5280 Magazine January 2023

BY SPENCER CAMPBELL

BY ELISABETH KWAK-HEFFERAN

BY KELLY BASTONE

BY SPENCER CAMPBELL

BY KIM HABICHT & AJ VICENS

Jack Richmond/Courtesy of Dunton Hot Springs

Dunton Hot Springs recently remodeled some of its 1880s cabins.

DEPTS.

COMPASS

15 ART

A professional snow sculptor’s tips for upping your snowman game.

16 SHOPPING

BookBar, a beloved Denver bookseller-slash-public house, will close its doors for good this month. But don’t worry: There are still local spots where you can imbibe while you browse.

18 TRAVEL

The Western Hotel and Spa is a remnant of Ouray’s mining past. Now, it’s set to become a gem of the Western Slope’s hospitality scene.

20 EDUCATION

CU Denver wants to become the nation’s first equity-serving university. First, it needs to decide what that means.

22 CULTURE

How to read the West’s unofficial alphabet: cattle brands.

Dunton

15

EAT & DRINK

25

WHAT’S HOT

A new restaurant in Whittier combines destination-dining fare with the relaxed ambience of a neighborhood joint.

26

TREND

Nonalcoholic beer is having a moment, and local makers are taking part by crafting zeroproof, lower-calorie beers.

28 REVIEW

LoDo’s glitzy Water Grill serves fresh-caught specialties, but is it worth the splurge?

BY CLAY FONG

30 SIPS

Sommelier Maia Parish’s top wine and seafood pairings.

COLUMN

32

BUSINESS

Denver has ample sunshine, temperate winters, a dynamic downtown, and a fanatical football fan base—yet the Mile High City has never hosted a Super Bowl.

BY CRAIG MEYER

BACKSTORY

112

JOY RIDES

In recognition of the redesigned 2023 Chevy Colorado, we dreamed up four more vehicles inspired by Centennial State locales.

Hot Springs in southwestern Colorado

Cover: Jack Richmond Photography/Courtesy of Dunton Hot Springs. This page, clockwise from top left: Sarah Banks; Courtesy of Ceria Brewing; Courtesy of Maia Parish; Aaron Dodds/Courtesy of Breckenridge Tourism Office (“The Boy Who Believed He Could Fly” by Team Breckenridge); Steph Chambers/Getty Images

TOUCH FEEL RELAX . .

FORT COLLINS

NORTHGLENN LAKEWOOD CENTENNIAL LONGMONT

COLORADO SPRINGS

Leaders in Law.

VICE PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER

Zach Wolfel

VICE PRESIDENT, BRAND STRATEGY Carly Lambert

ADVERTISING & MARKETING ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Ari Ben

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Piniel Simegn

SENIOR ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE Molly Duran

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES Katie Duven, Heather Lowe, Angie Lund, Kara Noone

ADVERTISING & MARKETING COORDINATOR Tamara Curry

MARKETING COORDINATOR Grace Thomas

BRAND SERVICES PRINT OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Megan Skolak

CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER Chelsea Conrad

SUBSCRIPTIONS

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR & DINING GUIDE

Letters to the editor must include your name, address, and a daytime phone number (all of which can be withheld from publication upon request). Letters may be submitted via regular mail or email (letters@5280. com). To have a restaurant considered for our Dining Guide, contact us by phone or email (dining@5280.com) to receive a submission form. We also encourage you to contact us if your experience at a restaurant differs significantly from our listing. Information for these sections should be subm itted at least six weeks before the issue’s cover date.

WRITER’S GUIDELINES

Writer’s guidelines can be found online at 5280.com/writers-guidelines. To suggest a story idea, email us at news@5280.com.

ADVERTISING

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SPONSORSHIPS

5280 actively supports organizations that make our city a better place to live and work. Submit sponsorship proposals to Piniel Simegn, director of marketing, at sponsorship@5280.com.

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BEHIND THE STORIES

FROM THE EDITOR

You Think You Know A Person

In 21 years with this magazine, I’ve seen us publish incisive profiles of dozens of Coloradans. Some of these portraits have focused on people readers didn’t necessarily know; others centered on politicians, entertainers, and athletes with widely recognized names. Without taking anything away from any of those humans, I can say without hesitation that the subject of this issue’s narrative feature enjoys a singular brand of celebrity: Frank Azar, aka the Strong Arm, may be the most famous Coloradan that no one outside of the Centennial State has ever heard of.

