Sarah M. Kellner

Sarah's practice focuses on complex real estate litigation and eminent domain matters. She has litigated cases in state and federal courts across the country, as well as in arbitration and mediation.

Sarah's experience with eminent domain matters includes:

• Representing utility and energy companies in the acquisition of hundreds of miles of utility corridors and right-of-way for electric transmission lines, oil and gas pipelines, water pipelines and other large energy facilities. She counsels clients and manages projects from inception (including during the planning and engineering phases) through acquisition. Representative clients include Public Service Company of Colorado (an Xcel Energy Company) and Sinclair Transportation Company.
• Representing multiple landowners in the Denver metro area whose properties were condemned as part of the Fastracks light rail project. She assisted landowners during the early planning phases of the projects through the conclusion of condemnation actions.
• Representing a national shopping center anchor in an urban renewal condemnation action, including representation at a vesting hearing.
• Representing a large national company in several eminent domain matters across Colorado, including negotiating a reconfiguration of a project.
• Representing multiple landowners in condemnation actions associated with a recreational trail system being built through their residential properties.

General real estate matters Sarah has handled include:

• Representing a property owner in a multi-million dollar trespass and environmental dispute.
• Representing a recycling plant in a dispute over a municipality's attempt to increase its tax burden.
• Enforcing and challenging property liens.
• Representing landlords and tenants in commercial landlord-tenant disputes.

Sarah's experience in class action litigation includes:

• Defeating multiple class action claims against Fortune 500 insurance companies concerning claim handling processes, including successful appeals at both the appellate and supreme court levels.
• Convincing a court to decertify a class in a major consumer class action against a Fortune 50 insurance company.

Honors

• Faegre Baker Daniels – Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2017
• Faegre Baker Daniels — Baker Benson Pro Bono Award, 2015

Presentations

• Effecitve Case Planning: Getting Your Case Off to a Good Start
  ALI-CLE National Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation, Charleston, South Carolina, 2018
• Takings and Damaging by Flood: Case Selection Advice for Savvy Practicioners
  ALI-CLE National Eminent Domain and Land Valuation Litigation, Charleston, South Carolina, 2018
• Colorado Eminent Domain Practice
  Faculty, Colorado Bar Association, Denver, Colorado 2017
• Know When to Hold 'Em, Know When to Fold 'Em – Attorney Fee Recovery in Eminent Domain
  CLE International Eminent Domain Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2016
• Eminent Domain Legal Update
  International Right of Way Association, Denver, Colorado, 2016
• Eminent Domain Half-Day CLE
  Program Chair, Colorado Bar Association, Denver, Colorado 2015
• Appraiser's Rebuttal Expert Reports and Testimony - Effective Use of Appraisal Testimony to Rebut Expert
  CLE International, Denver, Colorado 2015
• Valuation of Outdoor Advertising Devices 
  CLE International Eminent Domain Conference, Denver, Colorado, 2013 (Assisted with materials and presentation)
• Motions in Limine – Do's and Don'ts
  CLE International Eminent Domain Conference, Denver, Colorado, 2011