Law Week Colorado asked readers to weigh in on the best attorneys in the state’s most popular practice areas. This year, we got 330 responses to our annual Barrister’s Best community survey.
We profile “People’s Choice” and “Barrister’s Choice” selections in nearly 50 categories of legal practice in the state. Our boots-on-the-ground look at the local market features all your top picks in dozens of categories from the best Supreme Court justice to the best family law lawyer.
Supreme Court judge
People’s: Colorado Supreme Court Justice Richard Gabriel
Justice Richard Gabriel was appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court in 2015 by former Gov. John Hickenlooper. Gabriel has received numerous honors throughout his career while also being civically minded, serving as the director of the Colorado Judicial Institute, a member of the Colorado Bar Association Judicial Liaison Section, and a fellow of the American and Colorado Bar Foundations.
State Court of Appeals judge
People’s: Colorado Court of Appeals Judge Stephanie Dunn
Judge Stephanie Dunn was named to the Colorado Court of Appeals in 2012 after previously being a partner at Perkins Coie in Denver. Dunn serves on multiple working committees within the Colorado Court of Appeals and has volunteered for many organizations, including ones that help those struggling due to food insecurity. Law Week has previously recognized Dunn as one of Law Week’s Lawyers of the Year, Big Verdict Case list.
State trial court judge
People’s: 2nd Judicial District Court Judge David Goldberg
2nd Judicial District Court Judge David Goldberg was appointed to the Denver District Court in 2015. Goldberg previously served as a private practice trial attorney and a deputy district attorney in the Weld County DA’s Office. The Chicago-Kent College of Law graduate also has a strong background in community service, helping civic organizations and serving as an instructor with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.
Arbitrator
People’s: Mark Williams, Sherman & Howard
Mark Williams, a member at Sherman & Howard, has been working as an attorney for more than 35 years with a practice that includes arbitration and civil and commercial litigation. The University of North Carolina School of Law graduate is admitted in six states along with the U.S. Supreme Court and 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Barrister’s: David Tenner, Ridley, McGreevy & Winocur
David Tenner of Ridley, McGreevy & Winocur has a practice focused on arbitration and mediation, and he has been appointed special master in complex situations in federal and state courts. Tenner has received numerous accolades throughout his career while serving in leadership roles for different organizations, including the American Bar Association’s Arbitration Training Institute. Law Week readers also recognized Tenner in Barrister’s Bes for this category almost every year since 2012.
Mediator
People’s: Richard Rotole, Rotole & Rotole
Richard Rotole of Rotole & Rotole is an arbitrator and mediator and has worked in the legal field for 35 years, including being involved in more than 1,500 domestic relations cases with a 90% settlement rate. The Denver native and University of Denver Sturm College of Law graduate has previously been recognized in Law Week Colorado’s Barrister’s Best for his work in family law arbitration.
Barrister’s: Brad Ramming, Ramming ADR
Brad Ramming of Ramming ADR has served as lead and co-counsel in different types of trials for more than 20 years. Primarily serving the construction and business industries, Ramming leverages his extensive experience as a trial attorney to serve as a knowledgeable neutral party, leading clients to a solid resolution in his mediation practice. He also serves as a member of the Colorado Bar Association Construction Council.
Overall litigator
People’s: Chris Carry, Crisham & Holman
Chris Carry joined Crisham & Holman as the first associate attorney at the boutique firm and has received numerous accolades, including making the list for Best Lawyers’ Ones to Watch. Carry has a practice centered on complex business and commercial litigation. The University of Denver Sturm College of Law graduate has represented clients in nearly a dozen states from California to Florida.
Barrister’s: J. Aaron Atkinson, Hackstaff Snow
J. Aaron Atkinson of Hackstaff, Snow, Atkinson and Griess has numerous practice areas, including civil litigation, insurance bad faith and claims, collections, construction and real estate. Atkinson has helped his clients get more than $1 million in awards in Colorado, and is admitted to practice in multiple states.
