alumni

Lawyers in Love

Anonymous — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 19:35:13 +0000

Lawyers in Love Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 02/14/2024 - 12:35

Lawyers in Love

Love has been in the crisp mountain air of ��«��Ƶ! It probably won't surprise you to read that the University of Colorado Law School has been the setting of more than a few love stories. So, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we invite you to join us as we spotlight just some of the remarkable alumni who found more than a world-class legal education at Colorado Law. They found true love!

Tonya Luna ’13 and Gavin Wolny ’13

“We met on the first day of orientation in August 2010. After two years of friendship, we started dating just before our 3L year. In 2014, we moved to Tonya’s hometown of Pueblo, CO, and got married. We now have two wonderful (if active) daughters. Gavin works at the Pueblo County Attorney’s Office, and Tonya serves as a magistrate. And after all these years, we're still great friends!”

Shelby Dolen ’20 and Bryson Sebold ’20

“We met on the 1L camping trip before classes started and have been inseparable ever since. Law school had its highs and lows, and we weathered them together—with everything culminating in the tumultuous 2020 that cut short our final year due to the pandemic. We graduated on Zoom, took the bar together in masks, and started our legal careers amidst uncertainty that nobody could have predicted. We've tackled every challenge together and came out of the chaos better and stronger. We were engaged in April of 2023 and are set to get married in the Italian Dolomites in September of 2024!”

Jay Trujillo ’20 and Griffin Hay ’20

“Griffin and Jay met on the last day of 1L orientation in 2017 when a group of queer students gravitated towards each other at the end-of-day mixer. They were both placed in Professor Hall’s section and spent the first few weeks of school sitting next to one another in nearly every class. Griffin tried to convince himself that Jay and he were just friends, but Jay - being the braver of the two - asked Griffin out on a Friday after class, suggesting they hike the Flatirons together.

Determined to miss the point of the invitation, Griffin suggested Jay join him for a pickup game of soccer with other friends. Jay bit his tongue, gave a heroic performance as goalkeeper, and again asked Griffin to hike the Flatirons. He accepted, once again convincing himself that Jay was just a friend going on a friendly hike as friends. Still, Griffin couldn’t deny his interest in Jay - an interest that had been nagging at him since the orientation mixer. And as they joined a house party later that evening, Griffin felt the need to pull a friend aside and tell her, “Don’t let me hit on Jay tonight.” A few hours later at the Sundown Saloon, that directive was in the garbage, and Jay could not be pried away from Griffin. They spent the rest of the weekend together. Jay moved into Griffin’s apartment on Marine Street a few short weeks later, even joining Griffin’s family for Christmas (and every Christmas since).

Through all three years of law school, the pandemic, the bar exam, and a brutal period of depression and unemployment, Jay and Griffin prioritized their love for one another, finding happiness together each day. Jay’s internships with the Office of the State Public Defender led to him accepting an offer to work for the Pueblo office as soon as he was licensed, and Griffin was lucky enough to follow him there. With Jay gently pushing him towards public defense, Griffin joined that same office a year later.

The boys now make their home in Pueblo, zealously advocating for the indigent, mentoring the incoming classes of young defenders, cooking Julia Childs’ recipes, singing Third Eye Blind, skiing, and traveling the world’s best little-known beaches. After 6 years together and three years after graduation, Jay and Griffin still spend every free day they can hiking Mount Sanitas, indulging at the best new spots on Pearl Street, and watching Dead and Company shows at Folsom Field. ��«��Ƶ - and especially Wolf Law - will always be home ❤️”

Taylor Smith ’19 and Mirko Kruse ’18

“We locked eyes the night before Taylor’s first law school final while studying in the basement. Taylor spilled coffee all over her laptop, and it went black. Mirko rushed to help. The rest is history! Getting married June 29, 2024!”

Robert L. Hernandez ’78 and Dolores "Doey" Martinez Hernandez ’78

“Bob and I met in the summer program. Becky Medina, Rebecca Koppes Conway, Maria Lopez, Maria R., Bernadette Maes, Bob, and I would get together for lunch frequently. Toward the end of the summer program, we decided we would set up Bob and Maria, so Bob was asked to pick up Maria and bring her to a party sponsored by Professor "Skip" Chase. Bob brought her to the party but the set up didn’t go any further.

When we returned to begin our first year of law school, Bob asked me to see a movie, "Casablanca." I just assumed all of our friends would be there. I asked Bob, "Where are the others?" Bob mumbled something about how they just couldn't make it. Bob and I continued to go to lunch with the same group, but we also spent a lot of time together. Eventually, we started holding hands in the classroom while we ferociously took notes. Bob was 28 and I was 22. I thought it was so embarrassing, but I was not going to give up holding hands with the man I loved. We got engaged in November, took classes with Fr. Tom Adrians, and got married in Pueblo on January 10, 1976, during Christmas break. Our classmates from the summer program were there, along with about 300 guests and relatives. Fr. Tom, Fr. Robert and Deacon Tom officiated, and a Mariachi played for the Mass. We had a meal, a dance and an "entriega." I told Bob I was only getting married once.

Today, we continue to hold hands whenever possible. We have 3 daughters, Dolores, Roberta, and Maria. I also have my Ethiopian son, Teklebrhan. His mother back in Ethiopia asked him to find an American mother, so I accepted. Bob and I celebrated our 48th wedding anniversary in California last January.”

Alex Finch ’15 and Leah Finch ’17

“Leah and I met during her 1L and my 3L year. I offered her some advice and class notes which she found utterly useless and largely illegible. Nonetheless, a combination of regular ThAC attendance and a birthday date at the Chinese restaurant across the street from the law school sealed the deal. Now we're married with a kid and another on the way. Whether attending Colorado Law was the proximate cause of it all? CU is absolutely liable.”

Rachel Clark ’76 and Cheryl Hutchison

“My wife [Cheryl] and I met when we were both students at CU in ��«��Ƶ. I was in law school, and she was in the French department. We moved to Washington D.C. together, but our relationship did not last. Subsequently, we each married, and Cheryl moved to France, where she has lived most of her adult life. My marriage ended in divorce after 32 years. Cheryl's husband of nearly 20 years died at around the same time.

Two and a half years ago, I tracked Cheryl down on the internet and wrote her a long email in French. She replied (in French). I soon moved from Denver to Saint-Étienne, France to be with her. Both of us speak and write excellent French, and we share a love of France. In fact, we speak to each other almost exclusively in French. This September, we married in a civil marriage in Saint-Étienne. In October, we had a religious wedding in ��«��Ƶ. We live nine to ten months of the year in Saint-Étienne, returning to Denver twice a year, where I still have a house.”

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Honorees Announced for 43rd Annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 18:00:16 +0000

Honorees Announced for 43rd Annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/19/2023 - 12:00

All over the world, graduates of Colorado Law are enriching their communities and exemplifying the values of this institution. The annual Alumni Awards Banquet, our school’s signature alumni event, celebrates extraordinary individuals for their contributions to the legal profession, service to their communities, and dedication to the law school.

This year, the Law Alumni Board and Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss are thrilled to celebrate six distinguished graduates. The 2024 alumni award honorees are: Zach C. Miller ’80, Kenneth Kupfner ’98, Kimberly M. Pryor ’10, and Lucy Stark ’98, and the Dean’s Choice honorees are Ashley K. Boothby ’13 (posthumously) and Patricia M. Corrales ’89.

