This week’s 5Q features Jason Spitalnick, a partner in Snell & Wilmer’s Denver office and a member of the firm’s Litigation, Investigations, and Trials Practice Group. He focuses his practice on securities enforcement defense, white collar defense, internal investigations, and commercial litigation. A Harvard Law School grad and a self-declared “early bird,” Law Week learned these 5 things about Jason:
Question 1: What do you like most about Colorado?
Spitalnick: Colorado represents the perfect balance of town and country. Denver is a vibrant city with a robust economy, and it’s surrounded by some of the most beautiful places in the United States.
Q2: What’s your favorite outdoor activity in Colorado?
Spitalnick: Standing on the summit of a 14er. (There’s a reason it’s a cliché.)
Q3: What’s the best career advice that you’ve received?
Spitalnick: This profession is predicated on relationships—with clients, colleagues, fellow members of the bar, etc. The best career relationships start with someone willing to invest in you, and end with you doing the same for someone else.
Q4: What legal issue do you think will matter most in the next 10 years?
Spitalnick: In the next decade, we’re all going to learn what it’s like to practice law alongside a novel form of intelligence. Personally, I’m optimistic that AI is going to make law practice more accessible, more capable, and more just.
Q5: What’s one case or moment that shaped your career?
Spitalnick: When I was seconded to a district attorney’s office as a fifth-year associate, I secured a guilty verdict in a gun possession case. As proud as I was of the work I had done, I felt very conflicted about sending a man to prison. That moment clarified that I did not want to become a criminal prosecutor.
Law Week Colorado invites Colorado lawyers, paralegals, judges, law professors and other legal professionals to share their insights and experiences with the community with our weekly 5Q Questionnaire.
Responses may be edited for clarity and length and will be published in the order received. Your patience is appreciated. If you have questions,
email [email protected].