Dentons announced Feb. 21 that it named partner Steven Masiello as practice head of the U.S. government contracts practice. Resident in the firm’s Denver office, Masiello has been with Dentons and its legacy firms for more than 18 years.
Masiello serves as lead counsel in complex government contract matters across numerous industry segments concerning state, federal and foreign military funded transactions and sales, as well as foreign direct commercial agreements in the U.S. courts, agency boards and under domestic and international alternative dispute resolution procedures.
His practice involves domestic and cross-border protests, claims, corporate transactions and defense against contract default, fraud or corruption allegations. He has successfully resolved client matters involving high-value contracts, protests, claims or corporate transactions.
Masiello represents a variety of companies across industries including aerospace and defense, construction and engineering services, information technology, health care, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and energy.
The Dentons’ government contracts practice develops business and litigation strategies for clients. Dentons’ U.S. government contracts practice operates as part of the firm’s global government contracts and procurement practice, including lawyers and professionals from the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Central America and the Middle East.
Lateral Watch
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announced Wednesday that Kevin Walsh joined the firm’s litigation department as of counsel and will be based in the firm’s Denver office. In his practice, Walsh will specialize in construction law and commercial litigation.
Prior to joining Brownstein, Walsh was an associate principal at The Holt Group, where he provided legal services to general contractors, design builders, subcontractors, architects, engineers, private owners and governmental entities.
These services included contract drafting and negotiation; dispute avoidance and mitigation; litigation, mediation and arbitration; and appeals.
Walsh currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado’s College of Engineering & Applied Science, where he teaches a course on the legal aspects of construction.
Lewis Bess Williams & Weese announced last week that Sarah Benjes joined the firm as counsel on Feb. 8. Benjes is a member of the firm’s employment practice and will continue her work on behalf of national and regional employers in all areas of employment law counseling and related litigation.
Benjes joins the firm after spending 10 years with the Denver office of Faegre Baker Daniels.
She has experience working with companies in connection with employee hiring, discipline, and discharge issues, employment law compliance, complex business transactions, internal investigations and audits, employee leaves and accommodations, complex wage and hour issues, employee and supervisor training, employment agreements, and employee handbooks and policies.
She has represented employers in federal and state court litigation and has appeared before multiple federal and state agencies.
Prior to entering law school, Benjes gained valuable experience in senior human resources positions with Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation and Vail Resorts. Benjes received her law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2007 and received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University.
Benjes is on the board of directors of the Bravo! Vail music festival.
Correction
The following new partners were mistakenly omitted from Law Week’s Feb. 19th New Partners list. We apologize for the error.
David Holman and Erin Simmons on Jan. 1 became partners of Davis Graham & Stubbs. Holman is a member of the firm’s trial department and Simmons is a member of the firm’s finance and acquisitions department.
Holman represents clients in oil and gas litigation, commercial litigation, construction litigation and products liability litigation.
Holman has trial and discovery experience, including examinations of key fact and expert witnesses and oral advocacy. Holman serves on the Advisory Building Committee of the St. Mary Catholic Church in Littleton. He is also a board member of the Denver Urban Debate League.
Simmons represents banks, financial institutions, businesses and private equity sponsors in complex commercial lending transactions.
Her practice includes secured and unsecured loans; single lender, syndicate and “club” transactions; asset-based lending; reserve-based lending; acquisition financing; leveraged buyout financing; and project financing. Simmons has worked on transactions in industries including oil and gas, mining, energy, manufacturing, equipment leasing, health care, logistics, construction, communications, transportation, and agriculture.