These six incredible alumni will be recognized at the 43rd annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

The Law Alumni Board nominations committee accepts nominations for awards year-round with a deadline of July 30 each year. The board votes on award recipients in the fall. Read more about this year’s extraordinary awardees below.

Zach C. Miller ’80 – William Lee Knous Award

Zach Miller has practiced environmental, water, and natural resources law since 1980. He has broad experience before numerous state and federal agencies in disputes over, and permitting for, oil and gas operations, public land uses, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance, water rights, water quality, air quality, hazardous substances, wetlands, pesticides, mining, mineral processing, ski areas, power projects, and related issues. He has litigated complex cases in state and federal courts relating to these and other natural resources matters.

Building on his government experience, Miller has dealt with various resource-related matters on Indian lands and with several tribal entities. He has handled numerous judicial and administrative enforcement and civil penalty actions concerning these areas. Miller’s practice also includes title review and complex transactional work for water rights, mineral interests, and other real property, with an emphasis on brownfield projects and environmental audits and related transactions for mineral properties and processing facilities. He has represented clients in several of the largest water rights acquisitions and change cases in Colorado history. He has also represented developers and lenders in connection with permitting and other regulatory matters for major electric generation and solar and wind energy projects.

Miller has served as an expert witness in state and federal courts on wetlands regulation and Colorado water rights matters. He has also acted as special counsel to the cities of ��«��Ƶ, Loveland, Aurora, and Greeley, as well as other governmental entities in various water and environmental matters. He is a former member and chair of the Environmental Advisory Board for the City of ��«��Ƶ. Miller is currently a member at the Getches-Wilkinson Center, for which he serves as the out-going chair. Prior to joining Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP in 1981, Miller served as special counsel to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs and as an attorney in the Honors Program of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of the Interior, in Washington, D.C. He has been listed in the Guide to the World’s leading Environmental Lawyers and Who’s Who Legal: Environment. He is listed in Tier 1 and named a “Leader in Their Field” in Chambers USA for Natural Resources and Environment and in The Best Lawyers in America® in the fields of Water Law, Environmental Law, and Environmental Litigation. He was also named in the 5280 as a Top Lawyer in the area of Water Law. The Best Lawyers in America® named him Lawyer of the Year in Colorado in 2013, 2017, and 2019 for Environmental Law and in 2018 for Litigation – Environmental.

Miller also has an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating TM from Martindale-AVVO®. In 2011, he was inducted as a fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers.

Kenneth Kupfner ’98 – Distinguished Achievement – Alumni in Public Service

Kenneth Kupfner obtained his undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Physics from Cornell College in 1993. While attending the University of Colorado School of Law, he volunteered and interned in the District Attorney’s Office of the 20th Judicial District. Kupfner started his career with the DA’s Office after receiving his law degree in 1998. In 2005 he was promoted to Chief Deputy and has supervised County Court, District Court, and the Sex Crimes Unit as a Chief Trial Attorney. Trial experience includes a significant variety of cases, most notable being several high-profile homicides, sexual assaults, and complex drug trafficking prosecutions. In 2017 he was promoted to Assistant District Attorney. As the Assistant he oversees the ��«��Ƶ County Critical Incident Team, supervises the Chief Trial and Deputy District Attorneys, and runs the day-to-day operations of the office including acting as the liaison to ��«��Ƶ County law enforcement agencies.

Kupfner teaches the Prosecution Externship Seminar at the University of Colorado School of Law and coaches a Colorado Law Criminal National Mock Trial team. For Colorado District Attorneys and law enforcement agencies, he has taught Introduction to Prosecution, Felony Prosecution, BWC, Officer Involved Shooting, Major Case, Wiretaps and COCCA, 4th and 5th Amendment and Sexual Assault and in 2020 was awarded the Faculty of the Year by CDAC. Kupfner has also taught prosecutors nationally as faculty for the National District Attorney’s Association.

Kimberly M. Pryor ’10, Distinguished Achievement – Corporate Counsel

Kim Pryor serves as General Counsel at JBS Foods USA, a position she has held since 2020. Pryor joined the legal team at JBS Foods in 2013 as corporate counsel and quickly progressed through leadership positions in the company's legal and corporate strategy departments. JBS Foods is the wholly owned subsidiary of JBS S.A., the world’s largest food company. As JBS Foods’ General Counsel, Pryor is responsible for the North American legal function and serves on the company’s Executive Committee as well as its Business Security Committee, Safety Committee, Disclosure Committee, and Ethics Committee.

During her tenure with JBS Foods, Pryor was instrumental to the company’s growth strategy by leading numerous acquisitions that helped increase its revenue by 55% since 2013 to $54B in 2022. In her role, she ensures compliance with all state and federal regulations governing the production and processing of food, provides legal guidance on the management of a portfolio of brands and distribution to customers in more than 100 countries, works on a wide variety of employment issues for a significant workforce of more than 75,000 employees in the U.S. alone, and manages all real estate, environmental, corporate governance, litigation, and transactional matters.

Pryor partners with the business to help drive the mission and success of the company and has an extensive track record as a business leader who excels in advising boards of directors and executive leadership through complex legal matters. As General Counsel, she defended and was successful in achieving favorable results for the company in numerous multi-billion dollar proceedings. Pryor has had to manage a large portfolio of high-stakes, high-profile legal matters that have required her to interface with political representatives on both a state and federal level and to work closely with the corporate affairs, government relations, and ethics and compliance teams to execute company strategy and reputation management.

Prior to joining JBS Foods, Pryor worked in private practice at Berg Hill Greenleaf and Ruscitti as a litigator, focusing on complex commercial litigation. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in classics and political science from St. Michael’s College, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Colorado School of Law.

Lucy Stark ’98 – Distinguished Achievement – Private Practice

Lucy Stark focuses her practice on securities and capital markets, advising clients in a wide range of industries on debt and capital market deals, mergers, and acquisitions, as well as public and private securities offerings. She also counsels boards and board committees on corporate governance, disclosures, SEC reporting, and other compliance issues.

A Colorado native, Stark began her legal career in the Denver office of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher where she practiced for almost nine years. She joined the Holland & Hart Denver office in 2007 and became a partner in the Corporate group in 2011. Stark has served in key firm leadership roles, including Practice Group Leader of the Corporate group; and since 2020 as the firm’s Managing Partner. She also founded and served as the first leader of Holland & Hart’s Women’s Forum Steering Committee.

In 2023, Stark was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. She has been recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers in Corporate since 2009 and in Natural Resources & Energy since 2019. In 2023, she was named The Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year in Denver for Corporate Compliance Law and Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law. Her expertise has also garnered recognition by Colorado Super Lawyers®, 5280 Magazine’s Top Lawyers, IFLR100 United States, and the Denver Business Journal’s list of “Top Women in Energy.”

Ashley K. Boothby ’13 – Dean Edward C. King Making a Difference Award (Dean’s Choice)

In March of this year, our community lost a remarkable soul, Ashley Boothby, who left us after a valiant battle with mental illness. Dean Inniss now honors her enduring legacy—one marked by profound intelligence, a tireless pursuit of justice, and an unshakable commitment to her community—with the Dean’s Choice, Dean Edward C. King Making a Difference Award, which she no doubt earned during her short but impactful career.

