John "Sean" Jennings

Director

PHONE 303-628-3636
EMAIL
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Biography
  • Biography
  • Legal Experience
  • Insights
  • Presentations & Publications
  • Community Involvement
  • Media
  • Firm News

Sean Jennings is a regulatory attorney at Ireland Stapleton. He represents businesses in matters involving regulatory law, government relations, and commercial transactions. Sean works with local and national clients in diverse industry sectors such as food and beverage, cannabis, hemp/CBD, transportation, energy, and gaming. He helps navigate laws in emerging markets such as short-term rentals, fantasy sports, online delivery platforms, and renewable energy. He guides businesses through licensing, permitting, zoning/land use, compliance, government enforcement actions, and investigations.

Sean regularly represents clients before the Colorado Department of Revenue, Department of Regulatory Agencies, Public Utilities Commission, and other state agencies. At the local level, he appears before city councils, planning boards, and other elected bodies. Sean drafts proposed rules and legislation for clients in highly regulated industries. He assists businesses and organizations with rulemaking, policy strategy, and government affairs throughout Colorado.

In his corporate practice, Sean advises clients on transactions, contracts, and intellectual property matters. He enjoys helping businesses leverage and protect their brands with federal trademark registration at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Sean has served on rulemaking committees and policy working groups for the State of Colorado and the City of Denver. Previously, he was the hearings manager for the City of Denver’s Department of Excise and Licenses, where he led the City’s administrative hearings process for business licenses. During law school, he was the Executive Editor of the Villanova Law Review.

 

Admissions

  • Colorado

Education

  • J.D., Villanova University School of Law, 2011, cum laude
  • B.A., Michigan State University, 2008, with Honors, Phi Beta Kappa

Honors & Awards

  • Villanova Law Review, Executive Editor
  • Recipient of Villanova Law Review Scribes Award for Legal Writing & Editing
  • Recipient of Best First-Year International Law Brief Award 2009
  • Recipient of Best First-Year Memo Award 2008
  • “What’s New at the Colorado PUC,” Colorado Rural Electric Association Legal Seminar, October 6, 2023
  • Public Utilities Commission Update, Colorado Rural Electric Association Legal Seminar, October 7, 2022
  • “Bankruptcy and State Alternatives for Marijuana Business,” in September 7, 2018
  • “Current Topics in Colorado’s Regulatory Landscape,” in 92 Denver Univ. Law Review Online 183 (2015)
  • “Skiing Close to the Edge of Trademark Law: The Enforceability of Geographically Descriptive Marks in Vail Associates v. Vend-Tel-Co.,” in 55 Villanova Law Review 205 (2010)
  • Marijuana and the Non-Profit Industry, at Community Resource Center Roundtable, 2019
  • Hospitality Law, at Colorado Hotel & Lodging Association Conference, 2016
  • Regulatory Update, at Recreational Marijuana CLE, 2015
  • Navigating the Agencies, at Alcohol Beverage Law CLE, 2015
  • Colorado Marijuana Licenses, at Recreational Marijuana CLE, 2014
  • Energy Bar Association (EBA) Rocky Mountain Chapter, Board Member
  • Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Infrastructure Committee Member
  • Downtown Denver Partnership, Retail Council Member, Downtown Denver Leadership Program
  • WorldDenver, Board Member and Board Secretary
  • University of Denver Law School Professional Mentoring Program
  • Brother Rice Colorado Alumni Committee Member
See all of John's Community Involvement

Cannabis and the Law: What Happens When Cannabis is Legalized in America?

February 3, 2021