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Law Firm Updates
Denver-founded business firm Moye White LLP announced on Feb. 7 that Anthony Tedeschi joined the firm’s Denver office as an associate in the business and corporate section. Tedeschi represents investment banks, arrangers, initial purchasers and underwriters in a range of finance and capital market transactions. The Columbia Law School graduate and Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar worked at two Am Law 100 firms and most recently was a solo practitioner in corporate and transactional matters.
On Feb. 10, Holland & Hart announced three associates — Meghan McGregor, David Law and Juan Obregon — joined the firm’s Denver office. McGregor, a University of Denver Sturm College of Law graduate, joined the firm’s real estate development practice and brings experience working with energy and natural gas exploration clients on identifying and resolving complex title issues. Law, a University of Denver Sturm College of Law graduate, will work on Holland & Hart’s labor and employment team. Law helps businesses find solutions to complex labor and employment issues, bringing experience litigating employment matters before the Colorado Civil Rights Division as well as working on collective actions and employment contract disputes. Obregon, a Tulane University Law School graduate, also joined the labor and employment team to represent employers in disputes around discrimination, retaliation, wrongful discharge and other employment-related matters. Obregon brings experience litigating ERISA claims and advising clients on a range of labor and employment matters.
Regional firm Sherman & Howard L.L.C. announced on Feb. 10 that member Lyle Wallace was named practice group leader of the firm’s business and real estate group. Wallace, who is based out of the firm’s Denver office, will lead business and real estate attorneys across Sherman & Howard’s 10 offices. The University of Denver Sturm College of Law graduate joined Sherman & Howard in 2017 and counsels corporate clients on capital formation finance transactions, foreign and domestic contract negotiations, corporate governance issues, workouts, restructurings and mergers and acquisitions transactions.
On Feb. 10, Greenspoon Marder announced Alan Schindler joined its Denver office as a partner in the national business firm’s litigation practice group. Schindler focuses on general commercial litigation matters including contracts, real estate law, professional liability and business torts. He has represented a range of clients for more than 10 years.
Kutak Rock, a national firm, announced on Feb. 8 that Erich Kennedy joined the firm’s Denver office as of counsel in the national public finance practice group. Kennedy, an Emory University School of Law graduate, works on public and commercial finance matters, representing banks, underwriters, issuers and borrowers. He brings more than 20 years of experience working on project support financings, including experience with senior living facilities, schools and universities, affordable housing, public transportation special districts and low-income housing tax credit program transactions.
The Judiciary
Gov. Jared Polis appointed commissioner for three judicial nominating commissions across the state, according to a Feb. 7 announcement. Each of the state’s 22 judicial districts has a committee that nominates candidates for district and county judicial vacancies.
The appointments are:
- Ryan Cobbins from Denver, a non-attorney unaffiliated with a political party, was appointed to the 2nd Judicial Nominating Commission as a member from Denver County. His term expires on Dec. 31, 2027.
- Sally Hays from Gunnison, a non-attorney unaffiliated with a political party, was appointed to the 7th Judicial Nominating Commission as a member from Gunnison County. Her term expires on Dec. 31, 2024 and she comes to the position after Bradley Harding resigned.
- Roberta “Christy” Naranjo from Pueblo, a non-attorney and a Democrat, was appointed to the 10th Judicial Nominating Commission as a member from Pueblo County. Her term expires on Dec. 31, 2027.
On Feb. 8, the 12th Judicial Nominating Commission announced three finalists for an upcoming district court vacancy. The district court judgeship vacancy will occur on April 1 and is created by the retirement of Judge Martin Gonzales. The three finalists are Kimberly Cortez-Rodriguez from La Jara and Jason Kelly and Benjamin Pacyga, both from Alamosa. Gov. Polis must appoint someone to the position by Feb. 23.
Gov. Polis announced on Feb. 9 that he appointed Deni Eiring to fill a vacancy on the Cheyenne County Court in the 15th Judicial District. The upcoming vacancy on March 1 was created by the resignation of Judge Gerald Keefe. Eiring has been a deputy district attorney in the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office since 2016. The Charlotte School of Law Graduate focuses her practice on criminal prosecution and from 2013 through 2016 worked as an attorney at Cure & Bain Law Office. Eiring, from Cheyenne Wells, was selected over Jeremy Boyce for the position.
Kudos
On Feb. 4, the Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation announced four new members for its board of directors. COLTAF runs the Colorado’s Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts program which uses interest on pooled trust accounts of attorneys to fund statewide civil justice access improvements.
The new board of directors members are:
- Clarissa Collier from Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell in Denver
- Jeffrey Kane from Southwest Water and Property Law in Durango
- Sam Niebrugge from Davis Graham & Stubbs in Denver
- Elizabeth Och from Hogan Lovells in Denver
The newly installed officers to COLTAF are:
- President Chuong Le from 3i Law in Denver
- David Johnson from Johnson Kush in Colorado Springs
- Erin Eiselein from Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck in Denver
- David Schafer from FirstBank in Wheat Ridge.
Colorado firm Coan, Payton, & Payne, LLC announced on Feb. 4 that it was named a Best Law Firm by U.S. News Best Lawyers in five categories — construction law, corporate law, real estate law, trusts and estates law, bankruptcy and creditor and debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law. The Best Law Firms list recognizes firms that clients and peers say exemplify professional excellence and quality work. C2P’s 2022 recognition marks its 12th consecutive year on the list.
On Feb. 9, the National Court Reporter Association announced that Colorado court reporter Jilian Kirchner received her Registered Professional Reporter certification. The RPR certification is issued to reporters who produce high-quality verbatim records and is based on written and skills-based tests. Kirchner, from Centennial, is an NCRA member and works as a deposition court reporter with Litigation Services and Wilson & Associates.
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announced on Feb. 10 that Denver associate Sarah Guthrie was elected to the board of directors at One Colorado, a LGBTQ+ advocacy organization. In her two-year term, Guthrie will help One Colorado with community and legislative outreach efforts.