Boothby graduated Summa Cum Laude with dual majors in Politics & International Relations and American Studies from Scripps College in 2007. Her academic excellence was celebrated with numerous awards. She then graduated first in her class from Colorado Law in 2013 as a Dean’s Scholar and a member of the Order of the Coif. After graduation, she accepted the challenge of clerking for the Colorado Supreme Court and U.S. District Courts. Working alongside Chief Justice Nancy Rice, Ashley drafted opinions and bench memoranda and assisted in preparing oral arguments. Soon after, she began clerking for Judge Christine Arguello, where she managed a docket of 250+ civil and criminal cases. During this time, she began dedicating her time to teaching as an Adjunct Professor of Federal Litigation at the University of Colorado and as a Speech and Debate Coach at Kent Denver School.

Boothby's legal career was a testament to her passion for justice. As an Associate Attorney at Kelman Buscher Firm, she fiercely represented plaintiffs and classes in cases related to the Fair Labor Standards Act, tirelessly advocating for the rights of workers before federal and state courts. Her dedication continued as she served as Senior Policy Advisor for the Colorado Division of Labor Standards & Statistics, where she investigated systemic labor law violations and championed the cause of paid sick leave.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Boothby was known for her kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness. She brightened the lives of those she loved with impromptu gifts and dedicated herself to causes close to her heart, including donating children's books to prisons and sponsoring a young Vietnamese girl, Ho Thi Be Ni. Her witty sense of humor, love for nature, and passion for reading were just a few facets of her radiant personality.

In her memory, her family asks us all to confront the stigma surrounding mental health, depression, and suicide. Ashley Boothby's spirit and legacy will endure as a beacon of hope, reminding us of the importance of seeking truth, fostering justice, and embracing compassion.

Patricia M. Corrales ’89, Sonny Flowers Award (Dean’s Choice)

Patricia M. Corrales is an attorney at law, practicing primarily in the fields of criminal and immigration defense with a focus on complex citizenship issues that have a criminal component. She is a leading expert on issues pertaining to U.S. citizenship - both acquisition and derivation of U.S. citizenship as well as denaturalization or the revocation of citizenship for those who have procured their U.S. citizenship illegally or by misrepresentation.

Prior to establishing her current private practice, Corrales was an attorney for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) (1995-2012). She has an outstanding reputation that has earned her the respect of judges, prosecutors, and her colleagues throughout Southern California. Corrales’ dedication to excellence, combined with her extensive trial experience and high ethical standards, has merited exceptional results for her clients since her departure from ICE.

Corrales began her career as a Deputy District Attorney in Denver, Colorado. She then went on to join the former U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, and continued as a prosecutor with the creation of ICE. As a Senior Attorney, she was on the team that handled complex National Security cases. As a Senior Attorney with ICE, she worked closely with special agents from ICE, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies, as well as various U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide. She is recognized for providing quality legal analysis on criminal denaturalization cases.

Corrales’ experience includes significant trial and motion practice, settlement negotiations, and FOIA litigation. She has received training in Privacy laws, and was the point of contact in the Los Angeles Chief Counsel’s Office on issues pertaining to the Privacy Act. Corrales has had favorable decisions published in several cases — including, De Lara Bellajaro v. Schiltgen, INS, 378 F.3d 1042 (9th Cir. 2004); U.S. v. Dang, 488 F.3d 1135 (9th Cir. 2007); U.S. v. Aiman Nasser Mohalla, 545 F.Supp.2d 1035 (C.D. Cal. 2008); U.S. v. Wang, 404 F.Supp.2d 1155) (N.D. Cal. 2005).

Corrales was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation and Recognition from the FBI for successful prosecution in the case of U.S. v. Mousavi. She received a Certification of Appreciation from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for successful prosecution in a cybercrime case. The Office of the Principal Legal Advisor presented Corrales with a Special Achievement Award for contributions made to ICE in successfully achieving significant mission goals, and a Special Achievement Award for her successful litigation in the case of U.S. v. Ahmadazi.

Since entering private practice, Corrales has testified as an expert in immigration law in several federal and state cases including, Duncan Roy et. Al v. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department; People v. Abel Bexeril; C.F.C. v. Miami-Dade County; Samuel v. Cheeran, NY, index no: 002638/2017. Additionally, she produces and hosts a legal program called “Justice Matters” which primarily deals with immigration issues.

Corrales is a frequent speaker and CLE presenter, including a presentation at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) national conference. She was a 2017 contributor to an AILA podcast on naturalization. Corrales is also a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) and a CLE presenter on naturalization issues.

Most recently, she consulted on an immigration documentary airing on Netflix entitled “Living Undocumented.” Corrales was the immigration attorney featured on the documentary, providing legal commentary on the eight courageous families who shared their stories.

This year, the Law Alumni Board and Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss are thrilled to celebrate six distinguished graduates. The 2024 alumni award honorees are: Zach C. Miller ’80, Kenneth Kupfner ’98, Kimberly M. Pryor ’10, and Lucy Stark ’98 and the Dean’s Choice honorees are Ashley K. Boothby ’13 (posthumously) and Patricia M. Corrales ’89.

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Celebrating the Best of Colorado Law at the 42nd Annual Alumni Awards Banquet

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 13:07:52 +0000

Celebrating the Best of Colorado Law at the 42nd Annual Alumni Awards Banquet Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/05/2023 - 07:07

The Law Alumni Board held its highly anticipated 42nd annual Alumni Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at the elegant Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The event was a momentous occasion that celebrated the remarkable achievements and contributions of six distinguished alumni who have made a significant impact in the legal profession and their communities.

The Board recognized Bethiah (Beth) Crane ’79 with the William Lee Knous Award, Betty Nordwind ’71 with the Distinguished Achievement in Public Service Award, Jennifer Evans ’98 with the Distinguished Achievement in Private Practice Award, Congressman Joseph Neguse ’09 with the Distinguished Achievement – Special Recognition Award, and Donald S. Quick ’86 with the Distinguished Achievement Judiciary Award.

Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss presented an award as well, naming Bill Callison ’82 as the inaugural recipient of the Brooke Wunnicke Outstanding Mentor Award.

Watch the full event and view the photo gallery.

The evening was filled with excitement and camaraderie as alumni, faculty, staff, students, and esteemed guests gathered to honor the awardees and celebrate their achievements. The event kicked off with a cocktail reception and special expo, highlighting various departments, organizations, and programs at the law school including the legal clinics, the Korey Wise Innocence Project, our Council for Racial Justice and Equity, the Career Development Office, the American Indian Law Program, and the Byron White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law. As attendees learned about what’s happening today at the law school, they mingled and reconnected with old friends and colleagues, sharing fond memories, and catching up on recent developments in their careers.

Then attendees made their way to the ballroom for dinner and the awards program, which was hosted by our illustrious dean as well as current Law Alumni Board Chair Michael Carrigan ’94 and Law Alumni Banquet Chair, Caitlin McHugh ’12.

“I am so happy to celebrate this community and this wonderful school that has done so much for all of us,” reflected Carrigan as he welcomed the crowd. “Tonight we are celebrating six amazing award recipients who exemplify the very best of CU Law!”