The personal injury attorney, renowned for his ubiquitous TV commercials and countless billboards—I’ve recently spotted four within a five-mile radius of my home— has inspired both eye rolls as a perceived ambulance chaser and admiration for building and branding what we all assume is a successful law firm. But the truth is, we don’t know Azar or his business; we only think we do.

These misconceptions drove features editor Spencer Campbell to reach out to the lawyer. “I really thought Azar would be at peace with his reputation,” says Campbell, who spent time with Azar this past fall. “What quickly became apparent, however, is how badly the Strong Arm wants to be taken seriously.” The resulting profile (“The Strong Arm Makes His Case,” page 52) reveals a man who has long been obscured by a persona he wishes he’d never created.

Campbell depicts a person who is by turns thoughtful, goofy, and a little self-conscious and who, perhaps most important, is very serious about his work. Azar has used his might in surprising and sometimes admirable ways. He may always be the Strong Arm—and those commercials will likely continue to elicit ridicule—but I, for one, will now see a different man on the billboard.

Visvajit Sriramrajan Research Editor

5280’s new research editor moved to Denver in October after completing four (yes, four) majors in college. Clearly, the studious grad is right at home fact-checking the magazine’s toughest stories each month.

SOME LIKE IT HOT

“I loved fact-checking the hot springs feature. Learning about the geothermal landscape of Colorado and the chemical properties of minerals was incredibly captivating.”

AS A MATTER OF FACT

”Not every story will be happy or simple to fact-check, but the difficult stories are often the most important ones to tell.”

NEWCOMER NOTES

“I love Denver’s bike lanes! While a lot of American commuters don’t pay them much heed, I’m glad that many Denverites do.”

ON 5280.COM

LINDSEY B. KING

Email: lindsey@5280.com Twitter: @linzbking

Hibernation is for bears. This month, head to 5280.com to browse our winter hiking guide for the perfect itinerary. We’ve compiled easy, moderate, and challenging treks within 90 minutes of Denver that are actually better when blanketed in snow. BYO snowshoes.

Clockwise from top left: Sarah Banks; Courtesy of Visvajit Sriramrajan; Mile High Traveler/Getty Images; David Williams

WINTER WONDERLAND

WARNING: Overconsumption of Marijuana Concentrate may lead to Psychotic symptoms and/or Psychotic disorder, Mental Health Symptoms/Problems, Cannabis Hyperemesis (CHS), and Cannabis use disorder/dependence, including physical and psychological dependence.

CoMPASS

Aaron Dodds/Courtesy of Breckenridge Tourism Office (“The

Team Breckenridge)

“The Boy Who Believed He Could Fly” at Breckenridge’s 2022 International Snow Sculpture Championships

Bottle Shops

BookBar, a beloved Denver bookseller meets public house, will close its doors for good this month. But don’t worry: There are still spots around town where you can imbibe while you browse.

—NICHOLAS HUNT

FOR BUZZED BIBLIOPHILES

Tattered Cover Book Store, Westminster

This branch of the local chain has its first birthday in January. Celebrate with a literature-themed cocktail at its bar, Best Cellars.

When Keith Martin learned to sculpt ice during culinary school in the mid-1990s, he figured the skill might lead to the occasional carved swan. But after moving to Breckenridge from Ohio in 2001, Martin fell in love with the craft thanks, in part, to his choice in condos: His new digs were across the street from where the town holds the annual International Snow Sculpture Championships.

The now 32-year-old competition typically sees around a dozen teams transform 12-foot-tall blocks of snow into everything from cubist abstractions to realistic depictions of humans and animals. Then, the 30,000-plus attendees choose their favorites. After five years as a spectator, Martin talked his way onto a team in 2006 and won bronze. Nearly two decades later, he makes his living as an ice and snow carver and has led Team Breckenridge since 2011. Martin and his squad have carved Norse gods, winged figures, and more, winning the top prize in 2014. But he promises that his creation for this year’s event (January 27 through February 1; free) will be his magnum opus. Although he’s tight-lipped about what the sculpture will look like, Martin was willing to divulge some trade secrets to help boost your snowman game. —BARBARA URZUA

1. Scout Some Shade

“You’ve seen plenty of snowmen rotting outside on sunny January days,” Martin says. “That’s usually because they’re getting direct light.” To make sure Frosty sticks around, Martin recommends building under an evergreen or in the shade on the north side of your house, even if temps are well below freezing.