Commercial litigator
People’s: Duncan Barber, Otteson Shapiro
Duncan Barber, of counsel at Otteson Shapiro, has a litigation practice with a background in financial restructuring, creditor rights and insolvency. Barber has lectured on numerous topics related to foreclosure and bankruptcy, having represented companies around the U.S. and abroad.
Barrister’s: Alan Sweetbaum, Sweetbaum Miller
Alan Sweetbaum, founding shareholder of Sweetbaum Miller, practices in commercial and civil litigation, while also dealing with issues impacting real estate. He founded the law firm in 1994. Sweetbaum has hosted several different radio shows in Denver and received multiple accolades related to his legal work.
Civil litigator
People’s: Jeffrey Springer, Springer & Steinberg
Jeffrey Springer, a partner at Springer & Steinberg, is a top-ranked trial lawyer winning numerous honors for different practice areas, including white-collar criminal defense, family law and personal injury. Springer is a member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, as well as several bar associations.
Barrister’s: David Holman, Crisham & Holman LLC
David Holman, a founding partner at Crisham & Holman, practices in multiple areas, including natural resources litigation, white collar and security investigations and business litigation. Holman has served in various capacities for Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Victory, a Catholic high school in the Denver area.
Lawyer-turned-legislator
People’s: Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet
Colorado U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet has been representing the state since 2009. Some of Bennet’s accomplishments include helping bring forward the Inflation Reduction Act and getting $4 billion to address the drought in the Colorado River Basin. Prior to the senate, Bennet served as superintendent of Denver Public Schools. He got a law degree from Yale Law School where he served as editor-in-chief of Yale Law Journal.
Public sector lawyer
People’s: Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has served as the state’s AG since 2019. Weiser previously worked in the U.S. Justice Department as a deputy assistant AG and worked with the Obama administration in technology and innovation. Weiser served as the dean of the University of Colorado Law School and founded Silicon Flatirons.
Government lawyer
People’s: Natalie Hanlon Leh
After working in private practice for more than 20 years, Natalie Hanlon Leh is the chief deputy attorney general for Colorado. Hanlon Leh has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado School of Law since 2004. As chief deputy AG, Hanlon Leh acts as an intergovernmental liaison for the Colorado AG and coordinates legal policy.
Lobbying firm
People’s: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Founded in 1968, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck has offices throughout the country including in Colorado, California and Washington, D.C. The firm’s practice areas run the gamut from corporate and business law, to gaming, government relations and real estate. Brownstein is a top lobbying firm in revenue.
Family law lawyer
People’s: Steven Visioli, BAM Family Law
Steven Visioli, a partner at BAM Family Law, has worked on numerous types of family law cases including divorces, custody, dependency and neglect and multi-state kidnapping. Visioli has received numerous accolades throughout his career. He was named a Law Week Colorado Up & Coming Lawyer in 2022. Prior to BAM, he worked at the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office and interned for a judge in Colorado’s 18th Judicial District.
Barrister’s: Amy Goscha, Kalamaya Goscha
Amy Goscha, a partner at Kalamaya Goscha, is a family law attorney taking on complex cases related to everything from divorces to child parenting time and decision-making. Goscha co-hosts the weekly podcast Divorce at Altitude, which delves into divorce, parenting and relationships. Goscha has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including being listed by Best Lawyers for family law this year.
Private equity lawyer
People’s: Keith Trammell, WilmerHale
Keith Trammell, a partner at WilmerHale, is a corporate lawyer who counsels a wide variety of groups, including public companies, private equity funds, and corporate governance. He was named Lawyer of the Year by Law Week Colorado in 2018 and 2021. Trammell has served on the Freedom Service Dogs’ Board of Directors since 2019 and he’s appeared on our Barrister’s Best list several years in a row.