Attendees were proud to also recognize members of the federal and Colorado judiciary, elected officials, and other esteemed members of the Colorado legal community with enthusiastic applause.

One by one, the awardees were called to the stage to receive their well-deserved recognition. The atmosphere was filled with pride and admiration as each honoree's achievements were highlighted, and their accomplishments were applauded by the audience.

The first award of the evening, the inaugural Brooke Wunnicke Outstanding Mentor Award, was presented to Bill Callison ’82 by law school Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss. "I am grateful to present the Dean's Choice Award which goes to Bill Callison for his devotion to legal practice, menotirng, and commitment to help other lawyers," Inniss said to the cheering crowd.

[video:https://youtu.be/YGE4IOWQKS4]

Michael Carrigan then returned to the stage to present the Law Alumni Board’s Distinguished Achievement Awards. Jennifer Evans ’98 received the Board’s Distinguished Achievement for Private Practice Award.

[video:https://youtu.be/bN84zM8p8SQ]

Congressman Joseph Neguse ’09 was presented the Board’s Distinguished Achievement – Special Recognition Award.

[video:https://youtu.be/vRjnV2tEo9Q]

Betty Nordwind ’71 was presented with the Distinguished Achievement for Public Service Award.

[video:https://youtu.be/CoG4qfio4ac]

The Honorable Donald S. Quick ’86 received the Board’s Distinguished Achievement in the Judiciary Award.

[video:https://youtu.be/bmdBqPjW7Ww]

Taking a brief pause from the presentation of awards, attendees were treated to a fireside chat with two of the current Leaders in Law and Community (LILAC) Fellows, Larrisa Alire ’23 and Jemil Kassahun ’24. Caitlin McHugh spoke to Larissa and Jemil about their experience at the law school, their goals for after graduation, and the impact of the LILAC Fellowship program. Their participation was one of the major highlights of the evening, according to many who attended.

The final award of the evening—the William Lee Knous Award— was presented by Dean Inniss to Bethiah (Beth) Crane ’79.

[video:https://youtu.be/JGizHOswCaE]

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Honorees Announced for 42nd Annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 21:18:52 +0000

Honorees Announced for 42nd Annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 12/12/2022 - 14:18

All over the world, graduates of Colorado Law are enriching their communities and exemplifying the values of this institution. At the Alumni Awards Banquet, the school’s signature alumni event, the Law Alumni Board has the opportunity to award recognition to extraordinary individuals for their contributions to the legal profession, service to their communities, and dedication to the law school.

This year, the Law Alumni Board and Dean Inniss are thrilled to celebrate six distinguished graduates at the 42^nd annual Alumni Awards Banquet. The honorees for the 2023 Alumni Awards are: Beth Crane ’79, Jennifer Evans ’98, Congressman Joseph Neguse ’09, Betty Nordwind ’71, the Honorable Judge Donald Quick ’86, and Bill Callison ’82.

“Colorado Law alumni so often lead the pack when it comes to service to the community and demonstrating excellence in our profession,” said Law Alumni Board Chair Michael Carrigan '94. “That’s what makes selecting a small number of alumni to honor so challenging. We are thrilled to recognize these six individuals as truly outstanding representatives of Colorado Law.”

The six will be recognized at the 42^nd annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

Beth Crane ’79 – William Lee Knous Award

Beth Crane moved from New York City to Colorado in 1975. Displaying the tenacity that has been the hallmark of her legal career, Crane enrolled as an “older student” and single parent at CU Law School in 1976. After graduating in 1979, she clerked for Justice James K. Groves at the Colorado Supreme Court, and then learned trial skills in the Denver District Attorney’s Office. There she met Alex Tejada, an attorney in the Public Defender’s Office. Soon after, she and Tejada moved to Durango and became Western Slopers, appreciating Colorado rural life with their blended family.

In 1982, Crane entered private practice. In 1992, she and Tejada partnered to create the firm Crane & Tejada, P.C., emphasizing workers compensation, personal injury, and criminal defense. After Tejada’s death in 2012, their son Beale Tejada, CU Law class of 2012, left the Colorado Springs Public Defender’s office to join the firm. Crane is privileged to have spent her 43 years as a lawyer working with family members to represent injured workers and persons in Southwest Colorado.

Crane has had a significant impact on the Colorado legal community. She has enjoyed working with colleagues in local and state bar association endeavors and on multiple Judicial Performance Commissions. She has been especially active in encouraging attorney pro bono participation and working with local and state Legal Aid boards. Currently, she serves on the Colorado Access to Justice Commission. She has served on the Colorado Law Alumni Board and has hosted many receptions for the law school deans as they visited Southwest Colorado. She cherishes the years spent working as an appointee on the Colorado Supreme Court Grievance Committee, Attorney Regulation Committee, Advisory Committee for Attorney Regulation, the federal District Court Magistrate Judge Selection Panel, the U.S. District Court Committee on Conduct, and various other committees. She has also served on numerous local boards and non-profits in Durango.

Crane is currently “gliding” towards exploring retirement and enjoying even more time with her treasured four sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and sisters.

Jennifer Evans ’98 – Distinguished Achievement – Private Practice

Jennifer Evans is a HealthCare Shareholder at Polsinelli, an AM Law 100 firm, where she is also the Managing Partner for the Denver office. In her legal practice, she represents health care providers focused on fraud and abuse, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement issues, payor disputes, including defending state and federal false claims act allegations, and regulatory compliance.

In addition to legal practice in law firms and in house at Fortune 500 health care companies, Evans brings legislative and operational experience to health care matters. She previously served as Deputy Director of the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (Medicaid) and on Medicaid workgroups for the National Governors' Association Center for Best Practices. Evans also has experience representing nonprofit and for profit health care organizations before Congress and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Prior to legal practice, she worked on Capitol Hill as a Legislative Director in the U.S. Senate and as a Legislative Assistant for health care in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. In Colorado, Evans was most recently a member of the Transition Subcommittee on Health and Human Services for Colorado Governor Jared Polis. Her government and private sector experience contributes to additional options for clients seeking resolution of disputes or expanded opportunities.

Evans currently serves as a Director on the boards of the American Health Law Association, Denver Public Schools Foundation, and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. A Colorado-native, she is thrilled to have brought her health care career home in the Denver office of Polsinelli.

Congressman Joseph Neguse ’09 – Distinguished Achievement – Special Recognition

Congressman Joe Neguse represents Colorado’s 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected to his first term in November 2018, becoming the first African-American member of Congress in Colorado history. He serves as a member of the House Judiciary Committee and Natural Resources Committee, and was elected by his colleagues to serve as a member of House Democratic Leadership in the 118th Congress, as Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC). The Center for Effective Lawmaking has previously ranked Congressman Neguse among the top 10 most effective lawmakers in Congress, including as the most effective for legislation on public lands.

Before his career in Congress, Rep. Neguse practiced law at Holland & Hart LLP, and then went on to serve in the Governor of Colorado's Cabinet as the Executive Director of Colorado's consumer protection agency. As one of the youngest people to serve as a state-Cabinet secretary, he achieved key victories, including the recovery of millions of dollars for consumers, investigations culminating in significant financial-fraud cases, and the championing of legislation to combat financial fraud against seniors.

