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Law firm updates
Holland & Hart announced Jan. 2 that three associates joined the firm in Colorado: Alyssa McCain, Chelsea Marx and Fripp Prioleau. McCain focuses her practice on renewable energy project development and finance matters, Marx focuses on development, construction and financing of real estate projects and Prioleau focuses on public utility regulation matters.
Lyons Gaddis announced Jan. 7 that Nick Larson has joined the firm’s real estate team. With more than a decade of experience in civil litigation, real estate and business law, Larson, formerly a shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, brings transactional experience across real estate acquisitions, dispositions, financings and joint ventures. Larson was named to BizWest’s Forty Under Forty list in 2023 and is a board member of the Update Colorado Economic Development Corporation. He also served as a board member of the Boulder Jewish Community Center.
Dickinson Wright announced Jan. 8 that Rachel Bolt has joined the firm’s Denver office as an associate. Bolt focuses her practice on environmental law and water rights. She assists public and private entities with water-related challenges, including water court litigation, water supply planning, administrative proceedings, permitting processes, regulatory compliance and negotiating transactions to secure reliable water supplies. She is a member of the Colorado Bar Association and received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado and her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School.
Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP announced Jan. 8 that R.J. Colwell has joined the firm as a senior associate in the energy and mining group. Colwell specializes in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, private equity investments and joint ventures within the energy and natural resources sectors. He is admitted to practice in Colorado, Texas and Washington, D.C. Colwell received his J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Before law school, Colwell served as a field artillery officer in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of captain in three years.
Recht Kornfeld PC announced Jan. 8 that Lara Marks Baker, an attorney who focuses her practice on criminal defense and Title IX litigation, has joined the firm as a shareholder. Baker has extensive experience in both state and federal courts. Baker’s career has included complex and high-profile criminal cases, along with Title IX and regulatory investigations. She has also represented clients in matters involving the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, educational institutions, the Colorado Department of Human Services and the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. Baker received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Clark Hill announced Jan. 9 that Gabe Racz and Justine Beckstrom have joined the firm’s environmental and natural resources group. Racz joined as a member, and Beckstrom joined as senior counsel. Racz and Beckstrom will be based in the firm’s Boulder office and will also contribute to Clark Hill’s water rights practice area. Racz and Beckstrom also have an active mining industry environmental compliance practice, and the two were awarded the 2024 Outstanding Service to the Mining Industry Award from the Colorado Mining Association.
Brownstein announced Jan. 8 that Abby Kirkbride has rejoined the firm as a shareholder in its real estate department. She will be based in the Denver office. Kirkbride’s expertise spans all phases of real estate development, from joint ventures and due diligence to overseeing renovation projects and navigating municipal development review processes. Kirkbride earned her bachelor’s degrees from John Brown University, holds a master’s degree from the University of Colorado and received her law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law.
Movers & shakers
On Jan. 8, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announced the firm is expanding its national footprint with the opening of a new office in Tampa, Florida. The firm noted the move strengthens its existing strategic alliance with Rubin, Turnbull & Associates, a Florida-based lobbying firm headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with offices in Miami and Tallahassee. The Tampa location marks Brownstein’s 13th office in the U.S.
Kudos
On Jan. 6, Faegre Drinker announced that Joel Sayres will be stepping into the role of Denver office leader. The previous office leader was Jared Briant who has moved to deputy practice group leader of the firm’s intellectual property group. Sayres has been with the firm for more than 13 years, joining as an associate when the firm was Faegre & Benson. Before that, he was an associate at a firm in Orange County, California, and then a directing attorney at a pro bono firm in Los Angeles. He is a partner in the firm’s intellectual property group. On Jan. 7, the firm also announced that, effective Jan. 1, Matt Stamski stepped into the role of Boulder office leader. Previously in this role was partner John Marcil.
Two firms, Dickinson Wright and Armstrong Teasdale, separately announced on Jan. 7 they received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2025 Corporate Equality Index, a benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. The firms join the 765 U.S. businesses that will also be awarded the Equality 100 Award as Leaders in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.
On Jan. 9, Hogan Lovells announced that Ben Shellhorn, Kyle Spies and Wil Henderson were promoted to counsel. Shellhorn has an M&A practice with a sectors focus of private capital, sports and media and entertainment. Spies focuses his practice on banking and loan finance with a sectors focus of life sciences and healthcare and private capital. Henderson’s practice includes medical device and technology matters with a sector focus of life sciences and healthcare.
Odds & Ends
Denver District Attorney-elect John Walsh announced on Jan. 2 the leadership team that will join him after he takes office on Jan. 14. Matthew Kirsch, currently the U.S. attorney for the District of Colorado, will serve as first assistant district attorney; Judge Darryl Shockley, currently a judge in Denver’s District Court and a former prosecutor in the Denver District Attorney’s Office, will serve as assistant DA; Lara Mullin, currently an assistant DA in the Denver District Attorney’s Office, will remain in her position; Zach McCabe, currently an assistant DA in the office, will serve as senior chief DA for district courts and Liza Willis, currently the chief of staff in the Denver District Attorney’s Office, will remain in her position. Kirsch and Shockley will join the office in February. Walsh will be sworn in on Jan. 14, at 11 a.m., in the atrium of the Wellington E. Webb Municipal Office Building in Denver. A ceremonial swearing in and community celebration will be held on Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. in the McNichols Building in Denver.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced on Jan. 2 that Kirsch and Deputy U.S. Attorney Andrea Wang are resigning their positions effective no later than midnight on Jan. 25.
On Jan. 3, Gov. Jared Polis announced boards and commissions appointments. For the Independent Judicial Discipline Adjudicative Board, attorney Kristin Mix of Denver and attorney Jeff Chostner of Pueblo will serve terms expiring Jan. 3, 2028. Attorney Tyrone Glover of Denver and attorney Laura Ellis of Elbert will serve terms expiring Jan. 3, 2030. The Independent Judicial Discipline Adjudicative Board conducts judicial disciplinary proceedings in cases of alleged misconduct or incapacity. Its responsibilities include reviewing and adjudicating cases referred by the Judicial Discipline Commission, ensuring due process and fair hearings for judges and issuing decisions on appropriate disciplinary actions when misconduct or incapacity is substantiated.