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Law firm updates
Venable LLP announced on July 1 that Peter Koclanes joined the firm’s Denver office as a partner in the commercial litigation practice group. Koclanes has more than 35 years of experience litigating securities and class actions, patents and other intellectual property, corporate governance and business tort claims and disputes involving energy, oil and gas, trusts and estates and real estate. Koclanes received his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School and his bachelor’s degree from the Colorado School of Mines.
Cookie deSilva joined Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP as an associate, the firm announced on July 9. Her practice focuses on construction law and general civil litigation. According to the announcement, deSilva represents clients across the construction spectrum in construction-related transactions and disputes, as well as a variety of commercial clients in state and federal courts in cases concerning breach of contract, business disputes, commercial leases, creditors’ rights, eminent domain, evictions, real estate and torts. deSilva earned her J.D. from the South Texas College of Law Houston and her bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin.
Spencer Fane on July 9 announced that David Law and Christiana Leinbaugh joined the firm’s Denver office as associates. Law joins the firm’s labor and employment practice group, and Leinbaugh joins the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice group. The addition of Law and Leinbaugh increases the attorney headcount of Spencer Fane’s Denver office to 71.
Holland & Hart announced on July 10 the addition of two associates in Denver, intellectual property associate Tony Arias and employment law associate Annie Stuller. Arias focuses on complex and rapidly evolving laws and regulations across AI, privacy, security, consumer finance and risk management issues. He received his J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Stuller counsels public and private employers on best practices to comply with state and federal law. When disputes arise, she represents employers in state and federal court and before administrative agencies on various issues, including wage and hour law, discrimination, retaliation and wrongful discharge. She’s also an experienced workplace investigator with a certificate from the Association of Workplace Investigators. She received her J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law.
Buchalter on July 11 announced the additions of Dylan Metzner, Amber Arias, Laura Chartrand and Albert Sahlstrom in the firm’s Denver office. Metzner joins as a shareholder specializing in tax planning and estate matters. Arias joins Buchalter’s family law practice group, Chartrand’s practice concentrates on natural resources matters representing clients in various industries, including agriculture, and oil and gas and Sahlstrom’s practice focuses on both commercial and trust and estate litigation, according to the announcement.
The judiciary
On July 9, Gov. Jared Polis appointed Magistrate Judge Michael Angel to the 2nd Judicial District Court. The vacancy was created by the death of Judge Christine Antoun and is effective immediately. Angel is a magistrate in the 17th Judicial District, a position he’s held since 2023. His docket consists of criminal cases. Previously, he was a senior assistant attorney general from 2020 to 2023 and assistant AG from 2016 to 2020 in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office; senior deputy district attorney in 2016 and deputy DA from 2012 to 2016 in the 18th Judicial District; office head from 2010 to 2012 and deputy DA from 2007 2010 in the 5th Judicial District; staff attorney at The LANS Corp. in 2006; and contract attorney at Daniel J. Sears, P.C. in 2006. Angel earned his bachelor’s degree from Miami University in 2002 and his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2005.
On July 10, Polis appointed Scott Burrill to the Mesa County Court in the 21st Judicial District. The vacancy was created by the appointment of Judge Craig Henderson to the 21st Judicial District Court, and the appointment is effective immediately. Burrill is a supervising deputy state public defender in the Grand Junction Office of the State Public Defender, a position he’s held since 2018. His practice consists of criminal defense. Previously, he was a deputy state public defender in the Montrose Office and in the Grand Junction Office of the State Public Defender from 2010 to 2018. Burrill earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2006 and his J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2010.
On July 11, Polis appointed Daniel Warhola to the 18th Judicial District Court, filling a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Gary Kramer, effective Aug. 3. Warhola is an assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Colorado, a position he’s held since 2022. His practice consists of criminal matters. Previously, he was a senior deputy district attorney from 2021 to 2022 and deputy DA from 2014 to 2021 in the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office; and deputy DA in the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office from 2013 to 2014. Warhola earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond in 2009 and his J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2013.
Kudos
Lewis Roca partner Angela Vichick was honored by the Denver Business Journal as a 2024 Outstanding Woman in Business. A business and real estate litigation attorney, Vichick serves as President of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association Foundation and Secretary of the Colorado Bar Association’s Business Law Section Executive Council, according to an announcement from the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association. CHBA noted she also chairs the pro bono committee for the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association (overseeing Mi Casa Resource Center’s monthly legal clinic for small business owners), is the head coach of Arrupe Jesuit High School’s mock trial program and mentors students through Law School Yes We Can Colorado (Arguello Dream Catchers) and CU Law’s Alumni Mentor Program.
Odds & Ends
DUI Law Firm Denver, a criminal defense law firm specializing in DUI and DWAI cases, announced on July 2 the launch of its new website. This comprehensive online platform is designed to provide clients and the general public with valuable legal information, resources, and an enhanced user experience. The law firm noted that one of the key features of the new website is its collection of legal resources and educational materials. Visitors can find detailed explanations of Colorado’s DUI and DWAI laws, information on field sobriety tests, blood alcohol concentration or BAC measurements and more.
On July 9, Fennemore announced a new platform, Fennemore Forward, that will allow its attorneys to work permanently from nearly anywhere in the world, with 19 brick-and-mortar offices. Resources available in the program include paraprofessional assistance, administrative help, an IT platform, marketing and business development support, professional development opportunities, access to conference rooms and offices of any of the firm’s physical offices in six states and opportunities to attend in-person firm and practice group retreats and events.