Previously Rep. Neguse was elected to represent Colorado’s 2nd District on the University of Colorado Board of Regents, where he served a six-year term fighting to make higher education more affordable and accessible. He received his B.S. in Political Science and Economics from the University of Colorado-��«��Ƶ, where he graduated summa cum laude, and received his J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law in 2009.

Betty Nordwind ’71 – Distinguished Achievement – Public Service

Betty Nordwind has devoted her legal career to social justice issues. She has been on the forefront of efforts championing the rights of the poor, disabled persons and women.

Graduating from the University of Colorado Law School in 1971, Nordwind immediately signed up for a service corps program at Metro Denver Legal Aid, handling everyday problems of indigent residents of Colorado. In the vanguard of the disability rights movement, she founded and lead Denver Legal Aid’s first mental health law unit providing legal representation to civilly committed indigent individuals. She also helped initiate a path-breaking lawsuit on behalf of poor, chronically mentally ill persons.

Hired to manage the Harriett Buhai Center of Family Law in 1987 as its Executive Director, Nordwind has overseen its growth from a fledging office of 4 persons and less than 35 volunteers to a strong community institution of over 20 staff members and 300 volunteers providing in excess of 28,000 hours of legal service to more than 1,000 very low-income persons in Los Angeles a year. Under Nordwind’s tutelage, the Center has trained hundreds of lawyers and law students, filed several significant lawsuits, engaged in other advocacy directed to eliminating barriers to the courts and undertaken legislative efforts to change child support laws and practices in California and Los Angeles. Under her direction, the Center opened doors to the promise of family law and donated volunteer assistance to low-income community college students and incarcerated mothers.

In 2014, Nordwind was honored by the State Bar of California with the prestigious Loren Miller Legal Services Award, a lifetime achievement award recognizing her long-term commitment to providing legal services to very low-income individuals and families. Her crusade for the rights of the poor and disenfranchised precedes her accomplished legal career and began when she was just a teen.

Donald S. Quick ’86, Distinguished Achievement – Judiciary

The Honorable Donald S. Quick grew up in Wheat Ridge, Colorado and received his degrees in Economics and Law from the University of Colorado. He met his wife Kerrie at law school, and they have been married for 35 years. They have two grown sons—one is finishing his PhD and the other is a talented musician. That explains why he is still working.

Quick was appointed to the District Court bench in December 2014, and, in December 2020, was then appointed as the Chief Judge for the 17th Judicial District. Judge Quick has been in public service for over 30 years. He previously was the elected District Attorney for the 17th Judicial District, and he served as the Chief Deputy Attorney General and Deputy for Criminal Justice under Ken Salazar at the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. While in private practice, Quick was with the Denver law firms, Beatty & Wozniak, and Burns, Wall, Smith and Mueller.

Judge Quick was previously selected to serve as President of the District Court Judges’ Association, the Colorado District Attorneys’ Council and the Adams County Bar Association. He also served on the Board of Governors for the Colorado Bar Association. Quick has been a trial advocacy instructor for both CU and DU Schools of Law, and for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, this included instructing NITA courses on the Navajo and Oneida Nations. He also served on Dean Weiser’s Advisory Committee for the CU School of Law.

Judge Quick served on the transition teams for both Governor Ritter and Governor Hickenlooper, and both Governors appointed him to the Colorado Criminal and Juvenile Justice Commission. Governor Owen appointed Quick to the Columbine Review Commission.

Throughout his career, Judge Quick has advocated for keeping kids in the classroom, so they stay out of the courtroom. He has served on the Board of Directors for numerous non-profit organizations, including those serving unhoused families and at-risk youth. He also served on the Foundation Boards for Mapleton and Westminster Public Schools. Judge Quick is proud to be a founder of Safe-2-Tell and the Adams County Youth Initiative.

Bill Callison ’82, Brooke Wunnicke Outstanding Mentor Award (Dean’s Choice)

Bill Callison works in close partnership with clients in the affordable housing industry to implement creative equity and debt financing on projects in Colorado and around the country. He provides strategic legal solutions for affordable housing transactions and has represented clients on hundreds of low-income housing tax credit projects from Alaska to Florida. He also has substantial experience navigating New Markets Tax Credits, federal energy credits, and historic rehabilitation tax credit deals.

Callison is a preeminent practitioner in LLC and partnership law and is an authority on laws governing fiduciary duties. He advises clients in forming and financing business entities; on corporate and partnership mergers and consulting on acquisitions; and dissolution and dissociation. He is also sought-after as a consulting or testifying expert witness in corporate, LLC, partnership, contract, professional malpractice, and related legal matters.

Prior to joining Holland & Hart, Callison spent 25 years at a large multinational law firm. He authors two major legal treatises, writes and speaks prolifically, and has served on law faculties at the University of Colorado Law School, The University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law, and the Tilburg Law School (Netherlands), among others.

This year, the Law Alumni Board and Dean Inniss are thrilled to celebrate six distinguished graduates at its 42nd annual Alumni Awards Banquet. The honorees for the 2023 Alumni Awards are: Beth Crane ’79, Jennifer Evans ’98, Congressman Joseph Neguse ’09, Betty Nordwind ’71, the Honorable Judge Donald Quick ’86, and Bill Callison ’82.

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Margaret Farrell '16 Named Attorney of the Year

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 20:25:08 +0000

Margaret Farrell '16 Named Attorney of the Year Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 11/10/2022 - 13:25

Earlier this fall, Margaret Farrell ‘16 was named “Attorney of the Year” by the Denver Trial Office—the largest office in the state.

Farrell has made it her mission to help indigent Coloradans and, in pursuit of that mission, went wherever she needed to go to make that happen. During law school, she served as a student attorney in the Criminal/Immigration Defense Clinic and completed an internship and externship with the Colorado State Public Defender, channeling her passion for aiding undocumented immigrants charged with crimes.

Learn more about Margaret Farrell in this edition of Promising Starts.

The Criminal/Immigration Defense Clinic offers law students the opportunity to appear in both criminal and immigration court in defense of non-citizen clients. In the criminal context, law students represent clients who have been charged with misdemeanors in ��«��Ƶ County, assisting them with bond hearings, motions hearing and trial. They also file affirmative applications for immigration relief, assisting recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), immigrant victims of crime and asylum seekers. Students in this Clinic learn the complex interaction between our nation’s criminal and immigration laws, learning substantive law and putting it into practice on behalf of a vulnerable population. This clinic also focuses on educating the public and researching various public policy issues involving immigration.

Earlier this fall, Margaret Farrell ‘16 was named “Attorney of the Year” by the Denver Trial Office—the largest office in the state.

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Colorado Law Celebrates 2022 Alumni Award Winners

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 15:47:37 +0000

Colorado Law Celebrates 2022 Alumni Award Winners Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 04/01/2022 - 09:47

The Law Alumni Board presented its annual awards at a banquet ceremony on Thursday, March 10 at the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Denver. The Board recognized Gail H. Klapper ’68 with the William Lee Knous Award, Victoria J. Ortega ’90 with the Distinguished Achievement in Public Service Award, Herrick K. Lidstone Jr. ’78 with the Distinguished Achievement in Private Practice Award, and Dru R. Nielsen ’97 with the Distinguished Achievement Small/Solo Practitioner Award.

Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss presented two awards as well, naming George V. Berg as the Richard Schaden Adopted Alumnus, and recognizing Kathleen B. Nalty ’85 with the Sonny Flowers Award.

Watch our award winner tribute videos or view the full event.

Over four hundred alumni, faculty, students, family, and friends gathered for the evening, which was hosted by our illustrious dean as well as current Law Alumni Board Chair David W. Stark ’73 and former Chair, Richard Murray ‘07. “It’s been three years since we were able to celebrate in person,” reflected Stark as he happily welcomed the crowd. “And tonight, we honor six individuals who exemplify the University of Colorado Law School’s mission and vision through their work and achievements, so let’s get started!”

Among the crowd were members of the federal and Colorado judiciary, elected officials, and other esteemed members of the Colorado legal community.

The first award of the evening, the Richard Schaden Adopted Alumnus Award, was presented to George V. Berg by Dean Inniss. Berg is one of the four founding partners of Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti LLP. His practice of over 45 years emphasizes complex commercial transactions, litigation, real estate, construction, banking and finance, and insurance coverage law. Berg has shown incredible support for Colorado Law and our students, Inniss said to the crowd.

The next award, the Sonny Flowers Award, recognizing alumni who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion among the law school and legal profession, went to Kathleen B. Nalty ’85, who has devoted her career to diversity, civil rights, social justice, and inclusion.

David Stark then returned to the stage to present the Law Alumni Board’s three Distinguished Achievement Awards. Victoria J. Ortega ’90 received the Board’s Distinguished Achievement for Public Service Award. Ortega, Denver’s deputy clerk and recorder, was showered with praise for her incredible commitment to public service.

Herrick K. Lidstone Jr. ’78 was given the Board’s Distinguished Achievement for Private Practice Award. Lidstone, a shareholder in the law firm of Burns Figa & Will P.C., practices in the area of business transactions and ethics and has been an adjunct professor for both Colorado Law and the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Lidstone’s children and grandchildren cheered him on from the audience.

Dru R. Nielsen ’97 was presented with the Distinguished Achievement for Small/Solo Practitioner Award. Nielsen, recognized as one of the top criminal defense attorney in Colorado, has devoted her entire career to aggressively defending individuals accused of committing crimes. Thunderous applause from the audience followed the presentation of her award as the room swelled with pride.

The final award of the evening—the William Lee Knous Award— was presented by Dean Inniss to Gail H. Klapper ‘68, whose career has been “nothing short of tremendous.” Klapper, a fourth-generation Coloradan, has been the member/president of the Colorado Forum since 1989 and has served on numerous boards including those of Great-West Funds, Inc, Houghton Mifflin, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and National Jewish Health. The Knous Award, Colorado Law’s highest alumni honor, recognizes outstanding achievement and sustained service to the law school.

Klapper, who was visibly moved, shared with the audience. “The William Lee Knous Award is so meaningful to me for several reasons. William Knous contributed to the state in ways that have never been duplicated,” she said, “So, I thank you for this wonderful honor that inspires me to use the legal training I was fortunate to receive at the law school to help make Colorado the best it can be.”

The evening closed as eight attendees were chosen by the luck of the draw to win fabulous door prizes and the crowd enjoyed the dessert reception.

View photos in the Alumni Awards 2022 Flickr album.

Read more about the Alumni Awards.

The Law Alumni Board presented its annual awards at a banquet ceremony on Thursday, March 10 at the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Denver.

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Garnett Named Fellow of Bolivian Academy of Judicial Sciences

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 19:34:58 +0000

Garnett Named Fellow of Bolivian Academy of Judicial Sciences Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 03/16/2018 - 13:34

Former ��«��Ƶ District Attorney Stan Garnett (‘82) is the latest inductee to the Bolivian Academy of Judicial Sciences, an exclusive group of distinguished lawyers and judges.

He was accepted Feb. 20 after orally presenting in Spanish his thesis comparing the justice systems in the U.S. and Latin America.

His thesis describes four characteristics of the U.S. justice system that protect it from the high level of corruption and impunity found in the Latin American justice system: a higher level of education and training of police; greater protection of the rights of the accused; the exclusionary rule that requires the suppression of evidence obtained in violation of a defendant’s rights; and a deeply rooted tradition of transparency and requirement of live testimony due to the Sixth Amendment guarantee of the right to confrontation, resulting in the right for the public to observe and attend the judicial process. All of these factors make it much more difficult to corrupt a case, Garnett said.

To illustrate how these safeguards built into the American justice system protect it from the forms of corruption seen in Latin American justice systems, Garnett described a murder case he tried while serving as ��«��Ƶ district attorney.

Following the presentation, he fielded questions from leading Bolivian lawyers and judges, including several judges of the Bolivian appellate courts, law professors, the former attorney general of Bolivia, and dignitaries from the U.S. embassy.

“Stan Garnett is a fine example of the many ways in which our graduates apply their Colorado Law education to make global impacts,” observed Dean S. James Anaya. “Stan’s induction into the Bolivian Academy of Judicial Sciences is an outstanding accomplishment and a great honor. As our international programs grow, graduates like Stan provide not only inspiration to our students, but also real-world connections that can lead to opportunities at home and abroad.”

Colorado Law’s recently reestablished LLM degree and its new Master of Studies in Law in Human Rights program will each welcome their first class in fall 2018.

In his role as fellow, Garnett will consult and share best practices with government officials in Latin America on ways to discourage corruption in its judicial system.

In January, Garnett announced his resignation from the ��«��Ƶ District Attorney’s Office after nearly ten years as district attorney. He returned to Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP as a shareholder, rejoining the litigation department where he spent 22 years as a trial lawyer specializing in complex litigation at the state and federal levels.

Former ��«��Ƶ District Attorney Stan Garnett (‘82) is the latest inductee to the Bolivian Academy of Judicial Sciences, an exclusive group of distinguished lawyers and judges.

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Longtime ��«��Ƶ Attorney, Former Regent to be Honored at Law Alumni Banquet

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 21:52:47 +0000

Longtime ��«��Ƶ Attorney, Former Regent to be Honored at Law Alumni Banquet Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 02/21/2018 - 14:52

Decades before establishing himself as a successful trial lawyer in ��«��Ƶ, Colorado, Peter C. Dietze ('62) dreamed of coming to America. The path was not easy. First, he had to escape Soviet-occupied East Germany. Dietze’s path then led from West Germany to a New York pier, the Sand Hills of Nebraska, classrooms at the University of Colorado, courtrooms across the American West, and eventually to chair the Board of ��«��Ƶ. On March 8, 2018, the former ��«��Ƶ city attorney and University Regent will receive the William Lee Knous Award, the highest alumni honor given by the University of Colorado Law School. He will be formally recognized at the Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet in Denver. His firm, Dietze and Davis, P.C., has also established the Peter C. Dietze Scholarship Fund at Colorado Law to honor its founding partner.

A Story of Courage and Accomplishment

Dietze’s achievements stand in stark contrast to the grim environment of his childhood. In 1950, he was a 15 year old, living with his mother and siblings in Erfurt, East Germany, the city of his birth. His father had been killed during the Second World War. Dietze’s surroundings were marked by a pervasive sense of privation and hopelessness.