2. Pack It Tight

If you’ve ever thrown a snowball, you know that compressed snow holds its shape much better than loose flakes, so the key to a good sculpture is starting with a dense block. Packing it by hand

is better than nothing, but for the best results, find a large cardboard box and stuff it until you can’t poke your gloved finger into the snow. Then flip the box over and either slide the snow out or cut it free.

3. Make A Tool Kit

“It’s trial by error to figure out which tools work best,” Martin says, but a handsaw, a car ice scraper, a butter knife and spoon, and a brush (anything with soft bristles will work) are a good start.

4. Sketch It Out

Martin has spent more than a decade planning his design for this year’s competition. You don’t need

to take that long, but you should rough out a blueprint. For beginners, simple shapes like turtles are safe bets, but get as creative as you want—just steer clear of features that can succumb to gravity, like a bird’s flapping wings.

5. Get To Work

Start by outlining your design on the block with sidewalk chalk. Then, carve away the negative spaces with the saw and ice scraper. Once you have the basic shape, use the knife and spoon to add details such as fingers and textures. Finally, go over the sculpture with the brush to remove loose snow and create a smooth finish.

FOR TIPSY TURNTABLE ENTHUSIASTS

Garage Sale Vintage, Larimer Square

Spend $100 or more on vinyl or threads at this LoDo vintage shop and get a free shot. Hitting that mark should be easy: The bar’s collection of nearly 50 tequilas and mezcals is sure to loosen your grip on your pocketbook.

FOR COCKEYED ART COLLECTORS

R Gallery & Wine Bar, Boulder

This gallery pairs an internationally stacked wine list with themed art exhibits such as this month’s Industrial, which features works made from or depicting steel, rust, and other materials.

From left: Aaron Dodds/Courtesy of Breckenridge Tourism Office; Sarah Banks

Keith Martin at the 2022 Breckenridge championships

Relic Reborn

The Western Hotel and Spa is a remnant of Ouray’s mining past. Now, it’s set to become a gem of the Western Slope’s hospitality scene.

Built in 1891, Ouray’s Western Hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Colorado and one of the few remaining frontier-style wood-frame boardinghouses in the West. The fact that it’s still standing 132 years later is likely thanks, in part, to Ouray’s forward-thinking city planners. The fire department they established near the turn of the 20th century was a rare sight in the state’s flammable boomtowns and may have saved the Western from the fiery fate suffered by many of its contemporaries. More than a century later, new owner Kyle Zeppelin is rescuing it from another threat: time. “It has great bones,” says Zeppelin, co-president of Zeppelin Development, the firm responsible for revitalizing buildings throughout Denver’s RiNo district. “When you add it up, [the renovation is] certainly comparable to what a new build costs,” he says. “The difference is, you have all that character and history built into it.”

Zeppelin and his team salvaged key historical elements such as the lobby’s original stained glass windows and the first floor’s tin ceiling while making needed updates in preparation for an early

2023 reopening, including insulating the walls and installing a fire suppression system. The saloon retains its handcarved wooden bar, but the completely revamped restaurant features a seasonal menu full of locally sourced ingredients that are primarily prepared over a wood-fired hearth. Upstairs, 40 cramped boarding units have become 16 light-filled suites, each with its own gas fireplace, kitchenette, and luxurious bathroom (from $350). Or, for a communal experience, guests—and the public—can take a dip in the new in-house spa’s hot and cold saline plunge pools.

The updates, including a name change to the Western Hotel and Spa, may belie the building’s working-class roots, but the Old West spirit remains. “There was an opportunity in Ouray to provide something that was a little more elevated,” Zeppelin says, but “the historic character is totally fundamental to how guests will experience the hotel.”

—COURTNEY HOLDEN

Defining Itself

CU Denver wants to become the nation’s first equity-serving university. First, it needs to decide what that means.

This month marks half a century since the University of Colorado Denver was founded. That may seem like a long time ago, but according to chancellor Michelle Marks, “being a 50-year-old university is like being a teenager in university years.” And just like a teenager, CU Denver is still figuring out what it wants to be when it grows up.

To that end, more than a year and a half ago, the school finalized its 2030 strategic plan. Its top goal? Become the first equity-serving institution of higher education in the United States. The initiative stemmed, in part, from a listening tour Marks did after becoming chancellor in mid-2020. During the tour, faculty, students, and staff told her they valued CU Denver’s long-standing commitment to educating people of color, working students, and others who have been left out of more traditional universities. Marks sees the school’s golden jubilee as a good excuse to enhance that reputation. But even the school isn’t totally sure what an equity-serving university will look like.

