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Law firm updates
Coan, Payton & Payne announced the addition of Scott Challinor to the firm’s probate practice group. Challinor has more than a decade of experience in probate litigation and uncontested fiduciary administration. Challinor received his law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law.
Adams & Reese announced the addition of Victoria Edwards as counsel in the firm’s Denver office. Edwards has more than two decades of experience as a litigator, appellate attorney, former partner at an Am Law 100 firm and as a solo practitioner. Edwards earned her law degree from Boston College Law School and received her undergraduate degree from Dickinson College.
Polsinelli announced that Claire Davies has joined the firm’s food and drug practice as a shareholder in the Denver office. Davies brings nearly a decade of experience from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, where she played a pivotal role in high-profile legal and policy matters, including the FDA’s initiatives related to COVID-19. Polsinelli also welcomed Erin Burns to its Denver office as a shareholder in the firm’s nationwide health care practice. Burns brings insight and strategic counsel to hospices, home health agencies, skilled nursing facilities and other post-acute care providers.
Fintech attorneys Richard Levin and Bobby Wenner have joined Taft in Denver. Levin joins as the chair of the firm’s fintech practice. Levin and Wenner joined Taft from another 1,000-lawyer firm with a location in Denver. Levin earned his law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and his bachelor’s degree from Colorado College. Wenner earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center and his undergraduate degree from the University of Denver.
Coan, Payton & Payne announced that Mark Yoder has joined the firm. Yoder has provided legal representation and practical advice to business entities and individuals on a full range of real estate, capital formation, securities offerings and fund formation, corporate, lending, business and other commercial matters.
The judiciary
The 6th Judicial District Nominating Commission will meet on May 27 at the La Plata County Courthouse in Durango to consider candidates for a vacancy in the 6th Judicial District La Plata County Court. The vacancy was created by Senate Bill 25-024. Seven candidates applied for this vacancy, including Matthew Bayma of Telluride, Katie Dittelberger of Durango, Jason Eley of Durango, Shane Goranson of Durango, Matthew Margeson of Bayfield, Douglas Reynolds of Durango and Richard Schmittel Jr. of Westminster. The rules of procedure for the 6th Judicial District Nominating Commission require that the names of all applicants be made public when the application period is closed. The commission is accepting public feedback about applicants before May 27. Comments may be directed to any member of the commission, with a copy to the ex officio chair, Justice Richard Gabriel, at 2 E. 14th Ave., Denver, CO 80203, or by email no later than May 19 at 4 p.m.
The 13th Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for a county court judgeship created by the resignation of Judge Dennis Brandenburg effective July 1. Nominees Milla Lishchuk of Springfield, David Kartchner of Fort Morgan and Christian Ryan of Eagle were selected by the commission on May 12. Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days from that date to appoint one of the nominees as county court judge for the 13th Judicial District, serving Morgan County. Comments regarding any of the nominees may be emailed to the governor.
Gov. Jared Polis appointed Magistrate Timothy Johnson to the 20th Judicial District Court. The appointment is effective July 12, and is occasioned by the retirement of Judge Ingrid Bakke. Johnson is a district court magistrate in the 20th Judicial District, a position he’s held since 2021. His docket consists of domestic relations matters. Previously, he was an attorney at Caplan and Earnest LLC from 2020 to 2022, senior associate at The Bagley Law Firm from 2019 to 2020 and deputy district attorney at the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office from 1998 to 2018. Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado in 1993 and his law degree from the University of Colorado Law School in 1997.
Kudos
Sage Schaftel, a senior policy advisor in Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s government relations department, has joined the board of directors of ALIGHT, a nonprofit organization that connects those who have suffered human trafficking to free legal help. In her three-year term, Schaftel will serve as a board member and contribute to the fundraising and donor cultivation committee.