Kutak Rock announced Feb. 17 that Victoria Donovan has joined the firm’s national corporate practice group as of counsel in the firm’s Denver office. Donovan works with clients in the technology, media, entertainment, sports, advertising and business services industries.
“Tori comes to the firm with years of diverse legal experience in both the public and private sectors,” said Tiffanie Stasiak, managing partner of Kutak Rock’s Denver office. “Her proven track record and experience as in-house counsel to two high-growth companies provides her with a unique perspective. Her ability to appreciate the needs and objectives of our clients will be a tremendous asset to our existing corporate practice group. We are thrilled to have Tori join Kutak Rock.”
Donovan counsels on business issues involving mergers and acquisitions, emerging growth and equity financings, Regulation D and Rule 506 offerings, and private placement memorandums, securities compliance, corporate formation and governance. She advises on intellectual property licensing, technology licensing, data licensing and security, distribution and supplier contracts and joint venture agreements.
“I am excited to work with Kutak Rock’s corporate group and proud to bring my experience to the firm’s deep and talented bench of lawyers to ensure our clients’ success,” said Donovan. “The firm’s values and goals, and its focus on efficient and responsive client service, match my own. I look forward to expanding what is already a diversified and strong team of attorneys.”
Prior to serving as general counsel for a privately held national corporate housing company and a private equity-backed global media technology licensing company, Donovan was an attorney in private practice with two other law firms, a large regional firm headquartered in Denver and a Silicon Valley based firm.
Donovan received a law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Colorado-Boulder. She is admitted to practice in Colorado.
LATERAL WATCH
Foley & Lardner announced Tuesday that Thomas Krysa has joined the firm’s Denver office as a partner in its litigation department and securities enforcement and litigation practice group.
Before entering private practice in 2016, Krysa served in government roles for nearly two decades — most recently as associate regional director for enforcement in the Denver regional office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, where he oversaw the SEC’s enforcement program in seven Western states and before that, as head of the trial unit in the Denver regional office. Earlier in his career, Krysa served as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division in Washington, D.C.
Krysa counsels clients in securities litigation and enforcement matters, government investigations and complex commercial disputes. He regularly represents clients in matters before the SEC, DOJ, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and other federal and state regulatory bodies. Krysa’s practice also includes conducting internal investigations for corporations, their boards of directors and audit committees.
During his time leading the SEC’s enforcement program in its Denver office, Krysa supervised matters involving insider trading, financial fraud, activities of broker-dealer and investment advisor misconduct, market timing, market manipulation and audits of public companies. Prior to that, he supervised the office’s trial unit and was responsible for litigating securities enforcement matters in federal district courts and before administrative law judges.
Krysa joined the firm from Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where he was a shareholder in the firm’s litigation practice.
Holland & Hart announced Thursday the expansion of its consumer products industry team with the return of partners Chuck Cotter and Finity Jernigan. Cotter, Jernigan and a team of lawyers and professionals join the firm from the Denver office of Polsinelli.
Cotter and Jernigan have developed a practice as advisors for more than 100 companies, venture capital funds and private equity funds in the food, beverage and consumer products space. Through deep relationships fostered with investors and funds, the team provides clients with access to liquidity at crucial stages, allowing emerging and growth-oriented companies to expand product offerings, open distribution channels, and increase market penetration.
Cotter worked for nine years on Wall Street, practicing at two law firms and as in-house counsel at a major hedge fund before originally joining Holland & Hart in 2012.
Jernigan practiced at Gibson Dunn and served as an assistant attorney general for the State of Colorado before originally joining Holland & Hart in 2016.
ASSOCIATE WATCH
Holland & Hart also announced Tuesday that corporate attorney Kate Kalanick rejoined Holland & Hart as an associate in the firm’s Denver office. Kalanick represents public and private companies in mergers and acquisitions, financings, securities offerings and other business transactions. She also counsels clients on corporate matters, including business formation, commercial contracts, corporate governance, organizational restructuring, and securities law compliance. Before rejoining Holland & Hart, Kalanick served as senior in-house counsel for a retirement services provider. She also practiced as a corporate associate at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath before originally joining Holland & Hart. Kate received a law degree from the University of Minnesota School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College.
JUDICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
The 4th Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for a district court judgeship created by the retirement of Judge Larry Schwartz, effective May 2. Nominees Catherine Helton, Michael Kuhn and Dennis McGuire, all of Colorado Springs, were selected by the commission on Feb. 14.
The governor has 15 days from Feb. 18 to appoint one of the nominees as district court judge for the 4th Judicial District (El Paso and Teller counties).
Comments regarding any of the nominees may be sent via e-mail to the governor at [email protected]
GOOD FOR YOU
The Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation announced Feb. 14 the following new members to its board of directors:
Erin Eiselein of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck in Denver, Keith Lapuyade of Overton Lapuyade Gleason Schumacher in Lakewood, Trung Nguyen of Bank of the West in Denver.
COLTAF administers Colorado’s Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts program. The interest on lawyers’ pooled trust accounts is used to make grants to improve access to civil justice statewide. For more information, please visit coltaf.org.
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announced that Christine Jochim, a shareholder in its Denver office, has been appointed chair of Groundwork Denver’s Board of Directors. She has served on the organization’s board since 2016, helping Groundwork Denver in its mission to bring about the sustained improvement of the physical environment and promote health and well-being through community-based partnerships and action.
Groundwork Denver partners with lower-income communities to implement environmental improvement projects, build environmental leaders, and facilitate volunteerism and civic engagement. They work on projects to clean up water pollution, improve air quality, reduce energy use in homes, and improve urban parks and natural areas.