“There’s a little bit of audaciousness in saying we’re going to be the first, when the term doesn’t exist out there,” says Antonio Farias, CU Denver’s vice chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion. The school’s initial plans call for hiring more diverse staff members and helping to diversify Denver’s tech economy by connecting companies with its student body, which is composed of 50 percent people of color and just as many first-generation learners. CU Denver has also commissioned murals of diverse alums such as Danielle Shoots (pictured), whose venture capital fund focuses on startups founded by people of color, to foster a sense of belonging. But the definition of “equity-serving” won’t just come from the top: Students are helping to decide what it should mean, too.

Kinzey Gill, a senior at CU Denver and the managing editor of the Sentry, the school’s newsmagazine, has been part of that effort. In October, she attended a roundtable seeking student input on the equity-serving mission. “I think it’s a bold statement, and they’re listening to students,” Gill says, but she’s still skeptical. The plans she’s heard discussed so far seem like commonsense measures all universities should take rather than anything pioneering. “I think that this is a great thing to aspire to be,” she says of the school’s plans. “But there’s a lot of work to be done.”

—CHRIS WALKER

WHAT’S PAST IS PROLOGUE Today, the Auraria campus is home to CU Denver, Community College of Denver, and Metropolitan State University of Denver, but that wasn’t always the case. Auraria was a thriving residential neighborhood until the early 1970s, when urban renewal displaced more than 300 predominantly Latino families to make room for the institutions. In recognition of that trauma, the schools promised scholarships to the children and grandchildren of those families. The program finally launched in the mid-1990s, and last year it was extended indefinitely to include all direct descendants. —CW

Marvin Anani (mural by Thomas “Detour” Evans)

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Single-letter brands have been around the longest because they were the first to get snatched up. Since brands are private proper ty, they can be bought and sold, and the older the brand, the more it will fetch. “They can go for $100 or $100,000,” Whitney says.

When brands have more than one letter, number, or symbol, the fast and loose rules are to read each line from left to right, from the top down. This brand is read like the television network, but if the S were level with the C, it would be C S B.

Ranchers have developed a distinct alphabet that goes far beyond your traditional ABCs. Letters on their sides are “lazy.” Upside-down ones are “crazy.” If the brand has tick marks that look like feet, it’s “walking,” and if it touch es the one above it, it’s said to be “hanging.”

ON BRAND

How to read the West’s unofficial alphabet.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture’s 158-year-old Brand Inspection Division will release the latest edition of the Colorado Brand Book in the next few weeks. Published every five years, the novel-size tome is an encyclopedia of the nearly 30,000 horse and cattle brands registered in the Centennial State. Why so many? After all, there are only 13,000 cattle producers in all of Colorado. There are two main reasons, says state brand commissioner Chris Whitney. The first is that many brands aren’t even owned by ranchers—people use them as the Western

Colorado allows more than 30 preapproved symbols in its brands. Simple ones include lines (known as bars), crosses, diamonds, brackets, and slashes, but shovels, spades, clovers, and other complex figures are also permitted.

To register a brand, you must submit your design to the Brand Inspection Division, which will check it against all existing brands in Colorado for conflicts. A brand can also be rejected if it will be illegible on an animal. Puns, however, are perfectly acceptable.

THE PERFECT LOCATION

“When we were looking for a wedding venue, we wanted a spot that had all of our wedding needs in one place (food, drinks, ceremony/reception space, getting ready space, etc.) and The DAC hit the mark. The staff was amazing, getting to know our friends and family and checking in to see if we needed anything throughout the night. The DAC was the perfect location for our wedding!

— Emma, The Knot

Create the Wedding of Your Dreams

AT THE DENVER ATHLETIC CLUB

Located in the heart of downtown Denver, The DAC offers a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces to accommodate your wedding day. From a ceremony on our 9,700 square foot Sundeck, to a reception in our elegant Grand Ballroom, The DAC offers a truly unique wedding venue in the Mile High City.

Take It Easy

A new restaurant in Whittier combines destination-dining fare with the relaxed ambience of a neighborhood joint.

