WilmerHale announced Wednesday that former U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado John Walsh has rejoined the firm as a partner in its Denver office following his run for U.S. Senate.
“It was the opportunity of a lifetime to run for U.S. Senate,” Walsh said in a press release. “Public service is crucially important to me, as it is to WilmerHale, which has a long tradition honoring such service by its attorneys and staff. For that reason and more, I am glad to be back at the firm and looking forward to working with some of the nation’s most impressive lawyers to solve our clients’ toughest problems.”
Before joining WilmerHale in 2017, Walsh’s six years as U.S. Attorney for Colorado from August 2010 to August 2016 gave him one of the longest tenures in that post.
Before his appointment to U.S. Attorney, he was a partner at two Denver law firms where he handled internal and government investigations and litigated securities, class action and commercial litigation matters across the U.S. Earlier in his career, he served as chief of the Major Frauds Section and as assistant U.S. attorney for eight years in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.
Walsh will continue to devote time to WilmerHale’s team in California. He will work closely with former deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and current WilmerHale partner Alejandro Mayorkas, who served as U.S. attorney for the Central District of California from 1998
to 2001.
Walsh received a law degree from Stanford Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Williams College.
LATERAL WATCH
Fisher Phillips announced Wednesday the addition of Brett Wendt as a partner in the firm’s Denver office.
Wendt was part of Kutak Rock’s national employment group with a practice in employment law, including training, counseling and defending complex disputes.
Before joining Kutak Rock, Wendt served as vice president and general counsel for General Cannabis Corporation.
Wendt frequently lectures on employment laws and workplace concerns, including the rapidly evolving area of medical and legal marijuana. He earned his law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and he earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico.
Davis Graham & Stubbs announced Tuesday that Kent Fischmann has joined the firm as a partner in its finance and acquisitions department. He will continue to focus on intellectual property matters, particularly in the areas of trademarks and patents.
Prior to starting at DGS, Fischmann was a founding member of Marsh Fischmann & Breyfogle and practiced in the firm’s Boulder office. He previously practiced at other law firms in Denver and Seattle, including one specializing in intellectual property law.
Fischmann received a law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado.
JUDICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
The 10th Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for a district court judgeship created by the retirement of Judge Jill Mattoon, effective Feb. 8.
Nominees Priscilla Gartner of Denver, Steven Laman of Lakewood and Gregory Styduhar of Pueblo were selected by the commission Dec. 3.
Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days from Dec. 4 to appoint one of the nominees for the position.
Comments regarding any of the nominees may be sent via e-mail to the governor at [email protected].
Gov. Polis on Dec. 2 announced the appointments of David Yun, Sueanna Johnson and Christina Gomez to the Colorado Court of Appeals. These vacancies are created by the retirement of the judges Robert Hawthorne, Daniel Taubman and John Webb.
Yun is a partner at Jaudon & Avery, a position he has held since 2001. His practice consists of civil appeals and professional licensing matters. Previously, he was a partner and an associate with Long and Jaudon. Yun received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and a law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law.
Johnson is a senior assistant attorney general at the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, a position she has held since 2017. Her practice consists of civil enforcement litigation in securities matters, appellate litigation and general counsel work. Previously, she was an assistant attorney general and a law clerk to Denver District Judge John Coughlin. Johnson received a bachelor’s degree from Colorado College and a law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law. Gomez is a Partner at Holland & Hart in Denver, a position she has held since 2012. Her practice consists of appellate litigation as well as review of quasi-judicial orders from governmental bodies. Previously, she was an associate with Holland & Hart. Gomez received a bachelor’s degree from Millsaps College and a law degree from Harvard Law School. Johnson’s appointment is effective Feb. 13, Gomez’s appointment is effective Feb. 25 and Yun’s appointment is effective Feb. 29.
Correction
The Colorado 200 list published in Law Week’s Dec. 2 issue included incorrect information for Stinson. The law firm is the 64th largest firm in Colorado and has 474 total attorneys and 21 in Colorado. We regret the error.