Barrister’s: Douglas Griess, Hackstaff, Snow, Atkinson & Griess
Douglas Griess became a partner at Hackstaff, Snow, Atkinson & Griess in 2016. Griess has several practice areas, including business and commercial law, estate planning, real estate and trademarks. The University of Virginia School of Law graduate has a long history of community involvement and has remained active with various nonprofits. This is his second year appearing on Law Week’s Barrister’s Best list for this category.
Real estate lawyer
People’s: Michael Kaplan, WilmerHale
Michael Kaplan of WilmerHale and has a pro bono practice for immigration and real estate. At WilmerHale, he works with clients on a wide range of matters including transactions, acquisitions and leasing. His clients range from domestic to international real estate investment trusts and developers. Kaplan serves on the board of the Anti-Defamation League, Mountain States Region.
Barrister’s: Steve Cohen, Otten Johnson
Steve Cohen, a shareholder at Otten Johnson, has 30 years of experience working on commercial real estate transactions. One of Cohen’s main focus areas is the hotel and resort industry, representing operators, owners and developers. Cohen has been recognized by Best Lawyers every year since 2017 for his real estate law work and he’s been listed by Chambers in the real estate law practice section since 2016.
Banking lawyer
People’s: Chalyse Robinson, WilmerHale
Chalyse Robinson, a partner at WilmerHale, works with private and public companies through different aspects of debt financing transactions. She has a broad range of experience representing national and international companies, and private equity funds across a wide range of industries, including energy and natural resources, oil and gas, technology, retail, healthcare and more. Robinson was one of Law Week’s Top Women in 2021. She’s been ranked by both Chambers USA and Best Lawyers for her banking practice for the past three years.
Barrister’s: Christian Otteson, Otteson Shapiro
Christian Otteson, a partner at Otteson Shapiro, directs the firm’s financial services practice area. Otteson has several practice areas, including mergers and acquisitions, governance issues, commercial agreements and matters involving state and federal banking laws. He has appeared on Law Week’s Barrister’s Best for his banking practice every year since 2018.
Bankruptcy lawyer
People’s: Mike Pankow, Brownstein
Mike Pankow, a shareholder at Brownstein, has 30 years of experience working in Chapter 11 bankruptcy and corporate restructuring. His main practice areas are corporate and business bankruptcy, and litigation bankruptcy and restructuring. A graduate of Creighton University School of Law, Pankow has been involved in numerous legal organizations. Pankow was awarded this category in Law Week’s Barrister’s Best in 2015 and he was awarded Best Lawyers’ 2023 Lawyer of the Year for his bankruptcy work.
Barrister’s: Amalia Sax-Bolder, Brownstein
Amalia Sax-Bolder, a shareholder at Brownstein, practices at both the national and local level in bankruptcy and corporate restructuring. She represents a variety of clients in Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 bankruptcies, receiverships and foreclosures. Sax-Bolder also has a strong pro bono practice and represents nonprofits in LGBTQ+ cases.
Tax lawyer
People’s: Heidi Glance, Holland & Hart
Recognized by Best Lawyers as Lawyer of the Year for tax law in 2012, Heidi Glance is a trailblazer at Holland & Hart. Representing numerous tax-exempt businesses, Glance provides her clients with practical solutions and advice.
Barrister’s: John Snow, Hackstaff Snow Atkinson & Griess, LLC
Admitted to practice in Colorado and Nebraska, one of John Snow’s areas of focus is nonprofit tax advice. A graduate of the University of Nebraska College of Law, he used to be a lawyer for the legal department of the U.S. Postal Service. Snow serves on the corporate board of the Cancer League of Colorado.
Securities lawyer
People’s: Luke Ritchie, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP
Luke Ritchie has been featured on Barrister’s Best for securities law and he’s been recognized by Best Lawyers for securities litigation since 2020. A partner at Lewis Brisbois and an award-winning litigator, Ritchie’s practice is primarily focused on securities disputes at the state and federal level. He also serves on the Colorado Civil Rules Committee and is the current Chair of the Colorado Bar Association’s Business Law Section.
