Colorado

Davis Graham & Stubbs 

Known as one of the region’s most prominent law firms, Davis Graham & Stubbs continues to prove itself a leading expert on corporate, commercial, and complex litigation: “The firm has a deep bench - with the ability to provide skilled attorneys that can quickly get up to speed and provide effective representation,” voiced a client. “DGS attorneys are result-oriented. Their level of communication is top notch and the attorneys are always accessible,” expressed another. Shannon Wells Stevenson, “an outstanding attorney” serves as Chair of the firm’s Trial Department, and Head of the Appellate Practice Group, and Stevenson is on the Executive Committee Board. She is often lead counsel on high-profile matters, such as representing Alerus Financial, N.A. in defending the Employee Stock Ownership Plan’s appeal from the grant of summary judgment and in cross-appealing the dismissal of its counterclaims to the Tenth Circuit. The client acted as a transactional trustee for Pioneer Centres Holding Company with respect to a proposed transaction with the company’s ESOP, who filed suit alleging that Alerus breached its fiduciary duties. However, the Tenth Circuit took a different stance from other circuit courts this past June and determined that Alerus is not required to prove that its alleged breach of fiduciary duty did not cause the transaction of an employee stock ownership plan to fall through. Kenzo Kawanabe is an experienced litigator whose mass tort, products liability, and intellectual property practice has garnered much attention throughout the legal community. He was part of the lead counsel team defending an engineering company against claims by the owner of a coal-fired power project on allegations of fraud, negligence and breach of contract. After a two-week trial, a federal jury rejected the fraud and negligence claims, while awarding less than 3% of the plaintiff’s original demand. One client indicated, “Kenzo has a keen ability to simplify complicated issues for a jury.”

Haddon Morgan and Foreman

Harold Haddon of Haddon Morgan and Forman is coveted by firms across the state. A peer from another Denver-based firm explains, “We tried to get him over here, but the problem with the best of the best is that they are generally comfortable where they are.” Haddon is called “one of the most preeminent lawyers in the state” for his work in FCPA-related litigation, patent fraud litigation, and White collar crime. A fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Haddon co-founded his boutique firm more than 35 years ago and has represented clients from Boeing to retired NBA-star Kobe Bryant.

Reilly Pozner

A full-service firm based in Denver, Reilly Pozner maintains a national reach with lawyers serving as lead counsel in nearly every state. The demonstrates a focus on high-exposure cases for clients such as AIG, Zoloft, and the Colorado public employee retirement association in a range of matters from criminal defense to complex civil and commercial litigation and class actions in which they can be found on either side of the “V”. Lawyers are quick to add that in addition to representing corporations, the firm takes pro bono work “very seriously” and views it as “part of [their] commitment to being lawyers.” Before the US Supreme Court ruled to legalize gay marriage, the firm was instrumental in reversing the state-wide ban, thanks to a pro bono team made nearly entirely of associates. Former clients sing the firm’s praise while peers admiringly offer, “Reilly Pozner has a fairly young team, seasoned beyond their years, which gives them a lot of headroom.” Another testifies, “They also do appellate work, and they have a keen way with that.” Where most firms hire resolution firms for mass tort work, Reilly Pozner takes pride on handling all mass-tort-related matters in-house. Among the firm’s highest impact victories is a six-year litigation representing 35 health and life insurance companies in a five-week trial that concluded with a full plaintiff’s verdict, spearheaded by name partners Daniel Reilly and Larry Pozner. A competitor simply calls Reilly “outstanding” and with more than three decades of trial experience, he has served as lead counsel in complex cases nationwide. Reilly’s practice concerns civil trials, tort litigation, class actions, consumer fraud, stock brokerage fraud, legal malpractice, product liability, franchise litigation, and residential mortgage-backed securities litigation. Larry Pozner concentrates on criminal defense with additional experience in complex commercial litigation and class actions. 

Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell

 
Wheeler Trigg & O’Donnell is a firm comprised of “top notch litigators” who maintain sharp expertise on matters of civil litigation. From product liability to personal injury to commercial litigation, the firm is packed with extensive courtroom talent. “Our experience has been that if you have a tough case, you want Wheeler Trigg,” voiced a client. The firm is known to provide “excellent, first-class service dedicated to providing the best possible service to the client. Their dedication, work ethic and preparation manifests itself in excellent results for the client.” Founder and Chairman of the firm is nationally recognized civil litigator Michael O’Donnell who, along with commercial litigation expert Ed Stewart, helped secure a complete defense jury verdict after nine weeks of trial for client Michelin in an $80 million product liability trial in Florida. The product, a tire, was determined to be properly manufactured but was damaged during its service life, thus making Michelin not liable for the accident. Noted civil defense attorney Malcolm Wheeler won a significant victory for the insurance industry in the Colorado Supreme Court on a reversal of a unanimous Court of Appeals ruling in favor of Travelers Insurance. This decision, the firm’s fifth consecutive victory before the Colorado Supreme Court, indicated the “notice-prejudice rule” does not apply to no voluntary payment provisions in insurance policies. Michael Williams, a class action litigation expert, obtained final approval in federal court to resolve all remaining litigation on behalf of Whirlpool in a bellwether case against plaintiff Gina Glazer regarding front-facing washing machines. This approval settled the multidistrict litigation and three additional consolidated cases relating to the machines. He continues to represent Whirlpool in all of its class action litigation nationwide. Clients rave about the firm’s class action practice, stating “Wheeler Trigg provides incredibly effective representation on high-risk class actions. They are strategic partners in gathering information and developing defense strategy, and then execute the plan efficiently. They are leaders in defending consumer products class actions.” Terence Ridley was successful in vacating a $10.9 million property damage award, as well as winning sanctions against the policyholders and their attorneys, when a scheme to conspire to defraud the client of millions was exposed. The firm has since been hired by several insurance companies across the country to correct similar corrupt practices. Theresa Wardon recently won a Rule 21 petition on behalf of Ford, a ruling that asserted the motor company is not subject to general personal jurisdiction in Colorado. This decision makes it more difficult for out-of-state corporate companies with no connection to Colorado to be sued in the state.