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Law firm updates
Ballard Spahr and Lane Powell announced Sept. 9 that the firms have agreed to combine, effective Jan. 1, 2025. The combined firm will be called Ballard Spahr and will have more than 750 attorneys across 18 U.S. offices. The merger expands Ballard Spahr’s geographic footprint into the Pacific Northwest, with new offices in Anchorage, Portland and Seattle. The Seattle office will be Ballard Spahr’s largest office outside of Philadelphia. Barbara Duffy, Lane Powell’s president, said in a press release that the firm celebrates its 150th anniversary next year, following its most successful year to date.
Davis Graham & Stubbs announced Sept. 9 that Ixchel Parr-Culver joined the firm as an associate in its environmental and public lands group. Parr-Culver’s background is in natural resources law. Before she joined the firm, she served as an assistant attorney general in the Texas Office of the Attorney General in the environmental protections division. Parr-Culver received her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law and her bachelor’s in psychology from St. Edward’s University.
On Sept. 10, Womble Bond Dickinson and Lewis Roca announced that the two firms had approved a combination. The new firm will have more than 1,300 attorneys across 37 offices in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. The combination is effective Jan. 1, 2025, and the new firm will operate as Womble Bond Dickinson in the U.S. under chair and CEO Merrick Benn and vice chair Kenneth Van Winkle.
Recht Kornfeld PC announced Sept. 10 that Katherine Otto and Beale Tejada joined the firm as shareholders. Otto splits her time between Denver and New York. Otto is a civil trial lawyer with experience as lead counsel in jury trials. She specializes in professional liability, focusing on the defense of claims against health care professionals and attorneys. Tejada is experienced as a trial lawyer, specializing in personal injury and criminal defense. In his criminal defense practice, Tejada represents individuals across a wide spectrum of charges, from allegations of drinking and driving to murder charges.
The judiciary
On Sept. 9, Gov. Jared Polis appointed Magistrate Sarah Zane to the 4th Judicial District Court, and Laura Makar to the 9th Judicial District Court. Zane will fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Monica Gomez, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Makar will fill the vacancy created by Judge Christopher Seldin not standing for retention, effective Oct. 5. Zane is a district and county court magistrate in El Paso County, a position she’s held since 2024. Her docket consists primarily of domestic relations and civil matters. Zane earned her bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University in 2005 and her J.D. from Cooley Law School in 2008. Makar is a deputy county attorney for Pitkin County, a position she’s held since 2018. Her practice consists of civil litigation. Makar earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado in 2004 and her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School in 2008.
On Sept. 11, Polis announced a panel to review applications and recommend finalists for the appointment of the new district attorney for the 15th Judicial District, serving Baca, Cheyenne, Kiowa and Prowers counties. The vacancy for DA in the 15th Judicial District was created by the resignation of Josh Vogel, effective Oct. 4.
Movers & shakers
Recht Kornfeld PC announced Sept. 10 that the firm opened new offices in Durango, Colorado, and New York.