Have an announcement for Law Week Colorado’s people section? Let us know.
Law firm updates
BCLP elected 24 new lawyers across the firm to partnership, effective Jan. 1, 2025, bringing the total number of partners in the firm to 466. In Denver, Matthew Johnson was elevated to partner. Johnson advises technology and life sciences companies on a wide array of corporate transactions, including venture capital investments, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and corporate governance matters. Johnson previously served as senior counsel at Monsanto, where he often acted as lead counsel for venture capital initiatives, handling large M&A transactions.
Holland & Hart LLP announced Nov. 11 that oil and gas royalty litigation and transactional attorney Rosario Doriott Domínguez joined the firm as a partner in the Denver office. Doriott Domínguez brings experience serving clients facing complex royalty audits, demands, compliance issues, transactional concerns and litigation. Before joining Holland & Hart, Doriott Domínguez was a partner at Ryan Law Firm, where she led the firm’s oil and gas royalty practice.
Sherman & Howard announced Nov. 11 that litigation attorneys Allison Derschang and Allison Takacs have joined its Denver office. Derschang focuses her practice on family law matters, and Takacs focuses on construction and commercial litigation. Derschang and Takacs both received their J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where they were also members of the DU National Trial Team. Takacs currently serves as a trial advocacy adjunct professor at DU and teaches trial law to current members of the National Trial Team.
Kutak Rock announced Nov. 12 that the firm added 36 associates across the country, with five associates joining its Denver office including David Arras, Erica Augustine, Ryan Ehlinger, Ryan Henkel and Alex Mitchell. The associates join a wide range of practice areas, including litigation, corporate law, public finance, tax credits, real estate and mergers and acquisitions.
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announced Nov. 12 that Djenita Svinjar has joined the firm as senior counsel in its litigation department with a focus on construction law. She will be based in the firm’s Denver office. Svinjar began her legal career as in-house counsel and assistant vice president for a Fortune 500 title insurance provider, which led her to the construction industry. She received her J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University in New York.
Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP announced Nov. 13 that Tara Leesar has joined the firm as an associate in its trial group. Leesar previously served as a Carr Fellow at the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, where she authored multiple appellate briefs, drafted segments of the U.S. Supreme Court merits brief in Counterman v. Colorado and prepared Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser for oral arguments before the nation’s high court. Leesar earned her J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Emory University.
Coan, Payton & Payne LLC on Nov. 13 announced the addition of Brad Yatabe. Yatabe has experience navigating local government land use and zoning processes and with local elected and appointed bodies regarding entitlements, variances, permitting, appeals and historic preservation matters, according to the announcement.
The judiciary
Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Monica Márquez on Nov. 12 appointed Judge Ryan Stuart to serve as chief judge in the newly created 23rd Judicial District, effective Jan. 14, 2025. Stuart currently serves as a district court judge in the 18th Judicial District and, for the past 18 months, has served as the administrative judge responsible for ensuring a smooth transition of staff and services to the 23rd Judicial District. The current 18th Judicial District, comprising Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties, will split into two judicial districts on Jan. 14, 2025. Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties will become part of the newly created 23rd Judicial District, and Arapahoe County will remain in the 18th Judicial District. Chief Judge Michelle Amico will continue to serve as chief judge of the 18th Judicial District. The judicial branch noted the 18th Judicial District has grown more than any other Colorado judicial district in the last 50 years and is currently the largest in the state. The legislature established the 23rd Judicial District to serve the affected communities more efficiently. The branch added it’s the first time in 60 years that Colorado has created a new judicial district. Stuart was appointed to the 18th Judicial District in 2018. He previously served as a district court magistrate in the 1st Judicial District, a Jefferson County Court judge and a deputy district attorney in Jefferson and Gilpin counties. Stuart received his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. As chief judge, Stuart will serve as the administrative head of the district, responsible for appointing the court executive, chief probation officer and clerk of court, assisting in personnel, financial and case-management duties and seeing that the business of the courts and probation is conducted efficiently and effectively.
Kudos
McConaughy & Sarkissian, P.C. on Nov. 12 announced its recognition in the 2025 edition of the Best Law Firms rankings. The firm’s shareholders were also honored as Best Lawyers alongside two associates who were named as Ones to Watch. In March, the firm added it celebrated 20 years in practice and has experienced tremendous growth.
Caplan & Earnest announced Nov. 12 that it had attorneys listed by Best Lawyers this year including Sheryl Bridges for medical malpractice law – defendants, Richard Bump for education law and real estate law, Barbara Glogiewicz for medical malpractice law – defendants, Brad Hendrick for immigration law, Meghan Pound for health care law, Kristofer Simms for trusts and estates and Jennifer Sullivan for health care law.
Seven individuals were elected to serve on the board of directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers at the association’s fall board meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. New board members will join those who are currently serving their terms. In Denver, Norman Mueller serves as special counsel for Haddon, Morgan and Foreman, P.C. His practice includes appellate and postconviction cases, civil litigation and professional disciplinary matters. According to the announcement, he is a life member of NACDL and was elected to fill a vacancy on the board of directors in a special election in November 2011 and reelected for full terms in 2013 and 2016. Mueller received his J.D. from Yale University and his B.A. from the University of Kansas.