At the end of ninth grade, he and a friend secretly planned their escape from East Germany. Without maps the boys planned to walk out of East Germany to the west. The duo were caught by East German border guards, but managed to escape. Having gotten lost while making their getaway, they were unaware they had crossed into West Germany until they were discovered by British troops patrolling the border. The teens then split up and Dietze hitchhiked to his grandmother’s home in West Germany, where he lived for the next several years. With no high school diploma or university degree, he worried about obtaining a good job in Germany and dreamed of coming to America, which he viewed as a positive and progressive place. He marked time in West Germany, working for several years as a farmhand and factory apprentice.

Dietze finally was able to obtain his immigration papers in November 1955. When he stepped onto Pier 86 in New York City to begin his American adventure, his path led to the Sand Hills of Nebraska. There he worked as a ranch hand, sometimes riding in snowstorms to break ice on stock water tanks with a crowbar. By night, he taught himself English using flashcards and reading the dictionary. He was accepted to Chadron State College in 1956. The following year he transferred to the University of Colorado.

As a lawyer Dietze was involved in many aspects of ��«��Ƶ’s evolution from a small college town to the trendsetting city it is today. As city attorney from 1965 until 1972, he played a role in the beginning of the city’s open space program, development of the Pearl Street Mall, and securing a reliable source of water for the city. As a litigator Dietze amassed a formidable portfolio of trial and appellate work over a 55-year legal career. His name appears as counsel of record on more than 40 reported opinions of courts from Kansas to Alaska.

He also served three terms (1977-1996) on the Board of Regents for the University of Colorado, including two terms as chair. As Regent, he was instrumental in the creation of CU ��«��Ƶ’s Research Park, the Health Sciences complex at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, and residence halls at the Colorado Springs campus. Dietze worked to improve the visibility of CU Denver and championed the purchase of the CU ��«��Ƶ South Campus.

“Peter Dietze’s story is quintessentially American. As a young refugee, fleeing the aftermath of war, Peter came to the United States. Here, he worked hard, aspired to an education, built an illustrious career as a trial lawyer, successfully ran three times for statewide office, and has since given back richly to the community he loves,” said Karl Kumli, one of Dietze’s law partners.

A Continuing Legacy

Although Dietze has been slowed by Parkinson’s disease and has relocated to Eugene, Oregon, to be closer to his son, he continues to work with, and mentor, the attorneys at Dietze and Davis, P.C., the ��«��Ƶ-based law firm which he co-founded with law school classmate Joel C. Davis ('62) in 1972. Over the years the firm has grown from two lawyers with a single legal assistant to a full-service law firm of 19 attorneys and 10 staff members. In November 2017, Dietze and Davis, P.C., announced the establishment of the Peter C. Dietze Scholarship Fund at Colorado Law to honor its founding partner.

“Peter Dietze came to the U.S. with little but his intellect, the drive to better himself, and a willingness to serve others. It is our hope that the Peter C. Dietze Scholarship will provide opportunities for future law students with similar needs, equal resolve, and the same great commitment to public service,” said Kumli.

And, as always, Dietze continues to be a tireless champion for his beloved University of Colorado.

For more information about the Peter C. Dietze Scholarship Fund at Colorado Law, visit https://giving.cu.edu/Dietze.

For more information about the Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet and to see a full list of honorees, visit colorado.edu/law/banquet.

Peter C. Dietze ('62), former University of Colorado Regent and ��«��Ƶ city attorney, will receive the University of Colorado Law School’s highest alumni honor on March 8. His firm, Dietze and Davis, P.C., has also established the Peter C. Dietze Scholarship Fund at Colorado Law to honor its founding partner.

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2018 Colorado Law Alumni Award Honorees Announced

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 16:46:16 +0000

2018 Colorado Law Alumni Award Honorees Announced Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/25/2017 - 10:46

The University of Colorado Law School is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2018 alumni awards. Selected for their contributions to the legal profession, service to their communities, and dedication to the law school, the honorees will be recognized at the 37th Annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet on March 8, 2018, at the Seawell Grand Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

Peter C. Dietze (’62) will receive the William Lee Knous Award, Colorado Law’s highest alumni honor. Awarded annually since 1960, the Knous Award recognizes outstanding achievement and sustained service to Colorado Law. Dietze recently retired from Dietze and Davis, P.C., where his practice focused on real estate title insurance law.

Colorado Law will also honor four alumni with Distinguished Achievement Awards for demonstrated excellence in their professions:

Javed M. Abbas (’13), The Harris Law Firm P.C.
Distinguished Achievement—Recent Alumnus
Sonny Cave (’85), ON Semiconductor
Distinguished Achievement—Corporate Counsel
Timothy Monahan (’87), Colorado Office of the Attorney General
Distinguished Achievement—Public Sector
Niki Frangos Tuttle (’84), Hogan Lovells
Distinguished Achievement—Private Practice

Dean S. James Anaya will also present two Dean's Choice Awards, recognizing exceptional contributions to Colorado Law:

Chief Justice Nancy E. Rice, Colorado Supreme Court
Dean’s Choice—Richard Schaden Adopted Alumna Award
Mekela Goehring (’02), Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
Dean’s Choice—Dean Edward C. King Making a Difference Award

For more information on the Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet, including details on sponsorship opportunities and ticket sales, please visit colorado.edu/law/banquet or email marci.fulton@colorado.edu. Biographies of the honorees are below.

Peter C. Dietze (’62) clerked for U.S. District Court Judge H. Chilson immediately following graduation from law school. He served as ��«��Ƶ’s assistant city attorney from 1963 to 1965 and as the city attorney from 1965 to 1968. In 1972, Dietze and his friend and classmate Joel Davis founded Dietze and Davis, P.C., where Dietze worked until his retirement in 2017. Dietze served on the University of Colorado’s Board of Regents for 18 years and on the law school’s alumni board for four.

Javed M. Abbas (’13), a family law attorney with The Harris Law Firm P.C., is an active member of the law school’s alumni diversity committee and is a frequent volunteer at the law school, interviewing prospective students, speaking on panels, and mentoring students. Abbas has a passion for serving families in need of legal assistance and works to provide individuals with sound advice and advocacy during some of the most difficult times of their lives.

Sonny Cave (’85) currently serves as executive vice president, general counsel, chief compliance and ethics officer, and chief risk officer and corporate secretary for ON Semiconductor, a leading supplier of semiconductor-based solutions with over 30,000 employees worldwide. Cave has been with the company since 1999 and has over 25 years of broad legal and business experience. Cave has lent his expertise in legal ethics by speaking to students as part of the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative at Colorado Law.

Timothy Monahan (’87) has dedicated his entire career to public service. Following graduation, Monahan joined the Colorado Office of the Attorney General as an assistant attorney general in the natural resources section, where he specialized in environmental and natural resources law. For the last 10 years, Monahan has served as a first assistant attorney general, acting as general counsel to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which manages state wildlife areas and state parks, hunting and fishing programs, and other recreational pursuits. In the course of his distinguished career, Monahan has worked to protect and manage the natural resources for the state of Colorado and mentored countless attorneys who served under him.

Niki Frangos Tuttle (’84), a partner at Hogan Lovells, advises some of the largest media companies in the United States in connection with their programming distribution negotiations. For over 30 years, Tuttle has played a key role in the evolving industry, helping to bring programming content to customers, when they want it and on the device of their choice. Tuttle is active in alumni mentoring programs at Colorado Law, has been a class reunion organizer, and has served on the Dean’s Advisory Council.