Barrister’s: Zaki Robbins, Moye White LLP
Named one of the top security lawyers by 5280 Magazine in 2022, Zaki Robbins is admitted to practice in Colorado and New York. Robbins focuses on real estate, corporate and finance matters and he also handles corporate and M&A issues at Moye White.
Antitrust lawyer
People’s: Katie Reilly, Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP
Quoted as a formidable litigator by Chambers USA, Reilly represents antitrust clients in complex industries like aviation, healthcare and telecommunications. She was one of Law Week’s Top Women in 2016 and boasts significant trial experience for antitrust matters.
Barrister’s: Diane Hazel, Foley & Lardner LLP
Diane Hazel handles multidistrict antitrust cases across the U.S. and she spent a year in Nambia on a grant working on antitrust and consumer protection issues. She was head of the antitrust unit while serving as the first assistant attorney general at the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. Hazel was also previously an antitrust attorney at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
Mergers and acquisitions lawyer
People’s: Ted White, Moye White LLP
Ted White has been recognized by Best Lawyers for mergers and acquisitions since 2020. A graduate of the New York University School of Law, he was also listed in Law Week’s Barrister’s Best for M&A in 2019 and 2021. White’s extensive experience includes fund formation and portfolio acquisitions.
Barrister’s: Rochelle Rabeler, Holland & Hart
Rochelle Rabeler represents a wide variety of industries like solar, wind and storage, counseling her clients through mergers and acquisitions. Rabeler is no stranger to Law Week’s Barrister’s Best either. She’s been voted by readers for barrister’s or people’s choice for the past nine years in her other practice areas of corporate law and renewable energy in addition to appearing on the list for this category previously.
Health care lawyer
People’s: Meghan Pound, Caplan & Earnest
Leader of Caplan & Earnest’s health law section, Meghan Pound has been listed on Barrister’s Best in this category twice before in 2019 and 2022. Admitted to practice in Colorado and Wyoming, some of Pound’s work includes the defense of hospitals and medical professionals accused of employment discrimination, civil rights violations and more.
Barrister’s: Emily Bath, Quintairos Prieto Wood & Boyer, P.A.
Emily Bath’s practice includes medical malpractice litigation, long-term care litigation and more. While at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Bath worked in-house for a large hospital system. She’s represented a diverse set of clients in the health care space including skilled nursing and assisted living facilities, dental practices and the pharmaceutical industry.
Environmental lawyer
People’s: Danielle Bettencourt, Fairfield and Woods P.C.
Danielle Bettencourt feels the environmental arena requires working cooperatively with others on practical and political solutions, not just legal solutions. Bettencourt has more than a decade of experience with issues involving environmental regulation.
Barrister’s: Colin Harris, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Colin Harris has been recognized by Chambers USA in Colorado for environmental law since 2016. A graduate of the American University Washington College of Law, Harris advises companies on environmental-related litigation issues in the mining, manufacturing and agriculture industries.
Oil and gas lawyer
People’s: David Holman, Crisham & Holman LLC
A founding partner of Crisham & Holman, David Holman’s experience includes working on behalf of oil and gas operators to defend royalty interests and operational rights. Holman’s practice focuses on natural resources litigation and general business litigation as well as white-collar and securities investigations.
Water law lawyer
People’s: Steve Sims, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Steve Sims’ practice areas include government relations, litigation and natural resources issues like land use and development and water law. Sims, admitted to practice in Colorado and New Mexico, was most recently recognized by Best Lawyers for water law. Sims was also one of the contributors to the draft updates for the Colorado Water Plan in 2022.
Barrister’s: Stuart Corbridge, Vranesh and Raisch, LPP
Stuart Corbridge started with Vranesh and Raisch LLP in Boulder, Colorado, in 2003, first as an associate and then as a partner in 2010. Recently recognized by Best Lawyers for water law, Cordridge’s practice focuses on water rights, water project development and more.
