Have an announcement for Law Week Colorado’s people section? Let us know.
Law firm updates
Sherman & Howard on May 3 announced it appointed new leadership to the firm’s executive committee, practice groups and executive team. Three new members join the EC: Lyle Wallace, who previously served as the business and real estate practice group leader; Parker Schenken, a public finance and municipal attorney and a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers; and Lee Fanyo. Bill Peffer was elected to serve as the practice group leader for the business and real estate practice group, replacing Wallace. Assuming responsibility as co-leaders of the litigation group are Tamir Goldstein and Brooke Colaizzi. Colaizzi will continue to oversee the labor and employment attorneys who have joined the litigation group. Mary Sue Greenleaf was appointed to lead the firm’s construction group, replacing Goldstein. Chief Marketing & Business Development Executive Jenny Davenport was appointed COO and Andy de Gortari as CFO.
Haynes & Boone, LLP announced May 6 Kelsey Schmidt joined the firm’s Denver office labor and employment practice group. Schmidt joins from Fox Rothschild, where she practiced for the past four years. Schmidt gives employment advice and counsel to employers of all sizes, often representing them in litigation. Her practice covers discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, hiring, handbooks, absences, terminations and union avoidance. Outside of the office, Schmidt has spent two years as a board member for Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado.
Holland & Hart on May 6 announced energy law associate Kristine Roach joined the firm’s Denver office. Roach assists large energy users and energy project developers on regulatory matters and complex utility rate proceedings. She’s part of the firm’s public utilities regulatory team. Previously, Roach served as an assistant attorney general in the PUC litigation unit of the Colorado Department of Law. She received her JD from the University of Colorado Law School. During law school, Roach worked as a law clerk at an energy and natural resources law firm in Denver and as a legal intern with the U.S. Department of Energy. She received her bachelor’s degree from Whitworth University.
The judiciary
The 2nd Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet on Aug. 13 at the Denver City and County Building to interview and select nominees for appointment by the governor to the office of district judge for the 2nd Judicial District serving Denver County. The vacancies will be created by the retirements of Judge Christine Antoun, Judge David Goldberg and Juge Jennifer Torrington. The vacancies will occur on Jan. 1, 2025, Jan. 14, 2025, and Jan. 14, 2025, respectively. Completed applications must be emailed no later than 4 p.m. on July 29. Late applications will not be considered. Any person wishing to suggest a candidate to fill the vacancy may do so by letter to be submitted to any member of the nominating commission, with a copy to the ex officio chair, no later than July 22. The members of the nominating commission are Kiel Brunner, Michael Carrigan, Tyrone Glover, Maria Garcia Berry, L. Roger Hutson, Megan Garnett and Josett Valdez, all of Denver.
The 11th Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet on Aug. 6 at the Fremont County Combined Court to interview and select nominees for appointment by the governor to the office of district judge for the 11th Judicial District serving Chaffee, Custer, Fremont and Park counties. The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Judge Lynette Wenner, occuring on Jan. 1, 2025. Completed applications must be emailed no later than 4 p.m. on July 18. Late applications will not be considered. Any person wishing to suggest a candidate to fill the vacancy may do so by letter to be submitted to any member of the nominating commission, with a copy to the ex officio chair, no later than July 11. The members of the nominating commission are Debra Adams of Westcliff, Brian Bumbarger of Como, Julie Katz of Coaldale, Tawny Peyton of Buena Vista and Marianne Stein Wancura, Randy Canney and Dick Gast, all of Salida.
The 14th Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet on Aug. 12 at the Routt County Combined Court to interview and select nominees for appointment by the governor to the office of district judge for the 14th Judicial District serving Grand, Moffat and Routt counties. The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Judge Michael O’Hara III, occuring on Jan. 14, 2025. Completed applications must be emailed no later than 4 p.m. on July 16. Late applications will not be considered. Any person wishing to suggest a candidate to fill the vacancy may do so by letter to be submitted to any member of the nominating commission, with a copy to the ex officio chair, no later than July 9. The members of the nominating commission are Staci Nichols of Craig, Stephen Peters of Fraser, Sandra Doudna of Grand Lake and Casey Quillen, Melinda Sherman, Ryan Dougherty and Lulu Gould of Steamboat Springs.
The City of Denver will host its third Fresh Start warrant clearance event on May 11 at the Assessment, Intake, and Diversion Center of Denver at 1370 Elati Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eligible people can speak with defense attorneys, have outstanding warrants cleared and either resolve their court cases or set new court dates. A person is eligible if they have active warrants for a Denver misdemeanor case, Denver municipal cases including criminal traffic offenses, a probation violated in a Denver County or municipal court case or a failure to appear at a second advisement in a class 4, 5 or 6 non-Victim Rights Act felony.
Movers & shakers
Erise IP on May 9 announced it relocated from the Denver Tech Center to a 6,000-square foot space in the Johns Manville Plaza building downtown at 717 17th Street, Suite 1400. In addition to shareholder Paul Hart and of counsel Abe Kean, Erise added associates Christina Canino, Miguel Gutierrez-Rodarte and Sten Larson; technology analysts Angelina DiNorcia and Khoa Vu; and patent agent Nathan Byers. Erise IP noted it handles defense of patent cases where the damages requests are upward of half a billion dollars. The firm added it recently won summary judgment for Sony in a $500 million infringement suit involving its PlayStation console. Erise’s other clients include Garmin, T-Mobile, FanDuel, EA and more.