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Law firm updates
Colorado law firm Lyons Gaddis announced March 4 that Robyn Smith and James Godbold have joined its team. Smith joined the government practice group, representing school districts and special districts in employment law, contracts, constitutional issues and regulatory matters. Smith earned her J.D. from the University of Colorado and dual bachelor’s degrees from the University of Georgia. Godbold brings more than 15 years of experience in commercial real estate, corporate transactions and risk management. Godbold earned his J.D. from Indiana University McKinney School of Law.
The judiciary
The 18th Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for a county court judgeship, effective Feb. 28, following the appointment of Judge Joshua Williford to the Arapahoe County District Court bench. Nominees Jessica Brazil of Englewood, Robert Caldwell Jr. of Centennial and Garen Gervey of Littleton were selected by the commission on Feb. 28 via Webex video conferencing. Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days to appoint one of the nominees as a county court judge for the 18th Judicial District serving Arapahoe County. Comments regarding any of the nominees may be emailed to the governor.
Movers & shakers
Taft announced on March 4 its expansion into Florida through a merger with the Mrachek Law firm, a litigation boutique based in West Palm Beach and Stuart. The merger, effective June 30, marks Taft’s entrance into Florida and the Southeast with the 18-lawyer trial team from Mrachek.
Kudos
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announced Airina Rodrigues will join Craig Hemenway to co-chair the intellectual property department effective March 3. A shareholder in the firm’s Denver office, Rodrigues’s work includes matters involving trademarks and trade dress (including global trademark portfolio management), copyrights, trade secrets, right of publicity and false advertising.
Taft/Sherman & Howard announced March 5 that corporate and M&A partner Lyle Wallace has been selected as a Law360 Distinguished Legal Writing Awards winner by the Burton Awards, which recognize 20 legal authors selected from the nation’s top 1,000 law firms. The award is in recognition of his writing in the article “The Election is Coming: How will the 2024 Presidential Election Affect the M&A Market,” published in June 2024.
Odds & Ends
Each year, the Colorado Judicial Institute honors outstanding district and county court judges, as well as magistrates, who exemplify excellence in Colorado’s trial courts. Judicial Excellence Award nominations highlight the dedication, integrity and professionalism of Colorado’s judiciary. Nominations are confidential.
Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell and Law School Yes We Can! launched a scholarship to fund bar exam preparation, the firm announced March 5. Named the WTO Impact Scholarship, LSYWC fellows taking the Colorado Bar Exam in summer 2025 can apply through May 5. The idea behind the new annual scholarship started with WTO associate Celyn Whitt and WTO partner Melissa Romero, who are the firm’s LSYWC liaisons.