Renewable energy lawyer
People’s: John Snow, Hackstaff Snow Atkinson & Griess, LLC
Appearing for a second time on Barrister’s Best, John Snow’s renewable energy practice has also been recognized by Law Week readers. Snow concentrates primarily on renewable energy project development, but he maintains an active pro bono practice too, earning the Colorado Supreme Court’s Pro Bono Achievement award in 2020.
Barrister’s: Andrew Spielman, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Andrew Spielman practices energy law, natural resources law (mining and public lands), real estate law and government relations law. As an energy attorney, Spielman deals with both sides of the aisle – public land use by developers and private entities for agency approval. He was previously recognized in Barrister’s Best for his work as a renewable energy lawyer in 2009 and from 2012 to 2018.
DUI lawyer
People’s: Jay Tiftickjian, Tiftickjian Law Firm, P.C.
Recognized by Colorado Super Lawyers since 2010, DUI trial attorney Jay Tiftickjian was the former deputy district attorney where he litigated more than a thousand DUI cases for Adams County and Broomfield County. Tiftickjian is a nationally published author and has lectured about DUI law in Colorado, Nex Mexico, Missouri and Alaska.
Barrister’s: Megan Downing, Recht Kornfeld P.C.
Megan Downing is a trial attorney handling cases involving a wide range of criminal law issues from misdemeanor and traffic cases to first-degree murder, sexual assault and DUI. She also handles cases on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union. Downing previously worked as a trial attorney for the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender.
Marijuana law lawyer
People’s: Dan Garfield, Fairfield and Woods P.C.
Named Barrister’s Best for cannabis law by Law Week in 2022, Dan Garfield has 25 years of experience practicing cannabis law, bankruptcy and business transactions. As a lead attorney in the cannabis industry, Garfield represents public companies, investors, CBD manufacturers and more. He also represented one of Colorado’s largest cannabis chains and Garfield is affiliated with the International Cannabis Bar Association.
Barrister’s: Melissa Kuipers Blake, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Melissa Kuipers Blake is co-chair of Brownstein’s cannabis and industrial hemp industry group. Since the legalization of cannabis in Colorado in 2012, she’s kept up with the ever-changing regulatory environment of cannabis and counsels her clients on statutory, regulatory, compliance and workplace issues.
Criminal defense lawyer
People’s: Fredric Winocur, Ridley McGreevy & Winocur, P.C.
Combining white-collar defense and criminal defense in his practice, Fredric Winocur has been recognized by Best Lawyers for both areas since 2016 and he isn’t unfamiliar with Barrister’s Best, snagging the people’s choice category in 2022 for white collar defense. Winocur has won challenging defense verdicts in more than 50 jury trials. He defends his clients in a variety of areas including health care fraud, public corruption, financial fraud and more.
Barrister’s: Madalia Maaliki, Richards Carrington, LLC
Previously a prosecutor for the Adams County District Attorney’s Office, Madalia Maaliki brings a unique perspective to criminal defense. She’s worked on a variety of criminal law issues including homicide, arson, domestic violence and more. Maaliki was recognized for her work by Law Week readers in 2021 in Barrister’s Best.
Criminal defense: white collar lawyer
People’s: Cliff Stricklin, King & Spalding LLP
Creator of the white-collar criminal law program at the University of Colorado Law School, Cliff Stricklin served as an adjunct law professor there for 10 years. He’s been recognized by Chambers USA as a top-ranked lawyer for white-collar crime and government investigations litigation since 2012 and he was listed as best litigator in Law Week’s Barrister’s Best in 2011.
Barrister’s: Harvey Steinberg, Springer & Steinberg
Springer & Steinberg partner Harvey Steinberg’s impressive legal career is focused on criminal defense but he first started out as a deputy district attorney in Colorado’s 18th Judicial District. Steinberg has said he believes the legal system demands to be held in check and he’s happy to hold that line for his clients, taking on some of the toughest criminal defense cases without flinching.