Chief Justice Nancy E. Rice became chief justice of the Colorado Supreme Court in 2014. She has served as an adjunct professor of law at Colorado Law since 1987, assisting hundreds of students in learning trial advocacy and motions practice. Chief Justice Rice graduated from the University of Utah College of Law and then clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Fred Winner. She worked briefly in the Colorado State Public Defender’s Office and, in 1977, she joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office and became its deputy chief of civil division in 1985. Chief Justice Rice was on the bench of the Denver District Court from 1987 until she joined the Colorado Supreme Court in 1998.

Mekela Goehring (’02) joined Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) in 2003 as the organization’s first detention staff attorney, representing detained clients before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Executive Office for Immigration Review, and the Board of Immigration Appeals. In 2005, Goehring became RMIAN’s executive director. In 2013, the American Immigration Lawyers Association awarded Goehring the Arthur C. Helton Human Rights Award for her outstanding service in advancing the cause of human rights.

Selected for their contributions to the legal profession, service to their communities, and dedication to the law school, the honorees will be recognized at the 37th Annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet on March 8, 2018, at the Seawell Grand Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

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Colorado Law Announces 2017 Alumni Award Recipients

Anonymous — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 19:00:38 +0000

Colorado Law Announces 2017 Alumni Award Recipients Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/27/2016 - 13:00

The University of Colorado Law School is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2017 alumni awards. Selected for their contributions to the legal profession and dedication to the law school, the honorees will be recognized at the 36^th Annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet on March 15, 2017, at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

The Honorable Bill Ritter, Jr. (’81) will receive the William Lee Knous Award, Colorado Law’s highest alumni honor. Awarded annually since 1960, the Knous Award recognizes outstanding achievement and sustained service to Colorado Law. Ritter is the former governor of Colorado, the former district attorney of Denver, and the founder and director of the Center for the New Energy Economy (CNEE) at Colorado State University.

Colorado Law will honor four alumni with Distinguished Achievement Awards for demonstrated excellence in their professions:

Gary B. Blum (’71), director, Silver & DeBoskey, P.C.
Distinguished Achievement—Solo/Small Practice
Hugh Q. Gottschalk (’79), partner and president, Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP
Distinguished Achievement—Private Practice
Beverly E. Ledbetter (’72), vice president and general counsel, Brown University
Distinguished Achievement—In-House Counsel
The Honorable Pat Steadman (’91), senator, Colorado General Assembly
Distinguished Achievement—Public Service

Dean S. James Anaya will also present the Dean's Choice Award, recognizing exceptional contributions to Colorado Law:

The Honorable Christine M. Arguello, judge, United States District Court, Colorado
Dean’s Choice—Richard Schaden Adopted Alumna Award

For more information on the Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet, including details on sponsorship opportunities and ticket sales, please visit colorado.edu/law/banquet. Biographies of the honorees are below.

The Honorable Bill Ritter, Jr. (’81) was elected as Colorado’s 41^st governor in 2006, and served in office from 2007 until 2011. During his four-year term, Ritter established Colorado as a national and international leader in clean energy. Ritter is also credited with making significant progress in Colorado on health care, human services, transportation funding, and higher education funding, even while serving during the Great Recession. Prior to serving as governor, Ritter was the Denver district attorney for 12 years. He served on the executive committee for the National District Attorneys Association and was chair of the board of the American Prosecutors Research Institute. Presently, Ritter is the founder and director of the Center for the New Energy Economy at Colorado State University. In that capacity, he has worked with the White House as well as with governors, state legislators, and other stakeholders to provide strategies and technical assistance that will facilitate America’s transition to a clean energy economy. He serves on the board of directors for the Energy Foundation and is a senior fellow and board member of the Advanced Energy Economy Institute. Ritter earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Colorado State University in 1978, and his law degree from Colorado Law in 1981. With his wife Jeannie, he operated a food distribution and nutrition center in Zambia from 1987 to 1990.

Gary B. Blum (’71) is a director at Silver & DeBoskey, P.C. He holds both a BS and JD from the University of Colorado. He practices actively as a trial lawyer and dispute resolver whose major areas of trial practice include complex civil litigation, health care matters, and representation of health care professionals and legal professionals involving regulatory and disciplinary matters. Blum is active in the ethics committee of the Colorado Bar Association (past chair), American Board of Trial Advocates (past president Colorado Chapter), and various local, state and national attorney associations. He was appointed by both the Colorado Supreme Court and United States District Court for the District of Colorado to serve on and chair lawyer conduct committees for lawyers practicing in those courts.

Hugh Q. Gottschalk (’79), partner and president of Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP, has handled hundreds of cases and taken more than 75 trials to verdict in his 30-year litigation career. An elected fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Gottschalk employs his decades of litigation experience, accumulated knowledge, and science education background to effectively present complex and technical information at trial. Gottschalk has served as national or regional trial counsel to several large and well-known companies in industries as diverse as oil and gas, automotive, information technology, manufacturing, and consumer and professional services.

Beverly E. Ledbetter ('72) is vice president and general counsel for Brown University (since 1978). Prior to Brown, she was legal counsel for the University of Oklahoma and an adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law and at the Center for Higher Education, College of Education. She has been on the faculty of the Management Development Program at Harvard University, where she has also taught as an adjunct professor. She lectures frequently on higher education issues including employment, civil rights, sexual and racial harassment, and federal regulatory compliance and is regarded as an expert in the field of higher education law.

The Honorable Pat Steadman (’91) was selected in May 2009 to fill a vacancy in the Colorado State Senate, and in 2012, was reelected to a full four-year term. As a senator, Steadman has built his career around fighting for progressive causes and giving voice to those communities and issues that for too long have been marginalized and under-represented in the state legislature. In 2013, he was honored at the White House with the Harvey Milk Champion of Change Award, recognizing his more than two decades of advocacy for equal rights.

The Honorable Christine M. Arguello is a federal judge on the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. Arguello earned her bachelor's degree from the ��«��Ƶ in 1977, and earned her law degree from Harvard Law School in 1980. Prior to taking the bench, Arguello enjoyed a varied and successful career in public and private practice and academia. Arguello joined the court in 2008 after receiving a nomination from George W. Bush. Arguello is the first Hispanic United States district court judge for the district of Colorado. Arguello’s passion for mentoring young people plays out in Law School . . . Yes We Can, an organization she founded to provide mentoring, inspiration, and training to diverse undergraduate students interested in attending law school.

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Honorees Announced for 43rd Annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet

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Celebrating the Best of Colorado Law at the 42nd Annual Alumni Awards Banquet

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Honorees Announced for 42nd Annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet

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Margaret Farrell '16 Named Attorney of the Year

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Colorado Law Celebrates 2022 Alumni Award Winners

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Garnett Named Fellow of Bolivian Academy of Judicial Sciences

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Longtime ��«����Ƶ Attorney, Former Regent to be Honored at Law Alumni Banquet

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2018 Colorado Law Alumni Award Honorees Announced

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Longtime ��«��Ƶ Attorney, Former Regent to be Honored at Law Alumni Banquet