& EAT DRINK

On paper, Point Easy may look like your typical holier-than-thou farm-to-table establishment. There’s a seasonally rotating lineup of small and large plates; a dedication to local and sustainable sourcing; and, of course, trendy wines, microbrews, and cocktails with ingredients you wouldn’t have at home. But step inside the sixmonth-old Whittier restaurant, and you’ll find regulars along the bar rail swapping stories over approachable appetizers, such as french fries and charcuterie boards, and cheekily named drinks like the sake-spiked Not My Second Rodeo. The laid-back vibe is intentional: Owners Dan Phelps and Andy Bruch, alums of the Kitchen Restaurant Group, dreamed of opening a neighborhood eatery where patrons felt at ease while enjoying contemporary riffs on American and Italian classics. With wood tables, potted-plant-lined shelves, and gray, blue, and green accents, Point Easy is that vision come to life—and a prime place for a cozy winter dinner with loved ones. Pair the mezcal- and citrus-forward 6 Days in Oaxaca with the rich duck cassoulet or the hearty radiatore all’arrabbiata, whose bundles of pasta are laden with spicy tomato sauce, cured egg yolk, and herb-infused breadcrumbs. Every bite will make you wish you lived next door. —PATRICIA KAOWTHUMRONG

Joni

Dry Spell

Home to hundreds of breweries—including several of the industry’s pioneers—Colorado is unquestionably a beer state. But as more drinkers rethink their relationships with alcohol, makers are increasingly crafting zero-proof, lower-calorie alternatives. “Craft beer is not going anywhere, and alcohol is not going anywhere, but the trends show that the popularity of alcohol consumption is dropping off,” says Steve Indrehus, director of brewing operations at Idaho Springs’ Tommyknocker Brewery. Here, five nonalcoholic (N/A) beeresque beverages to sip during Dry January and beyond. —SARAH KUTA

TOMMYKNOCKER BREWERY N/A BLOOD ORANGE IPA

The Blood Orange IPA is Tommyknocker’s most popular beer, so it only made sense for the brewery to develop a boozeless version. It gets a lively citrus aroma and flavor from blood orange zest and three types of hops: Citra, Mosaic, and Mandarina Bavaria. 59 calories per 12 ounces

COORS BREWING COMPANY EDGE

Centennial State–born Coors has been ahead of the current N/A fad for more than 30 years, making its first sansbooze beer, Coors Cutter, back in 1991. The brand’s latest iteration, Edge, is meant to mimic the drinkability of its beloved flagship lager, Coors Banquet.

41 calories per 12 ounces

HOPLARK

0.0

REALLY REALLY HOPPY

While going dry to lose weight, Dean Eberhardt realized he missed the punchy, slightly bitter taste of IPAs more than the buzz they gave him. So, in 2017, with the help of his science-minded friend Andrew Markley, he developed a line of tea-and-hop beverages, including a West Coast IPA–inspired flavor, which the duo sells via Boulder-based HopLark.

0 calories per 12 ounces

GRÜVI GOLDEN LAGER

Sister-brother duo Anika and Niki Sawni were fed up with social situations where they felt pressured to drink alcohol because there wasn’t anything else to sip on. That’s why, in 2019, they founded Denver’s Grüvi, which makes zero-proof wines, sangrias, and brews, including a velvety stout, a juicy IPA, and a crisp golden lager.

58 calories per 12 ounces

CERIA BREWING COMPANY GRAINWAVE

After more than 30 years at Molson Coors, Keith Villa—whose resumé includes developing Blue Moon—started his own zero-proof craft brewing company with his wife, Jodi, in 2018. Their work has since yielded creations such as Grainwave, an unfiltered Belgian-style white ale made with Hallertau Tradition hops. Blood orange peel and coriander infuse the drink with the compounds limonene and linalool, known for their inflammation- and anxiety-reducing qualities.

77 calories per 12 ounces

Salt

BY CLAY FONG

I grew up in the 1970s in the Bay Area, where my family often went to our favorite seafood house, Berkeley’s now-shuttered Spenger’s Fresh Fish Grotto. The sizable eatery was the spot for New England clam chowder, crab Louis, and raw oysters harvested from the 90-plus-year-old eatery’s own shellfish beds. The decor was heavy on dark woods, nautical knickknacks, and nostalgia.