Immigration lawyer
People’s: Catherine Chan, Chan Immigration
Catherine Chan lends her knowledge in immigration, asylum, deportation defense and naturalization to pro bono efforts and legal clinics, ultimately showing her dedication to the community. She’s represented clients before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Colorado Supreme Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals and more.
Barrister’s: Chris Thomas, Ogletree Deakins
Chris Thomas advises his clients on immigration-related compliance issues and defends companies in government audits and investigations. Thomas has been consistently recognized by Best Lawyers for immigration law and he is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Trust/estates lawyer
People’s: Paige Justus, Armstrong Teasdale LLP
Paige Justus equips her clients with trust and estate planning strategies, assisting them with trust administration and probate proceedings. Justus was recognized by Best Lawyers in Ones to Watch for corporate law and trusts and estates in 2021 and 2022.
Barrister’s: Richard Hess, Coan, Payton & Payne, LLC
Richard Hess mentors his clients on estate planning concerning the management of assets, wealth transfer and other matters. He’s been listed in Best Lawyers for trust and estates since 2013 and Hess is an active member of the Rocky Mountain Estate Planning Council and the National Association of Estate Planning Councils.
Nonprofit lawyer
People’s: John Wylie, Sherman & Howard
John Wylie has dedicated his career to assisting nonprofits in meeting their missions. His understanding of the complexities of nonprofit legal needs allows him to skillfully represent faith-based, sports, health care, charitable and educational organizations and advise them on various topics including tax issues and regulatory matters.
Barrister’s: Greg Corbin, Werge Law
Greg Corbin joined Werge Law Group as a partner in 2022 and has dedicated his practice to assisting individuals, small businesses and nonprofits. Corbin is president-elect of the Colorado Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Section Counsel. He remains committed to the work of nonprofits as a volunteer on the board of directors for Project Worthmore, which seeks to support refugee families.
Corporate law lawyer
People’s: Gino Maurelli, Brownstein
Gino Maurelli brings more than 20 years of experience closing deals for his middle market company clients on both the buy and sell sides. The University of Denver Sturm College of Law graduate works across various industries, including consumer products, health care, manufacturing, business services and software and technology. He has previously been recognized in Law Week Colorado’s Barrister’s Best for private equity law in 2015.
Barrister’s: Tom Romer, Greenberg Traurig
Tom Romer, shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, is known for negotiating international corporate deals and transactions valued at billions of dollars. He is also active in the Denver community as a board member for the Denver Art Museum and Metropolitan State College of Denver Foundation Inc.
In-house counsel lawyer or legal team
People’s: DaVita
DaVita is a Fortune 500 health care company based in Denver. In order to achieve its mission of being the provider, partner and employer of choice, the company has a dedicated legal department that provides the health care company with sound corporate counsel.
Appellate law lawyer
People’s: John Crisham, Crisham & Holman
John Crisham has represented clients in civil litigation cases and appeals in more than 15 states before 10 different federal appellate courts and the U.S. Supreme Court. Prior to founding Crisham & Holman, he worked as a partner at firms in Denver and Washington, D.C. and served as a law clerk for a judge on the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Barrister’s: Anne Whalen Gill
Anne Whalen Gill literally wrote the book on appellate practice in the state. She started her career in civil litigation more than 40 years ago in the New York Supreme Court. Her work brought her to Colorado, where she worked as a staff attorney at the Colorado Court of Appeals and wrote the first edition of “Colorado Appellate Law and Practice” before opening her own appellate practice boutique.
Intellectual property lawyer (non-litigator)
People’s: Scott Brairton, Holzer Patel Drennan
Scott Brairton is uniquely qualified to advise and assist inventors, companies and corporations with intellectual property rights matters. He previously worked as a patent examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and he uses his more than 15 years of experience to help his clients achieve their business goals.
