Perkins Coie announced Thursday that David St. John-Larkin has been named managing partner of the firm’s Denver office. He succeeds Sonny Allison, who had served in the role since 2015.
“Dave has a successful track record of counseling some of our most sophisticated and high-profile technology clients and will be an outstanding leader for our Denver office,” said Bill Malley, Perkins Coie’s firmwide managing partner. “He embodies our firm’s culture and entrepreneurial ethos, and his deep understanding of the local market and technology industry will further benefit our strategic goals in the Denver market and beyond.”
As a partner in the firm’s intellectual property practice and co-chair of the unmanned vehicle systems industry group, St. John-Larkin has nearly two decades of patent prosecution and litigation experience. Dave is also an inventor with more than 10 patents related to communications technology, and he has extensive experience working on patent and licensing matters involving next-generation communications standards.
“Denver’s notable economic growth in recent years, especially among technology and emerging growth companies, coupled with the firm’s terrific attorneys and staff located here in Denver, presents an incredible opportunity to lead this office and contribute to the firm’s national strategy,” he said. “I’m excited to step into this role to further strengthen our growth and commitment to this region and our clients.”
St. John-Larkin is also a frequent instructor and panelist on patent law topics and is a board member of the Silicon Flatirons Center. He is also a past chair of the IP section of the Colorado Bar Association.
LATERAL WATCH
Spencer Fane announced Feb. 8 that Joe Hunt has joined the labor and employment practice group in Denver as an of counsel attorney.
Hunt’s practice focuses on litigation for all matters related to anti-discrimination statutes, unfair labor practices, accommodations in the workplace, wage and hour issues, and contract disputes. He partners with clients with a purposeful focus on compliance and regulatory needs in an effort to avoid scenarios resulting in costly litigation.
Hunt also regularly represents employers in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. He is the second recent addition to the Spencer Fane labor and employment group in Denver, joining partner Jon Watson.
Prior to entering private practice, Hunt served as corporate counsel for a Fortune 200 telecommunications company, where he gained valuable insight and perspective on the issues and challenges his clients often face in the modern workplace to navigate laws and regulations governing all aspects of the employer-employee relationship.
Hunt received a law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Yale University.
Moye White announced Nick Herrick has joined the firm as an associate in the trial section.
Herrick represents individuals, small businesses, and public and private corporate clients in a range of commercial disputes and risk avoidance. He focuses his practice on construction disputes, employment litigation and general business litigation.
In his construction practice, Herrick works with developers, general contractors, design professionals and trade contractors in developing contract documents and best practices, code compliance, easement disputes, delay claims and construction defect litigation.
In his employment practice, Herrick works with employers of all sizes in developing training and governance materials, compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and Americans with Disabilities Act, wage and hour disputes, as well as avoiding and defending claims of retaliation and discrimination.
Herrick received a law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law and an undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business.
JUDICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday appointed Joseph Whitfield, Jr. to the 18th Judicial District Court. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Judge Michael Spear and is effective Feb. 28.
Whitfield is currently a deputy district attorney in the 18th Judicial District, a position he has held since 2011. His practice consists of criminal matters. He received a law degree from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Occidental College.
The 20th Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet via videoconference on March 1, to interview and select nominees for appointment by the governor to the office of district judge for the 20th Judicial District (Boulder County). The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Judge Andrew Macdonald. The vacancy will occur on April 1.
Application forms are available from the office of the ex officio chair of the nominating commission, Justice Monica Márquez, 2 E. 14th Ave. in Denver, and the office of the court executive, Amy Waddle, 1777 Sixth St., P.O. Box 4249, Boulder, CO 80306. Applications also are available on the court’s home page at www.courts.state.co.us/Careers/Judge.cfm. Applications must be submitted by 4 p.m. Feb. 22. Suggestions for candidates to fill the vacancy must be submitted by 4 p.m. Feb. 15.
NEW PARTNERS
Davis Graham & Stubbs on Jan. 1 promoted Jim Henderson, Sam Seiberling and Taylor Smith to partner.
Henderson focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation. He has represented a diverse range of clients, from family-owned businesses to Fortune 500 companies, in matters ranging from real estate disputes to product liability issues, contract and warranty disputes, and employment matters.
He received a law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, a master’s degree from Yale University, and a bachelor’s degree from Life Pacific College.
Seiberling focuses his practice on acquisition transactions, public and private placements of debt and equity securities, securities law disclosure and compliance, corporate governance and entity formation. Seiberling received a law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College. He interned at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and for then Judge William Hood of the 2nd Judicial District.
Smith focuses his practice on the representation of borrowers and lenders in debt finance transactions. He recently joined the Board of Trustees of the Arrupe Jesuit High School Corporate Work Study Program and previously served on the Young Professionals Council of Denver Kids, Inc. Prior to joining DGS, he practiced for three years in the corporate department of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in New York. He received a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia.
CORRECTION
The Feb. 8 New Partners feature incorrectly listed Habib Nasrullah. Nasrullah joined Davis Graham & Stubbs on Feb. 1 as a partner but was not recently promoted to partner. We apologize for the error.