Arnold & Porter announced Nov. 4 that Suneeta Hazra has joined the firm’s white collar defense and complex litigation practices as a partner in the firm’s Denver office.
Hazra spent nearly 20 years at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Colorado, most recently serving as chief of the criminal division.
She has trial experience handling complex fraud cases, including securities, health care and bank fraud, as well as crimes involving tax and export control violations. During her tenure at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Hazra held a number of other senior positions, including chief of the economic crimes section and chief of the major crimes section.
In 2016, she received the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award and also has been awarded the USAO award for excellence and an EPA medal for commendable service for successful prosecution of an environmental case of first impression.
Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Denver, Hazra served as a trial attorney in the Division of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., and was in private practice. She began her career as a law clerk for Judge Robert Merhige Jr. of the Eastern District of Virginia.
Hazra received a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Yale University.
LATERAL WATCH
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announced Thursday Airina Rodrigues joined its brand management, trademark and copyright protection practice as a shareholder in the firm’s Denver office.
Rodrigues focuses her practice on the development, protection and commercialization of intellectual property assets in matters involving trademarks and trade dress, copyrights, trade secrets, right of publicity, false advertising, patents and commercial contracts.
Rodrigues joined Brownstein from DLA Piper’s New York office.
She received a bachelor’s degree and law degree from McGill University.
ASSOCIATE WATCH
Spencer Fane announced that Erica Montague joined the firm’s Denver office. She will serve as an associate in the special districts practice group after previously working as a summer associate and legal intern for the firm.
Montague’s practice will involve representing real estate developers and various governmental entities across the state of Colorado, including metropolitan districts, water and sanitation districts, business improvement districts, fire districts, authorities and other local governments.
Prior to law school, Montague worked as a litigation paralegal for more than 16 years.
Montague received a law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado.
Davis Graham & Stubbs announced Thursday that the firm recently added four associates: Omeed Azmoudeh, Stephanie Block-Guedez, Molly Kokesh and Rob McCary.
Azmoudeh is a former DGS summer associate and will work in the firm’s trial department. He received a law degree from the University of Colorado Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern University. He also completed an internship at Zayo Group and for 10th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Timothy Tymkovich.
Block-Guedez focuses her practice on corporate and business law, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, securities and general corporate matters. She currently serves as the treasurer of the business law section of the Colorado Bar Association. Before joining DGS, she was an associate at a Big Four public accounting firm.
She received a law degree from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College. She also completed internships at Fidelity International, State Street Corporation and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.
Kokesh’s practice focuses on commercial litigation. She received a law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Augustana College. She previously clerked for 10th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge David Ebel and for then-Chief Justice Nancy Rice of the Colorado Supreme Court.
She also completed internships with U.S. District Judge Christine Arguello and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.
McCary is a former DGS summer associate and now focuses his practice on transactional work for both private and public companies. He received a law degree from the University of Colorado Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University.
Before joining the firm, he interned with U.S. District Judge John Kane and Level 3 Communications. He was previously the director of the TVRC Education Foundation’s Backcountry Program in Jackson, Wyoming.
JUDICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
The 18th Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for a district court judgeship created by the passage of Senate Bill 19-043, effective Jan. 1. Alisha Coombe of Parker, Harold Hurst of Elizabeth and Michael Roche of Centennial were selected by the commission on Nov. 1.
The governor has 15 days from Nov. 4 to appoint one of the nominees as 18th District Judge.
The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated five candidates for two district court judgeships, one created pursuant to Senate Bill 19-043 and the other by the retirement of Judge Thomas French, effective Jan. 18.
Nominees David Ayraud, Laurie Dean, Claire Havelda and Daniel McDonald, all of Fort Collins; and Sarah Cure of Loveland were selected by the commission on Nov. 5.
The governor has 15 days from Nov. 6 to appoint two of the nominees as 8th District judges (Jackson and Larimer counties).
The 17th Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for a district court judgeship created pursuant to Senate Bill 19-043. Nominees Amanda DeWick, Kyle Seedorf and Teri Vasquez, all of Broomfield, were selected by the commission on Nov. 6.
The governor has 15 days from Nov. 7 to appoint one of the nominees as district court judge for the 17th Judicial District (Adams and Broomfield counties).
Comments regarding any of the nominees may be sent via e-mail to the governor at [email protected]
The Denver County Court Judicial Nomination Commission is accepting applications from attorneys to fill three vacancies for the Denver County Court Bench.
Two vacancies will be created by the retirements of judges Johnny Barajas and Brian Campbell. They will formally notify the mayor and presiding judge on Dec. 3 of their retirement. Barajas’ retirement will be effective the end of business day Jan. 31, and Campbell’s retirement will be effective the end of business day March 10.
A third vacancy will be created pending City Council’s approval of a new judgeship. The anticipated judgeship will be created Dec. 6.
Applications must be filed with the Denver County Court presiding judge’s office no later than 4 p.m. Nov. 18. Persons interested in obtaining additional information or an application may contact the presiding judge’s office, 1437 Bannock Street, Room 108, or call 720-865-7870.
The application will also be available online at www.denvercountycourt.org/judicial-applications/.
GOOD FOR YOU
Moye White announced partners Paul Franke and Scott James have been selected to America’s Top 100 Bet-the-Company Litigators. The invitation-only list highlights the accomplishments of the country’s high-stakes business litigators.
Selection to America’s Top 100 Bet-the-Company Litigators list is limited to less than .5% of active attorneys in the country. To be considered for selection, an attorney must have litigated a matter with at least $2 million at stake.
Franke is chair of Moye White’s litigation section. James is a trial attorney who represents his clients in trials and arbitrations and co-founded the firm’s insurance coverage and recovery group.