental, water rights, and administrative law matters, helping them navigate complex regulatory processes and advance development projects.

Madeleine works closely with clients navigating permitting, regulatory approvals, development projects, and land use challenges. Drawing on experience in administrative law, critical minerals, sovereign land matters, and natural resource regulation, she helps clients develop practical strategies for achieving their business and project objectives while managing legal and regulatory risk.

Her practice includes counseling clients on water rights, permitting and compliance issues, public land and sovereign land matters, contractual disputes, and project development across a range of industries, including mining, geothermal resources, and other emerging energy sectors.

Madeleine enjoys tackling complex problems that sit at the intersection of law, policy, and business and is committed to helping clients find creative, pragmatic solutions to regulatory and operational challenges.

Education & Admissions

University of Utah, S. J. Quinney College of Law (J.D., 2022), High Honors

University of Colorado, Boulder (B.A., Geography, 2019), Honors with Distinction

Admissions

  • Utah
  • Maine
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Utah

Experience

Representative Experience

Natural Resources & Water Rights

  • Negotiated Utah's largest annual donation of in-stream flow water rights.
  • Advised clients on water rights transactions, regulatory approvals, and development projects.
  • Represented the State of Utah in public trust, navigability, and sovereign lands litigation.

Environmental & Regulatory

  • Drafted and implemented pioneering lithium extraction regulations.
  • Advised clients regarding Brownfield and Superfund site transactions, cleanup obligations, and redevelopment.
  • Counseled clients on wildfire liability, suppression cost recovery, and related insurance and regulatory issues.
  • Advised governmental entities and private clients on administrative law, evidentiary proceedings, and regulatory compliance.

Legislative & Emerging Resources

  • Advised stakeholders on landmark Great Salt Lake legislation.
  • Organized an international working group addressing legal and policy issues associated with critical minerals in brine resources.

News & Resources

Events & Speaking Engagements

  • Presenter, Brine Mining CLE, Developing a Lithium Extraction Regulatory Paradigm for Great Salt Lake, 2025

Industries & Practices

  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Environmental
  • Mining
  • Oil & Gas
  • Real Estate & Land Use

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • Patrick O’Hara Fellow, 2021-2023
  • S.J. Quinney College of Law Student Bar Association, 2020-2022
  • S.J. Quinney College of Law Commencement Speaker, 2022 
Madeleine Morse