Barrister’s: Ben Fernandez, WilmerHale
Ben Fernandez uses his more than 15 years of intellectual property experience to help clients develop patents across the medical, retail, energy and clean technology sectors. He also shares his expertise with students as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Law School, and he has been recognized in Law Week’s Barrister’s Best for intellectual property in 2017 and 2018.
Intellectual property litigator
People’s: Joseph Kovarik, Sheridan Ross
When Joe Kovarik entered the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, he brought with him a wealth of knowledge from his undergraduate and graduate studies of biochemistry and molecular, cellular and developmental biology. His scientific background has given him an edge when working with leaders in the medical device and biosciences sectors on intellectual property rights issues.
Barrister’s: Aaron Bradford, Sheridan Ross
Trial attorney Aaron Bradford specializes in the fields of technology, health care and hospitality both in the U.S. and abroad. Giving back to the community is also a priority for Bradford — he founded Wheels of Justice, which raises money for pediatric oncologic research and care. He has been previously recognized in Law Week’s Barrister’s Best for intellectual property litigation and health care.
Employment lawyer for plaintiffs
People’s: Laura Wolf, Spark Justice Law
Laura Wolf is committed to using her legal expertise to advocate for those who have had their civil rights infringed upon. A graduate of Harvard Law School, she has tackled cases regarding sexual assault in schools, employment discrimination, use of excessive force and disability discrimination.
Barrister’s: Diane King, King Greisen
Over the course of her career working in employment law, Diane King has tried, arbitrated and mediated hundreds of cases. Outside of the courtroom, King regularly lectures on employment law, holds several leadership and board membership positions and has published various articles. From 2015 to 2017, King was recognized in Law Week’s Barrister’s Best for her plaintiff-side employment law work.
Employment lawyer for defendants
People’s: Raymond Martin, WTO
As a partner at Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell, Raymond Martin has represented numerous large-scale clients, including Fortune 500 companies, in various highly regulated industries in labor and employment litigation. In 2016, he was recognized in Law Week’s Barrister’s Best for his employment law work for defendants.
Barrister’s: Todd Fredrickson, Fisher Phillips
Todd Fredrickson works with employers on labor law issues, both after charges have been filed and before. While he represents employers in contract negotiations, grievance arbitrations and unfair labor practice charges, he also counsels them on how to avoid litigation by advising employers on developing proper policies and training staff on sexual harassment, discrimination, employee discipline and discharge. Law Week readers have recognized him in Barrister’s Best for employment law seven times since 2011.
Personal injury law lawyer
People’s: Dan Caplis, Caplis Law
Dan Caplis has been handling injury cases since he first began his career in law. Early in his career, Caplis litigated a medical malpractice trial involving birth injuries to a set of triplets, which sparked his passion for injury law. Caplis has dedicated over 35 years to assisting individuals whose lives have been affected by major injuries in trials, arbitrations and settlements.
Barrister’s: Ross Ziev
Ross Ziev is not only a Colorado attorney but is also licensed in Wyoming and Texas, allowing him to practice at the state and federal levels. Despite his wide-reaching influence, Ziev’s deepest roots are in the Centennial State, where he created his own personal injury practice, Legal Help in Colorado. He has been recognized in Law Week’s Barrister’s Best for personal injury for the past two years.
Medical malpractice lawyer for plaintiffs
People’s: Lorraine Parker, Parker Lipman
This accolade is far from the only professional recognition Lorraine Parker has received in her more than 30 years of experience as a trial attorney in personal injury and medical malpractice law. She is a fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Attorneys, has been inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates and serves on the board of directors for the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association.
