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Law firm updates
Coan, Payton & Payne LLC announced Feb. 7 that Kevin Holst has joined its attorney team in Denver. Holst is an executive, legal and operational leader with more than 20 years of experience. He has served in senior roles at prominent organizations, and his practice areas include ski resort development, real estate development, hotel and hospitality, corporate transactions, multifamily development, leasing, corporate contracts and more. As a strategic fractional general counsel, Holst provides comprehensive legal leadership across all organizational aspects, from complex deal negotiations and closures to enterprise-wide risk management and regulatory compliance.
Caplan & Earnest announced Feb. 10 that Ava Cusack has joined the firm’s family and divorce law team as an attorney. Cusack brings experience in litigation, client advocacy and several areas of the law to Caplan & Earnest. Before joining the firm, Cusack served as an associate attorney at Overturf McGath & Hull P.C., where she provided strategic counsel to clients through the litigation process and collaborated with other attorneys to develop legal strategies.
The Judiciary
On Feb. 11, Gov. Jared Polis appointed Toni Wehman to the 17th Judicial District Court. The appointment fills the vacancy created by the death of Judge Sharon Holbrook and is effective immediately. Previously, Wehman was a chief deputy district attorney for policy and public affairs in the 17th Judicial District, a position she began in 2021. Her practice consisted of policy analysis and public affairs. Before that, she served as deputy general counsel for Denver Public Schools, senior litigation associate at Caplan & Earnest, deputy district attorney in the 17th Judicial District and law clerk for Justice Nancy Rice. Wehman earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School.
The 18th Judicial District announced that it will meet on Feb. 28 to interview and select nominees for appointment by the governor to the office of county judge for Arapahoe County. The vacancy was created Jan. 31 by the appointment of Judge Joshua Williford to the 18th District Court Bench. To be eligible, the applicant must be a qualified elector of Arapahoe County at the time of investiture and must have been admitted to the practice of law in Colorado. The initial term of office for a county judge is a provisional term of two years, and then, if the incumbent county judge is approved by voters, a term of four years. The completed application must be emailed no later than Feb. 19 at 4 p.m.
Kudos
On Feb. 10, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announced that Lauren Schwartz was elevated to shareholder in the firm’s corporate and business department. Schwartz has experience navigating complex debt finance matters and provides representation to a wide range of clients. Her work covers the full scope of middle-market commercial debt transactions, including acquisition financing, first lien/second lien structures, asset-based credit facilities and debtor-in-possession arrangements.
Ireland Stapleton announced Feb. 11 that Kelley Duke was appointed as its managing director. Duke has been a part of the firm’s leadership for several years and now takes on an expanded role overseeing daily operations and helping to drive growth and innovation at Ireland Stapleton. In her new position as top executive, Duke is responsible for the firm’s operational strategy. In addition to her firmwide leadership role, Duke continues her work as a litigator and trial attorney and will continue to serve as a AAA arbitrator.
Movers & shakers
Ballard Spahr announced Feb. 7 that it has signed an 11-year lease to relocate its Denver office to a 19,000-square-foot office space at 1800 Larimer in Denver’s business district. The firm’s 60 Denver attorneys and business professionals will move to the new space in August. The firm recently combined with Lane Powell, expanding to 18 U.S. offices and more than 750 attorneys.