Holland & Hart News

Holland & Hart Welcomes Matt Koehl to the Firm’s Government Contracts Practice

Holland & Hart LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Matt Koehl to the firm’s Government Contracts practice. Koehl is based out of the firm’s Boise and Washington D.C. offices.

Koehl represents clients in connection with government contract and financial assistance agreement counseling, negotiations, investigations and litigation matters. He has 20 years of experience representing commercial and defense contractors across a broad range of industries, including information technology, medical supplies and services and homeland security, with a special emphasis on matters relating to the General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule contract program.

He is admitted to practice in California, the District of Columbia and Idaho. He has extensive experience with California procurement law matters at the state, municipal, and local government levels.

Prior to joining Holland & Hart, Koehl was Assistant General Counsel at Micron Technology, Inc.

He holds a J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law and a B.A. from Colgate University.

Holland & Hart Welcomes Cole Wist to the Firm’s Labor and Employment Practice

Holland & Hart LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Cole Wist to the firm’s labor and employment practice. Wist is a partner based out of the firm’s Denver Tech Center office.

Wist has over 20 years of experience representing employers in labor and employment matters, focusing on workplace safety and health and industrial crisis management. Wist has defended clients following some of the country’s highest profile occupational disasters in a wide variety of industries including: construction sites, surface and underground mines, cement plants, pipelines, electrical generation facilities, smelters, and chemical plants. 

Wist represents clients before federal and state regulatory agencies involved in safety and health enforcement, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). In addition to litigating cases before these agencies, Wist frequently advises and trains employers regarding inspection strategies, liability prevention and crisis management. Wist is a frequent speaker and author on topics related to workplace safety and health law.   

Holland & Hart Foundation Celebrates 15 Years of Service to Communities in the Mountain West and Beyond

Holland & Hart LLP is proud to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Holland & Hart Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that creates opportunities for individual and group volunteerism primarily within communities in Holland & Hart’s Mountain West footprint.

“To see the growth of our efforts from the early days to the incredible array of projects the Foundation is engaged in today is truly remarkable,” said Holland & Hart Foundation co-founder, Sam Guyton, who started the Foundation with his wife, Jean. “I am humbled by the commitment of the firm and the people of the Foundation to continue to strive for an even greater and more meaningful impact in their communities each year.”

In 2012, the work of the Holland & Hart Foundation touched the lives of nearly 15,000 people through a wide range of projects, from home-building to weekend backpack food programs.

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Foundation, each of the firm’s 15 offices has selected an organization to focus on in honor of the milestone. The offices will strive to achieve 100% participation in support of the designated organization through volunteerism and/or donations. The 15th Anniversary Project is in addition to the typical community work of each Foundation office committee.

Holland & Hart Foundation 15th Anniversary Project:

Aspen – LIFT-UP (Aspen Food Pantry)
Billings – Billings Senior High
Boise – Summerwind Garden, Summerwind School of Math and Science
Boulder – Boulder Homeless Shelter
Carson City – FISH (Friends in Service Helping)
Cheyenne – Cheyenne Day of Giving
Colorado Springs – Starlight Children’s Foundation
Denver – Trinity Church Soup Kitchen
Denver Tech Center – Center for Hearing, Speech and Learning
Jackson Hole – Community Safety Network
Las Vegas – Las Vegas Rescue Mission
Reno – The Children’s Cabinet
Salt Lake City – Mothers Without Borders
Santa Fe – Food for Santa Fe, Inc. 
Washington D.C. – The American Heart Association

Visit the Holland & Hart Foundation at www.hollandhartfoundation.org.

Holland & Hart Attorneys Named 2013 IP Stars by Managing Intellectual Property

Holland & Hart is proud to announce that 14 of its attorneys have been recognized as IP Stars by Managing Intellectual Property.

Holland & Hart is “Nationally Recognized” for Trademark Prosecution and listed as “Highly Recommended” in Colorado and Utah. The firm is listed as “Notable” in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, the only designation available in those states.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Managing Intellectual Property’s legal market research. Teams of researchers in London, Hong Kong and New York contact firms in more than 80 jurisdictions to ask for information and feedback on the rankings. Client feedback is also considered.

IP Stars are considered the leading practitioners at listed firms that received particular recommendation during the research process.