Barrister’s: Scott Eldredge, Burg Simpson
Scott Eldredge has spent his entire 40-year legal career with Burg Simpson. During that time, he has worked on numerous complex medical malpractice cases, has become a shareholder at the firm, has served on the executive committee and board of directors for the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and is the current president of the National Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyers Association. He has been recognized in Law Week’s Barrister’s Best for his medical malpractice work for plaintiffs from 2010 to 2013 and again in 2019.
Medical malpractice lawyer for defendants
People’s: Kevin Kuhn, WTO
Over the course of his career, Kevin Kuhn has taken more than 135 trials to verdict. In addition to high-stakes medical malpractice cases, he also tackles personal injury, commercial litigation and professional liability claims. He has been recognized many times by Law Week readers in Barrister’s Best for his defense work in medical malpractice suits.
Barrister’s: Barbara Glogiewicz, Caplan & Earnest
Barbara Glogiewicz attended the University of Colorado for nursing before attending law school. She’s used her medical background in her more than 30 years of experience as an attorney to help represent doctors, dentists, hospitals and long-term care facilities facing malpractice claims. She’s been recognized twice before in Law Week’s Barrister’s Best for this category.
Construction defects lawyer for plaintiffs
People’s: Duncan Griffiths, Griffiths Law
Duncan Griffiths specializes in complex civil litigation cases, frequently dealing with construction, insurance, real estate and commercial litigation matters. Griffiths is no stranger to professional recognition, including being recognized in 2021 and 2022 in Law Week’s Barrister’s Best for his litigation work.
Barrister’s: Mari Perczak, Burg Simpson
Mari Perczak serves as the co-practice group leader for Burg Simpson’s construction defects department. During her more than 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer in Colorado, Perczak and her team have helped to secure multi-million dollar verdicts for clients. She has been recognized in Law Week’s Barrister’s Best for this category from 2019 to 2021.
Construction defects lawyer for defendants
People’s: Brad Shefrin, Hall Booth Smith
With three decades of experience, Brad Shefrin works with companies big and small to assist them in insurance litigation defense and other matters. Prior to joining Hall Booth Smith, he worked for an international insurance brokerage firm and he acted as a municipal court prosecutor. Last year, he was recognized by Law Week readers in Barrister’s Best for his construction defect work for defendants.
Barrister’s: Jonathan Pray, Brownstein
As one of Brownstein’s lead litigators, Jonathan Pray has overseen major development disputes in Denver and has a diverse clientele in the real estate and construction industries. Both a litigator and transactional attorney, he’s previously been recognized in Law Week’s Barrister’s Best for this category.
Insurance lawyer for plaintiffs
People’s: Steve Shapiro, Otteson Shapiro
Otteson Shapiro partner Stephen Shapiro has an extensive construction practice and has handled cases in state and federal courts, including bench and jury trials, arbitrations and appellate advocacy. He focuses his practice on commercial litigation, often pursuing insurance benefits for policyholders across various claims. He’s been frequently recognized by the legal community for his work, including being highlighted in Law Week’s Barrister’s Best several times.
Insurance lawyer for defendants
People’s: Brooke Yates, Foley Hoag
Brooke Yates, a partner in Foley Hoag’s litigation and insurance recovery practices, has been invested in Denver’s legal community since she started pursuing the field by attending the University of Denver for both her bachelor’s and law degrees. She assists corporate policyholders with insurance coverage issues and focuses on the construction and development industries.
Legal support professional (paralegal, legal assistant etc.)
People’s: Debbie Werth, Crisham & Holman
Debbie Werth started her legal industry career when she was just in high school, performing office duties at a law firm. She eventually graduated to a paralegal position and has since worked on hundreds of litigation cases with law firms across Arizona, California and Colorado.
Education lawyer
People’s: Kristin Edgar, Caplan & Earnest
Kristin Edgar uses her expertise as the leader for the Caplan & Earnest education law practice to represent school districts, county hospitals and health services districts. In addition to counseling her clients on everything from policy development to employment, she also has a background in real estate and construction and can assist clients with leasing and real property acquisition matters.