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Law Firm Updates
Holland & Hart LLP announced Dec. 4 the election of 23 partners effective Jan. 1, 2024. John Anderson, Jennifer Benda, Abby Briggerman, Todd Criger, Brad Flynt, Kevin McAdam, Matt Ochs, Jessica Smith and Nik Stoffel have been elevated to equity partners. Thomas Balmat, Sarah Bordelon, Sabrina Danielson, Nate Davis, Matthew Dolphay, Jennifer Jensen, Andy LeMieux, Brianne McClafferty, Susan Ryan, Michelle Seares, John Sullivan, Amy Tindell, Michael Wadley and Samuel Yemington have been elected to the firm’s partnership. The elected partners are in the firm’s Aspen, Billings, Boise, Boulder, Denver, Jackson, Las Vegas, Reno, Salt Lake City, Santa Fe and Washington, DC offices.
Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP announced Dec. 7 Maria del Rosario Oxman will become a partner of the firm on Jan. 1, 2024. Oxman focuses her practice on real estate law and has experience representing investors, developers and large companies across the U.S. She handles real estate matters including large-scale renewable energy projects, leasing, acquisition, dispositions and hospitality. In her leasing practice, she represents both landlords and tenants in the negotiation of industrial, office and retail leases.
The Judiciary
The 17th Judicial District Nominating Commission has nominated three candidates for a district court judgeship created by the retirement of Chief Judge Donald Quick. The vacancy will occur on Jan. 23, 2024. Nominees Arturo Hernandez of Brighton, Sarah Price of Denver and Meghan Saleebey of Greeley were selected by the commission on Dec. 4. Under the Colorado Constitution, the governor has 15 days from Dec. 5 to appoint one of the nominees as district court judge for the 17th Judicial District. Comments regarding any of the nominees can be sent to the governor at [email protected].
The term of office of U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott Varholak of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado expires on Sep. 30, 2024. The U.S. District Court is required by law to establish a panel of citizens to consider the reappointment of a magistrate judge to a new eight-year term. Written comments from members of the bar and the public are invited as to whether the incumbent magistrate judge should be recommended by the panel for reappointment by the court. All comments can be sent to the Office of the Clerk of Court at [email protected]. Comments must be received by 5 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2024.
Several judicial officers in the District Court for the District of Colorado, including Judge Regina Rodriguez, Judge Charlotte Sweeney, Judge Nina Wang, Judge Gordon Gallagher, Senior District Judge Christine Arguello and Magistrate Judge Michael Hegarty, have updated their practice standards. All parties with cases before any judges with revised practice standards should review these updates. The standards are available on the court’s website.
Kudos
Clark Hill announced it received the first-ever “Cannabis Law Firm of the Year” Emjay at the inaugural Emjay International Cannabis Awards ceremony on Nov. 30. The Emjay Awards are the cannabis industry’s international business awards that recognize the top ancillary businesses supporting the cannabis industry. Bob Hoban and his fellow co-chair Sander Zagzebski, along with Xavier Jaillet, cannabis industry group coordinator, and Halston Trabucco, business development manager, accepted the award at MJBizCon in Las Vegas. The award is the second Clark Hill’s cannabis team has received this year. In September, Benzinga named the group “Cannabis Law Firm of the Year.” The Emjay ceremony was part of the MJBiz Conference.
Miscellaneous
University of Denver Sturm College of Law faculty member Professor Justin Marceau, director of the Animal Law Program, has been selected as a Vox 2023 Future Perfect 50, “a list of scientists, thinkers, scholars, writers, and activists building a more perfect future, for defending a new generation of animal rights activists.”
Lathrop GPM LLP announced it has partnered with Diversity Lab, joining over 90 leading law firms in the U.S., UK and Canada, to continue building a culture of inclusion for people with disabilities by implementing one or more of the actions listed on the recently launched Disability Inclusion Commitments.