Holland & Hart’s 2013 IP Stars:

Colorado:
Andrea Anderson
Donald A. Degnan
Michael Drapkin
Timothy P. Getzoff
James E. Hartley
Scott S. Havlick 

Idaho:
Daniel J. Glivar
Tobi Mott 

Montana:
Shane P. Coleman
Robert L. Sterup 

Utah:
Brett L. Foster
L. Grant Foster
Bryan G. Pratt 

Wyoming:
Susan Combs

Holland & Hart Welcomes Four Attorneys to the Firm’s Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Group

Holland & Hart LLP is pleased to announce the addition of partner Kevin Murray, and associates Nicole Squires, Ashley Peck, and Jennifer Horne to the firm’s Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources group. All four are based out of the firm’s Salt Lake City office, bringing the total number of Holland & Hart attorneys in Salt Lake City to 85.

“We are excited to welcome Kevin, Jennifer, Ashley and Nicole to Holland & Hart, and to expand our already robust energy and natural resources practice with their specialties and experience,” said Holland & Hart Salt Lake City Managing Partner Eric Maxfield. “This group’s environmental capabilities dovetail perfectly with those of our existing group and expand the kinds of environmental services we provide to clients nationally and throughout the West."

Murray assists clients with contaminated property and water issues. His work includes all facets of remediation, compliance, permitting, mergers and acquisitions, land development, and property reuse, especially as these issues relate to current and historic mining, petroleum, and manufacturing industries.

Holland & Hart Welcomes Tom DeVine to the Firm’s Real Estate and Finance Practices

Holland & Hart LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Tom DeVine to the firm’s real estate and finance practices. DeVine is a partner based out of the firm’s Denver office.

DeVine has over 20 years of experience advising clients on a broad range of real estate and finance matters, including a variety of commercial finance and property transactions. He has significant experience with real estate acquisitions, construction and development lending, mortgage financing, loan workouts, restructures, and foreclosures. In addition, DeVine counsels clients on various leasing matters and real estate development projects. He assists a spectrum of clients, from banks and lenders to developers and businesses to buyers and sellers, among others.

DeVine is admitted to practice in Colorado and Texas.

He holds a J.D. from University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and a B.S. from the University of South Dakota.

Kelly Dickson Cooper Elected Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel

Holland & Hart tax attorney Kelly Dickson Cooper has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).

Cooper practices in all areas of trusts and estates litigation and administration. As part of the fiduciary solutions group, she represents corporate fiduciaries, individual fiduciaries, heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors in the resolution of probate and trust-related disputes through proactive solutions, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. Cooper is admitted to practice in Colorado.

Formed in 1949, the ACTEC includes members who are elected to the College by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, commitment to the profession, competence and experience as trust and estate counselors.

All ACTEC members have made substantial contributions to the field of trusts and estates law through writing, teaching and bar leadership activities.

Marc Painter Elected Fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys

Holland & Hart real estate and finance attorney Marc Painter has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Mortgage Attorneys (ACMA).

One of only eight attorneys in Colorado currently admitted as an ACMA Fellow, Painter's practice focuses on complex real estate transactions, development and financing, and banking and business counseling. He is admitted to practice in Colorado, the U.S. Federal District Court – Colorado and the United States Supreme Court.

Fewer than 500 attorneys in the U.S. and Canada are ACMA fellows.

Formed in 1974, ACMA is made up of lawyers in North America who are experts in the mortgage law industry. ACMA Fellows share a commitment to giving back to their industry, improving and reforming laws and procedures affecting real estate secured financing transactions, and raising the level of professional responsibility of lawyers practicing in this area.

Michael Drapkin Awarded Distinguished Service Medal

Holland & Hart intellectual property attorney Michael Drapkin has been awarded a Distinguished Service Medal by the Honorable Richard Linn of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit for his work forming the Colorado Intellectual Property (IP) American Inn of Court and his efforts in bringing a satellite branch of the United States Patent Office to Colorado.  The medal was awarded in a ceremony in New York on March 22.

The Colorado IP American Inn of Court, which Drapkin started in partnership with U.S. District Judge Brimmer, U.S. Magistrate Judge Mix, and John Posthumus, among others, is part of the Linn Inn Alliance, an organization of Inns focused on intellectual property law and spearheaded by Judge Richard Linn.  It has grown to be the largest IP Inn in the country.

The objectives of the Colorado American IP Inn of Court are to promote the guiding principles of the American Inns of Court, the nation’s oldest, largest and fastest growing legal mentoring organizations, to focus on mentoring younger lawyers in intellectual property law, and to promote diversity within the intellectual property community in Colorado.

Holland & Hart Foundation Donates 360 Pairs of Shoes to Las Vegas Elementary School Children

Holland & Hart LLP is pleased to announce that the Las Vegas committee of the Holland & Hart Foundation is teaming with Shoes That Fit, a nonprofit children’s charity, to provide 360 pairs of shoes to children at R. Guild Gray Elementary School in Las Vegas, which has a student population of more than 90 percent at or below the poverty line.