Stepping into LoDo’s Water Grill took me back to those family dinners of my childhood. Maritime kitsch, a bustling raw bar, and the aroma of fresh seafood greeted my dinner date and me when we arrived at the 11-month-old restaurant. Water Grill is quite a bit splashier than Spenger’s ever was, though, and that makes sense: Although it is technically family-owned, Water Grill is part of an upscale chain operated by California-based King’s Seafood Company, which was founded by Lou and Mickey King in 1945. Since then, the brothers and their sons have expanded the business to include seven outposts of Water Grill and a dozen locations of the more casual King’s Fish House across several Western states. What sets King’s apart from its competition—and what made it worthy of a review, despite being part of a chain—is the company’s seafood distribution

WATER GRILL 1691 Market St. watergrill.com

arm, which emphasizes environmental stewardship, including sustainable sourcing and reliance on aquaculture (farmed seafood).

While coastal seafood houses often spotlight local specialties, Water Grill’s reach is decidedly global. That becomes obvious the moment you open the hefty four-page menu. Although an obligatory clam chowder appears on the list of starters, more rarefied choices such as wild Spanish octopus and bluefin tuna tartare illustrate King’s range. There are also roughly a half-dozen sushi preparations and a long list of raw bar specialties, including 15 varieties of oysters. Entrées include whole fish, such as

LoDo’s glitzy Water Grill serves fresh-caught specialties, but is it worth the splurge?

Roehl abstract passions

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TieRRa MaR GalleRy 225 Canyon Rd, SanTa Fe, nM 87501 www.TieRRaMaRGalleRy.CoM

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Brittany Dover sole; pedigreed fare like Maryland soft-shell crab and farmed New Zealand king salmon; and other wild-caught options such as Pacific Bigeye tuna and Barents Sea red king crab.

During that first meal, our server, who responded to menu questions in exquisite detail, delivered warm sourdough rolls (sourced from Golden’s Grateful Bread) with whipped butter. The bread’s tang was a reminder of the San Francisco sourdough I ate as a kid, but I had to save room for a starter of properly browned, moist, pan-roasted halibut cheeks. The lovely preparation was undermined by a cool serving temperature and a creamy brown-butter-lemon sauce served beneath the fish that was more cloyingly rich than complementary. The sauce had braised fennel that provided some relief, but more citrus would have helped. A second starter,

partnered with pistachio and citrus pesto, were also excellent. Less impressive were the too-salty lobster tail; slightly overcooked Mexican shrimp; and mussels and Long Island littleneck clams, which lacked flavor. The inconsistency and blandness couldn’t be remedied even by all the condiments, which included cocktail sauce, horseradish, and mignonette-style dips zinged with ingredients like habanero. In the future, I would instead order a dozen oysters curated by the waitstaff.

For my entrée, I selected the cioppino, a Bay Area–born, ItalianAmerican fisherman’s stew. Sadly, it also suffered from a temperature problem. The lukewarmness was a real shame, because the seafood, which included tender salmon and well-textured Dungeness crab, was delicious. The slightly acidic, mildly spicy, tomato-infused wine sauce squared with my recollection of authentic San Francisco preparations and lent itself well to a dunk with bread. The sea bass, which my dinner date declared a winner, was accompanied by butternut squash gnocchi and had a perfectly subtle sear.

SIPS BETTER TOGETHER

Long-standing tradition dictates that seafood is best enjoyed with lighter wines that won’t overpower delicate flavors, but there are many varieties to choose from. Whether you want bubbly or a dessert wine, we tapped Denver-based sommelier Maia Parish to help you pick the right grape to pair with your fruits of the ocean.

FISH  Parish recommends pairing lighter- and flakier-textured catches such as salmon or cod with a medium-bodied South African Chenin blanc. When it comes to heavier-fleshed picks like halibut or swordfish, try a floral and fruity Italian prosecco rosé, whose bubbles harmonize with oilier fish.

Water Grill’s hamachi nachos feature smoked yellowtail over yucca chips.

the hamachi nachos, was more gratifying and spotlighted delicately smoked Japanese yellowtail served over yucca chips with Asian pear and Marcona almond adornments.

The Grand iced shellfish platter, which can be devoured as a shared appetizer or main course, was a mixed bag. The oysters, particularly the Fanny Bays, were the stars. The Peruvian Bay scallops, thoughtfully

On a return visit for lunch, I started with an amped-up take on New England clam chowder swimming with both shell-on and morsels of clams. The thick soup was—sigh tepid and had a far-too-creamy texture that resembled a white sauce more than a chowder. Redemption arrived in the form of the black cod. Perhaps taking inspiration from chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s famed miso-marinated recipe, the Asian-influenced, flawlessly cooked course was served atop soba noodles with green onions, fish broth, and garlic chips.

