Have an announcement for Law Week Colorado’s people section? Let us know.
Law Firm Updates
Holland & Hart announced Jan. 29 the expansion of its immigration practice with the addition of partners Chris Thomas, Ann Lee and Samantha Wolfe. Thomas’ expertise includes helping companies secure employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant visas, advising companies and individuals facing government investigations or audits on how to navigate pitfalls and potential areas of exposure and working with companies to complete internal audits. Lee works with companies on proactive plans and programs to meet their current and future talent needs and helps clients to secure the right talent for business-critical functions through employment-based non-immigrant and immigrant visas. Wolfe provides strategic counsel to help employers navigate immigration challenges and handles a wide range of non-immigrant employment visa petitions, Permanent Labor Certifications and petitions for employer-sponsored immigrant visas.
Lathrop GPM LLP announced three franchise lawyers joined the Denver office: William Jones, David Katalinas and Craig Knobbe. Jones focuses on complex civil litigation and commercial conflict resolution. He handles franchise and distribution disagreements, product liability defense, insurance defense and coverage matters, trust and estate disputes and litigation involving real estate. Katalinas assists commercial clients in franchise, distribution, real estate, mergers and acquisitions and private equity. He handles franchise registration/disclosure matters, distribution, contract law, leasing, supplier agreements and procurement issues. Knobbe is versed in addressing diverse commercial legal matters, encompassing franchise and distribution, real estate, corporate affairs, brewing and distilling and trademark law. His role involves steering clients through intricate legal challenges related to their transactions.
The Judiciary
Gov. Jared Polis appointed James Hesson Jan. 31 to the Moffat County Court in the 14th Judicial District. This vacancy was created by Judge Brittany Schneider’s appointment to the district court and is effective immediately. Hesson is a deputy district attorney for the 14th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, a position he has held since 2017. His practice consists of criminal prosecution. Hesson earned his bachelor’s from the University of Dallas and his law degree from Baylor University School of Law.
Polis signed House Bill 24-1084 Repeal & Reenact Earned Income Tax Credit Increase, which was sponsored by Reps. Jenny Willford and Mary Young, and Sens. Chris Kolker and Rhonda Fields and approved by the General Assembly. This law repeals and reenacts HB23B-1002, which increases the Earned Income Tax Credit from 25% to 50%, with the intent to help Colorado families use their money on essentials like food, housing and transportation, according to an announcement by the governor’s office.
The 20th Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet March 22 to interview and select nominees for appointment to the office of district judge for Boulder County. The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Judge Patrick Butler and will occur on May 11. The completed application must be e-mailed to [email protected] no later than 4 p.m. on March 8. Late applications will not be considered. Any person wishing to suggest a candidate to fill the vacancy may send a letter to any member of the nominating commission, with a copy to the ex officio chair, no later than 4 p.m. on March 1.
The 1st Judicial District announced it will hold the inaugural docket for its new competency court, a program designed to help address the growing number of defendants in need of competency-restoration services before their cases can move forward. About five defendants are expected to appear for the launch of the competency court at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 31. The competency court will determine, on an individualized basis, if community-based resources and restoration services could be employed through a collaborative model under the supervision and direction of the competency court. Community partners in the 1st Judicial District include the Jefferson Center and Community Connections Center. For those accepted into the program, staff and community partners will work to develop a plan to meet each defendant’s needs to ensure the stability necessary to receive outpatient restoration services while working to maintain community safety. Once program participants are found competent to proceed, they will be transferred back to the court to which their case was originally assigned.