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Law firm updates
Michael Best announced April 30 Eric Sanderson joined the firm’s wealth planning group, specifically the family office services sub-group, as partner. He is based in the firm’s Denver office. Sanderson’s background is in legal, tax, trust and financial strategies for high-net-worth families. He’s also held leadership roles at one of the largest banking institutions in the U.S. He earned his LLM in taxation from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. He also held a position at the law school as an adjunct professor of estate and gift tax law. He received his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law and his undergraduate degree in international business from the University of Colorado Boulder.
International law firm Clark Hill PLC announced April 30 it combined with Boulder-based LaszloLaw, a corporate and commercial transactional and litigation firm with a focus on the food, beverage and hospitality industries. Joining Clark Hill are Ted Laszlo, who founded LaszloLaw in 2001, and firm partner Mike Laszlo. Both join Clark Hill as members. LaszloLaw attorney Veronica Vecchio will join as a senior attorney. LaszloLaw will become Clark Hill’s Boulder, Colorado, office and will remain at its current location in Boulder. Mike Laszlo will serve as the member in charge of Clark Hill’s Boulder office.
Sherman & Howard on May 1 announced the return of litigation and transactional attorney Chelsea Reinhard. With years of experience in real estate and construction litigation, Reinhard represents owners, architects and contractors in a wide array of construction and real estate disputes. The firm noted Reinhard began as a summer associate, then a full-time associate and rejoined to step into a unique hybrid practice of transactional and trial work. Reinhard received her J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in German from Angelo State University. While in law school, Chelsea served as a law clerk for the Colorado Supreme Court and at a boutique law firm, according to the announcement.
Snell & Wilmer on May 1 welcomed partner Marty Walsh to the firm’s Denver office. According to the announcement, Walsh has transactional experience and focuses predominantly on advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital, technology and emerging companies and providing corporate counsel to ownership, boards and senior management. Prior to joining Snell & Wilmer, Walsh was a partner with Armstrong Teasdale, where he was the co-founder of the technology transactions group and the leader of the technology industry group. He received his J.D. from Saint Louis University School of Law, and his bachelor’s degree from Saint Louis University. Walsh was also recognized in Law Week Colorado’s 2020 Barrister’s Best as people’s choice for private equity.
The judiciary
The 7th Judicial District Nominating Commission on April 30 announced it nominated three candidates for a district court judgeship created by the retirement of Judge J. Steven Patrick. The vacancy will occur on July 1. Nominees Kellie Starritt of Montrose, Bennet Morris of Lake City and Alex San Filippo-Rosser of Crested Butte South were selected by the commission on April 29. Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days from April 30 to appoint one of the nominees to the judgeship for the 7th Judicial District serving Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel counties. Comments regarding any of the nominees may be emailed to the governor.
The Colorado Supreme Court on April 30 announced it selected Nga Vương-Sandoval as the head of the Judicial Officer Outreach Program for the Colorado Judicial Branch. The court also welcomed Manuel Banks as the manager of culture and leadership. Vương-Sandoval’s position was created by the Colorado Legislature in 2019 and is housed within the State Court Administrator’s Office. Vương-Sandoval will be responsible for education and outreach regarding judicial officer vacancies and assisting with diversity issues in the judicial pipeline. The role will develop and deliver educational programming for attorneys and law students regarding judicial vacancies and the application process. Vương-Sandoval will also continue many on-the-bench diversity programs and committees already underway. Banks will lead the efforts to foster an enriching, inclusive culture and develop leadership throughout the organization.
The 12th Judicial District is accepting applications for one vacancy on the Victims Assistance and Law Enforcement Board serving Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache counties. The five-member board provides grant funds to community and criminal justice agencies providing direct victim services in the district. Board members decide how to allocate funds for grants requested through a competitive application process. Each of the state’s judicial districts has a VALE board whose members are appointed by the chief judge to a three-year term; each member may serve up to two consecutive terms. In the 12th Judicial District, the preference is for a varied board including representation from each of the counties in the district. Board members are expected to attend a minimum of four meetings per year, be able to read and understand basic financial reports and read meeting materials in advance to be able to participate in discussions. Knowledge of community resources and trauma-informed victim services is helpful. Letters of interest are being accepted through May 31. Letters should include information about any prior board service and reasons for wanting to serve on the VALE Board. Letters need to be received by Court Executive Kyle Gustafson, 8955 Independence Way, Alamosa, CO 81101, or via email by May 31.
Gov. Jared Polis on May 1 appointed Ian MacLaren to the Dolores County Court in the 22nd Judicial District. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Judge Matthew Margeson and is effective June 1. MacLaren is the Montezuma County attorney, a position he’s held since 2021. His practice consists of civil matters, according to the announcement. MacLaren has also been a Dove Creek Municipal Court Judge since 2023, with a docket consisting of municipal matters. Previously, he was assistant Montezuma County Attorney from 2016 to 2021 and private practitioner at Ian MacLaren Attorney at Law from 2016 to 2021. MacLaren received his bachelor’s degree from the College of Holy Cross in 2009 and his J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law in 2012.
The 19th Judicial District Nominating Commission on May 2 announced it nominated three candidates for a district court judgeship created by the retirement of Judge Meghan Saleebey, which occurred on April 27. Nominees Cara Boxberger of Severance, Daniel Delaney of Erie and Audrey Galloway of Windsor were selected by the commission on May 1. Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days from May 2 to appoint one of the nominees. Comments regarding any of the nominees may be emailed to the governor.
The 18th Judicial District Nominating Commission on May 2 announced it nominated two candidates for a Lincoln County Court judgeship created by the retirement of Judge Truston Lee Fisher. The vacancy will occur on June 1. Nominees Jeremy Boyce of Ordway and Miles Cabral of Aurora were selected by the commission on May 1. Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days from May 2 to appoint one of the nominees. Comments regarding any of the nominees may be emailed to the governor.
The 4th Judicial District Nominating Commission on May 2 announced it nominated four candidates for two district court judgeships created by the resignation of Judge Marla Prudek and the retirement of Judge Scott Sells. The vacancies will occur on June 1 and July 1 respectively. Nominees Brian Fields of Black Forest and Hilary Gurney, Theodore McClintock and Dennis Luzinas McGuire, all of Colorado Springs, were selected by the commission on May 1. Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days from May 2 to appoint two of the nominees as district court judges. Comments regarding any of the nominees may be emailed to the governor.
Movers & shakers
KO Law on April 30 announced the opening of its new Denver office at 745 Sherman St. in Golden Triangle, a few blocks from the Colorado State Capitol. The new office is more than 8,000 square feet with several common areas, including a lounge and meeting spaces, communal kitchen, coffee bar, shower, exercise room, outdoor patio and more, according to the announcement. Founded in 2003, KO Law currently has around 30 attorneys and roughly a dozen paralegals and operations staff.
Kudos
Fortis Law Partners, a woman-owned law firm based in Denver, announced April 30 it’s celebrating a decade of service this year. Established on April 30, 2014, through the merger of two legal practices, Fortis has grown significantly, more than doubling in both size and profitability since its inception, according to the announcement.
Denver-based Wagstaff Law announced May 2 firm partner Aimee Wagstaff was recognized by Forbes magazine as one of the Top 200 Lawyers in the country for 2024. The Forbes Top 200 Lawyers list is an annual compilation by Forbes magazine that highlights outstanding legal professionals across various practice areas, according to the announcement. The firm noted Forbes selects these lawyers based on an evaluation process that includes factors like client feedback, case outcomes, peer recognition and overall influence within the legal industry. Wagstaff was one of only two attorneys in Colorado to make the list, according to the announcement.