Dorsey & Whitney announced that it has named corporate partner Robert Hensley as head of the firm’s Denver office effective April 8.
Hensley replaces Denver office head and trial partner Greg Tamkin. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as office head but look forward to focusing on my role on the firm’s management committee,” Tamkin said.
Hensley represents clients on business issues including business formations, mergers and acquisitions, business contracts, joint ventures, real estate development, and complex construction projects.
He is co-chair of the firm’s food and beverage industry group and an active member of the firm’s development and infrastructure group.
Lateral Watch
Richards Carrington announced April 8 the arrival of trial lawyer Lindsay Richardson and the establishment of an education law practice area devoted to representing students and their families in matters involving civil law, school policy, administrative proceedings and the juvenile criminal justice system. Richardson’s practice is focused on matters affected by the federal Title IX gender discrimination statute.
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announced that Elizabeth Carney, a technology transaction attorney, will join the firm’s intellectual property department as a shareholder.
“[Elizabeth’s] experience and talent will be a great addition to our technology transactions, cybersecurity and privacy groups,” said Mike Rounds, Brownstein’s intellectual property department chair.
Carney advises clients on commercializing proprietary technology and obtaining rights to use third party technology. Carney’s technology transactions practice includes work across a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, software as a service, aerospace, consumer products, secure access solutions, healthcare and energy.
Carney received her law degree from Yale Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University.
Squire Patton Boggs Adds Senior Policy Advisor
Squire Patton Boggs announced that Mara Sheldon, recent communications director and spokesperson Gov. Jared Polis’ gubernatorial campaign, has joined the firm as a senior policy advisor in the Denver office.
“Mara was campaign staffer No. 1 on my gubernatorial race and a key member of my senior staff team. Her expertise and experience working on the campaign trail and with federal, state and local governments will be huge assets in her new role,” said Polis.
“We are delighted to have Mara join the team and put her legislative expertise and deep relationships to good use for our clients here in Colorado and across the U.S.,” said Squire Patton Boggs’ Denver office managing partner Peter Gould.
Sheldon has more than 20 years of experience working in public policy and strategic communications for major corporations, nonprofits and elected officials.
“In this new role I have the opportunity to combine previous experience gained throughout my career and delve deeply into policy issues affecting Coloradans on both a state and national level,” Sheldon said.
Judicial Announcements
Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Coats appointed District Court Judge Emily Anderson to serve as Chief Judge of the 17th Judicial District. She replaces retiring Chief Judge Patrick Murphy, who was appointed to the District Court in 2004 and was named chief judge in 2013. Judge Anderson’s appointment is effective upon Murphy’s retirement on July 15.
Anderson was appointed to the 17th Judicial District Court bench by Gov. John Hickenlooper in 2013. She served as a district court magistrate in the 17th Judicial District from 2005 to 2013. She was the recipient of the Colorado Judicial Institute’s Judicial Excellence Award in 2013.
Prior to moving to the bench, Anderson ran her own law firm for 11 years. Her private trial practice focused on family law, civil litigation and mediation. Anderson has served in leadership positions in the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, Colorado Bar Association and LGBTQ Bar Association. She currently serves on the Access to Justice Committee for the 17th Judicial District, the Executive Committee for the Judicial Peer-to-Peer Coaching Program and is the District 12 Director of the National Association of Women Judges.
She received an undergraduate degree from Colorado College and a law degree from the University of Denver College of Law.
As chief judge, Anderson will serve as the administrative head of the 17th Judicial District, responsible for appointing the court executive, chief probation officer and clerk of court, assisting in the personnel, financial and case-management duties of the district and seeing that the business of the courts is conducted efficiently and effectively.