The mission of Shoes That Fit is to provide new shoes to children in need so they can attend school in comfort and with dignity, better prepared to learn and play. Accepting no government funding whatsoever, and with 100% of community donations going directly to school children through an impressive network of volunteer-run local grassroots chapters, Shoes That Fit is uniquely efficient and effective in its life-changing operations.

This is the sixth year that Holland & Hart and the Holland & Hart Foundation have supported the Shoes that Fit program. Since 2007, the office has donated more than 1,000 pairs of shoes to children at six Las Vegas-area elementary schools.

Utah State Bar Honors Cecilia Romero with Raymond S. Uno Award for the Advancement of Minorities in the Legal Profession

Holland & Hart LLP is pleased to announce that Cecilia Romero is the 2013 recipient of the Utah State Bar Association’s Raymond S. Uno Award for the Advancement of Minorities in the Legal Profession.

Utah State Bar President Lori Nelson states, “The Bar’s vision is to lead society in the creation of a justice system that is understood, valued, respected, and accessible to all, and we commend Cecilia Romero for turning those aspirations into reality.”

Romero counsels clients involved in matters concerning commercial litigation, and labor and employment matters. She regularly represents clients in proceedings before the federal and state courts, guiding them through the complex litigation process.

The award’s namesake is the Honorable Raymond S. Uno (now retired from the Third District Judicial Court), who was the first president of Utah Minority Bar Association.

76 Holland & Hart Attorneys Named 2013 Colorado Super Lawyers®

Holland & Hart LLP is proud to announce that 76 of its attorneys have been named to the 2013 list of Colorado Super Lawyers.

Each year, Super Lawyers magazine compiles a list of exceptional attorneys in each state based on peer nominations and third-party research.

Two attorneys were also recognized with the distinct honor of being among the Top 100 Colorado Super Lawyers, including: Gregory Goldberg and John Husband.

Additionally, three attorneys were singled out among the Top 50 Women Colorado Super Lawyers, including Marcy G. Glenn, Jane Michaels and Holly Stein Sollod.

The following attorneys were named to the 2013 list as Super Lawyers or Rising Stars:

Super Lawyer	Office	Primary Practice
Betty Arkell	Denver	Securities & Corporate Finance
Michael Beaver	Denver Tech Center	Employment & Labor
Jonathan Bender	Denver	Business Litigation
Robert E. Benson	Denver	Alternative Dispute Resolution
Scott Berdan	Boulder	Securities & Corporate Finance
Judith (Jude) Biggs	Boulder	Employment & Labor
Kevin J. Bridston	Denver	Construction Litigation
Dennis W. Brown	Denver	Personal Injury Defense - Product Liability
Michael Carrigan	Denver	Business Litigation
Kelly Cooper	Denver	Estate & Trust Litigation
David Crandall	Denver	Estate Planning & Probate
Kevin Crandell	Denver	Intellectual Property
Donald A. Degnan	Boulder	Intellectual Property Litigation
Rebecca Dow	Denver	Real Estate
Gregory Eurich	Denver	Employment & Labor
Andrew Folkerth	Denver	Real Estate
Marcy G. Glenn	Denver	Appellate
Gregory Goldberg	Denver	Business Litigation
Timothy Gordon	Denver	Construction Litigation
Christina Groll	Denver	Mergers & Acquisitions
Steven Gutierrez	Denver	Employment & Labor
Joseph W. Halpern	Denver	Appellate
James Hartley	Denver	Intellectual Property Litigation
Scott Havlick	Boulder	Intellectual Property
Peter C. Houtsma	Denver	Business Litigation
Laura Hundley	Boulder	Estate Planning & Probate
Diego Hunt	Denver	Business Litigation
John M. Husband	Denver	Employment & Labor
Dennett L. Hutchinson	Denver Tech Center	Real Estate
Robert R. Keatinge	Denver	Business/Corporate
Katherine LeVoy	Denver	Mergers & Acquisitions
Trip Mackintosh	Denver	Criminal Defense: White Collar
Stephen Masciocchi	Denver	Appellate
John R. Maxfield	Denver	Tax
Wiley Mayne	Denver	Business Litigation
Jane Michaels	Denver	Intellectual Property Litigation
Robert Mintz	Denver	Mergers & Acquisitions
Elizabeth A. Mitchell	Denver	Environmental
Brian Mumaugh	Denver Tech Center	Employment & Labor
J. Marcus Painter	Boulder	Real Estate
Paul Phillips	Denver	Environmental
Timothy Rastello	Boulder	General Litigation
Anthony Shaheen	Denver	Energy & Natural Resources
Elizabeth Sharrer	Denver	Real Estate
John F. Shepherd	Denver	Energy & Natural Resources
Jack L. Smith	Denver	Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights
Holly Stein Sollod	Denver	Securities Litigation
Lucy Stark	Denver	Securities & Corporate Finance
Beat U. Steiner	Boulder	Real Estate
Craig Stewart	Denver	Business Litigation
Christopher Toll	Denver Tech Center	Business Litigation
Lawrence Volmert	Denver	Environmental
Carol Warnick	Denver	Estate & Trust Litigation
John R. Wilson	Denver	Tax
Maureen Reidy Witt	Denver Tech Center	General Litigation
Risa L. Wolf-Smith	Denver	Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights

Rising Star	Office	Primary Practice
Christopher Balch	Denver	Mergers & Acquisitions
Buck Beltzer	Denver	Construction/Surety
Stephanie Berberich	Denver	Mergers & Acquisitions
Leslie Boyle	Denver	Projects
Adam M. Cohen	Denver Tech Center	Tax
Steven Collis	Denver Tech Center	Employment & Labor
Todd Criger	Denver	Mergers & Acquisitions
Jason Crow	Denver	Criminal Defense: White Collar
Jonathan Dhillon	Denver	Securities & Corporate Finance
Sam Edwards	Denver	Mergers & Acquisitions
Kamal Gala	Denver	Business/Corporate
Christina Gomez	Denver	Appellate
Michelle King	Denver	Utilities
Chelsea L. May	Denver	Estate Planning & Probate
Joseph Neguse	Denver	General Litigation
Tasha Newland	Denver	Energy & Natural Resources
Joe Ramirez	Denver Tech Center	Insurance Coverage
Rebecca Schroer	Denver	Estate & Trust Litigation
Ashley Kersten Wald	Denver	Business/Corporate
Alyssa K. Yatsko	Denver	Employment & Labor

Holland & Hart Welcomes Mark Kozik to the Firm’s Tax Practice

Holland & Hart LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Mark Kozik to the firm’s Tax practice. Kozik is of counsel and is based out of the firm’s Denver office.

Kozik advises clients on state and local tax matters, including income, franchise, sales, and use tax issues. He also represents clients in state and local tax controversies.

He spent 20 years as a tax accountant in the federal and state tax practices at the Denver office of a national accounting firm. He also taught as an adjunct and full-time professor for over 20 years at the University of Denver in the Graduate Tax Program.

Emanuel T. Cocian Joins Holland & Hart’s Energy, Telecom and Utilities Practice

Holland & Hart LLP announced that experienced utilities lawyer Emanuel T. Cocian joined its Energy, Telecom and Utilities Practice Group.

Prior to joining Holland & Hart, Cocian was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Colorado, where he practiced before the state and administrative courts in many areas of public utilities law, including electric, natural gas, telecommunication and transportation matters.

“We are very pleased that Emanuel joined Holland & Hart. He is a very talented lawyer who will contribute tremendously to our practice,” said Robert Pomeroy, Chair of the firm’s Energy, Telecom and Utilities Practice Team.

Cocian advises clients on public utilities matters, as well as energy law, energy resource plans, and natural gas, electricity and telecommunications matters. His practice includes appearing on behalf of energy producers, utilities and electricity consumers in administrative proceedings in Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

 “I’m excited to be part of Holland & Hart, a firm that is well recognized and respected throughout the Rocky Mountain region,” said Cocian.

Cocian is a graduate of Rutgers University School of Law-Camden, and Lee University. He is admitted to practice in Colorado and Georgia, and is a member of both the Colorado and Arapahoe County Bar Associations.

“Our clients will certainly benefit from his skills, knowledge and experience,” added Thorvald A. Nelson, the administrative partner for the firm’s Denver Tech Center location.

Greg Gilbert Appointed Practice Group Leader of TerraLex Construction Group

LAS VEGAS – March 11, 2013 – Holland & Hart LLP is pleased to announce that Greg Gilbert has been appointed co-chair of the construction industry practice group of TerraLex, one of the largest international legal networks with 155 member law firms in 100 countries.

Mr. Gilbert's practice involves drafting and negotiating complex agreements a wide variety of complex projects; shepherding clients through all project phases from inception, procurement, implementation, and completion; working with local, state, and federal agencies; complex commercial litigation and project claim resolution, including delay and impact claims that threaten project timelines and deliverables. He represents governmental agencies in connection with design and implementation of linear and vertical projects; private owners and contractors involved in constructing large resorts and associated facilities; and currently serves as outside general counsel for the passenger high speed rail project connecting Las Vegas, Nevada, to southern California.

