As a first-chair trial lawyer and member of her firm’s executive leadership team, Heather Perkins has led complex disputes across federal and state courts and arbitration forums, developed a national franchise practice and helped shape the next generation of trial lawyers.
Although her father and grandfather practiced law, Perkins’ first job after college was as a certified public accountant.
Yet she soon found, “I did not care for that career choice,” she said, leading her to the University of Colorado Law School.
During her clerkship with U.S. District Court Judge Edward Nottingham, she observed proceedings related to the Oklahoma City bombing case and a reverse gender discrimination trial. “That was when I decided, ‘This is far more interesting than taxes,’” she recalled.
Perkins joined Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath in 2002. “I realized I could build a practice grounded in Colorado, which was really important to me, but also develop a national profile,” she said. “That mix was just right.”
Perkins appreciates the camaraderie innate to franchise work: “When you’re on opposite sides of a case, there’s a shared understanding of the law and the pressure points.”
She continued, “It’s demanding, but it’s also exactly where I want to be.”
Perkins’ drive for work done well in community infuses her litigation practice. While serving as first chair, she is quick to emphasize that trial success requires a dedicated team.
“If we’re working all night and all weekend, I’m doing it too,” she said. “It’s lot of hard work and really understanding the record,” she said. “It’s also understanding what motivates people.”
In a 2022 jury trial, Perkins partnered with attorneys from multiple firms, creating a collaborative environment even as the team navigated a COVID outbreak in the trial war room.
On the firm’s executive leadership team, she fosters a culture rooted in shared commitment. “The companies we represent are made up of individuals making decisions under pressure,” she said. “The human aspect of it is really important.”
Perkins works closely with associates and junior partners, aiming to build on the mentorship she received from seasoned trial lawyers. “Understanding the ‘why’ — that’s how you really learn the craft,” she said.
Outside the firm, Perkins served from 2016 to 2024 on the board of the Legal Aid Foundation, including as chair. “Access to justice is a real problem nationwide,” she said. “Being part of that work is incredibly meaningful.”