Thor Nelson to Manage Holland & Hart’s Denver Tech Center Office

Holland & Hart LLP is pleased to announce Thor Nelson is the new administrative partner of Holland & Hart’s Denver Tech Center office. In addition to overseeing strategic development for the office, Nelson will manage recruiting and marketing efforts, as well as other responsibilities related to the firm’s partnership.

Nelson succeeds Brian Mumaugh, who has managed Holland & Hart’s Denver Tech Center office since 2006. “It has been my privilege to serve my partners and colleagues in Holland & Hart’s Denver Tech Center office for the past seven years.  We are thrilled to be in our Tech Center location, developed by Shea Properties, and we are very proud that this office has seen steady growth in all of our core practice areas. Thor has graciously accepted the firm’s call to serve as our next administrative partner, and I know Thor will bring his energy and considerable intellect to the job every day,” said Mumaugh.

James Newman to Manage Holland & Hart’s Reno Office

Holland & Hart is pleased to announce James Newman is the new administrative partner of Holland & Hart LLP’s Reno office. In addition to overseeing strategic development for the office, Newman will manage recruiting and marketing efforts, as well as other responsibilities related to the firm’s partnership.

Newman succeeds Tim Lukas, who has managed Holland & Hart’s Reno office since 2008, and previously served as managing shareholder of Hale Lane Peek Dennison and Howard before the two firms combined their Nevada operations. “Our commitment to Northern Nevada reaches back to 1971, and we have been very fortunate to grow along with a number of our clients, bringing their business to a national and international reach.  And, I expect with Jim’s leadership we will see continued growth in our business and the services we provide our clients,” stated Lukas.

Holland & Hart Boise Office Earns 2013 Client Choice Award

Holland & Hart LLP is the only law firm in Boise to be honored as a winner of the 2013 Lexology/International Law Office “ILO” Client Choice Award.

“We place the highest value on exceptional client service, and are truly grateful to receive such high praise from those we serve,” said Holland & Hart Boise administrative partner Nicole Snyder.

Established in 2005, the Client Choice awards recognize law firms and partners around the world that stand apart for the excellent client service they provide. The criteria for the awards focus on the ability to add real value to clients’ business above and beyond other law firms in the market.

Holland & Hart Attorney Michael Drapkin Named Client Choice Award Winner by Lexology

Holland & Hart LLP intellectual property attorney Michael Drapkin was selected as the 2013 Lexology/International Law Office “ILO” Client Choice Award winner for Intellectual Property: Patents Law in Colorado.

Drapkin was one of a select few IP attorneys honored out of a pool of more than 2,000 individual client assessments conducted by senior corporate counsel surveyed for the awards. He was specifically recognized by his clients for his responsive and efficient counsel, and for ”know[ing] patents inside and out.”

Clients were asked to rate lawyers and law firms on quality of legal advice, value for money, commercial awareness, effective communication, billing transparency, tailored fee structures, response time, sharing of expertise and use of technology.

A seasoned patent attorney, Drapkin works closely with his clients to develop and manage their patent portfolios. Drapkin is an active leader in the intellectual property community both regionally and nationally. He was one of three IP attorneys spearheading the successful efforts to bring a Regional Patent Office to Colorado, traveling regularly to Washington, D.C. to meet with USPTO and White House officials, as well as Congressional leaders. 

About Lexology

Lexology is a daily newsfeed of law firm client alerts, articles and blogs delivered to the desktops of senior business lawyers worldwide on a daily basis. Lexology has built a unique audience of over 185,00 subscribers, over 60% of whom are in-house corporate counsel representing the vast majority of Fortune 500, FT Global 500 and FT Euro 500 companies - including all members of the Association of Corporate Counsel.

Holland & Hart Named Colorado Firm of the Year and Utah Firm of the Year for 2013 By Benchmark Litigation

Holland & Hart LLP has been named Colorado Firm of the Year and Utah Firm of the Year by Benchmark Litigation in its inaugural U.S. Benchmark Annual Awards.

The firm was also named a finalist for Idaho Firm of the Year, Nevada Firm of the Year and Wyoming Firm of the Year.

The publication, a comprehensive annual guide to America’s leading litigation firms and attorneys, honored the firm earlier this year with its highest ranking, the designation of “highly recommended,” in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. This is the fifth year Holland & Hart has received the highest ranking.

Eighteen Holland & Hart attorneys were also named “local litigation stars” or “future stars.”

To view the entire list of recommended attorneys and firms, visit www.benchmarklitigation.com.