Achieving flawlessness (or close to it) is something Water Grill needs to work on. At prices that range from $33 for fish and chips to $99 for three stone crab claws, incorrect food temperatures, overbearing sauces, and viscous chowder should never be everyday issues. It’s possible to have a satisfying meal here, but if Water Grill wants seafood lovers to remember it fondly years from now, it needs to rectify those missteps now.

SHELLFISH  For lobster, shrimp, and oysters, bubbles such as Crémant (a French Champagne alternative) are the best all-around shellfish wines, thanks to their balanced mix of acidity and carbonation.

For sweet-and-salty crawfish, Parish proposes the vivacious Blanc La La La from Colorado’s Carboy Winery.

The sparkling Grüner Veltliner earned a spot in the 2022 Governor’s Cup Collection, the state’s annual winemaking competition.

SUSHI  For the Japanese specialty, Parish suggests a white Furmint, which is produced with grapes from a region in Hungary known for making both splendid dessert wines and dry whites. The bracing acidity and sharp, tart flavors are a nice accompaniment to raw seafood and fiery dishes. Alternatively, go for an Italian Vermentino, a light- to medium-bodied bottle with a dry and fresh profile that is perfect with “anything fishy, herby, or citrusy,” she says.

From top: Courtesy of Maia Parish; Courtesy of Carboy Winery

Super Someday?

Denver has ample sunshine, temperate winters, a dynamic downtown, and a fanatical football fan base, and yet the Mile High City has never hosted a Super Bowl.

Picture this for a moment: On the second Sunday in February, more than 75,000 people from across the world pack Empower Field at Mile High. As the sun sets over the Rocky Mountains to the west on a clear, idyllic night, a camera pans over the sold-out stadium, broadcasting the image to nearly 100 million people. On the field, the NFL’s two best teams line up to compete for the sport’s ultimate prize in a game that defines careers and cements legacies. For one glorious night, the collective gaze of the sports world is fixed on Denver.

If that’s a scene that seems too good to be true, it’s because it is.

Denver is one of 15 cities with a current NFL team that either hasn’t hosted a Super Bowl or isn’t set to host one in the next three years. For a football-crazed market that’s home to a franchise with a passionate following, the Mile High City is a notable exclusion.

The Super Bowl is much more than just a four-hour football and entertainment extravaganza on a winter evening, of course. It’s the marquee event of the country’s most popular sports league and accounts for 30 of the 31 most-watched

single-network television broadcasts in U.S. history. For the city in which the game takes place, millions of dollars and prestige are at stake.

On paper, Denver makes sense as a host. It’s a vibrant city with a metro population that has increased by about 80 percent over the past 30 years. It has been home to the Broncos for more than six decades, a time during which the team has developed one of the largest followings in the NFL. It has a walkable downtown with the Rockies serving as a picturesque backdrop. And given the timing of the event, Denver offers access to some of the best skiing in the world for anyone who comes to the big game. “I think we’ve earned the right to compete for a Super Bowl,” Denver Mayor Michael Hancock says. “It wouldn’t surprise me that we would continue to be competitive, but it has been a difficult challenge.”

With so much working in its favor, why has the Super Bowl eluded the Mile High City? It’s a simple question with a straightforward but ultimately unsatisfying answer.

THIS POINT in their careers, leaders such as Hancock and Denver Sports Commission executive director Matthew Payne are familiar with the pitch. When selling Denver as

BY

a destination for large-scale and lucrative events, they can refer to the city’s bevy of amenities and offerings in rapid succession, as if they’re reading from a tourism brochure.

The metro area has more than 50,000 hotel rooms that can house a huge influx of visitors. Its airport was the third busiest in the world in 2021 and is currently undergoing a $2.1 billion renovation. It’s located near the geographic center of the country, making it relatively easy to reach from anywhere within the continental United States. All three of its major professional sports venues are in, or within walking distance of, downtown.

The Queen City of the Plains is no stranger to high-profile sporting events, either. Over the past 40 years, it has hosted two Major League Baseball All-Star Games, two NBA All-Star Games, and the Final Four for both men’s and women’s college basketball as well as games for the World Series and the Stanley Cup Finals. “We have all the things you need and amenities you need for big-time events,” Payne says.

The Super Bowl isn’t just any event, though, and for all the boxes Denver checks, there are two all-important ones on the NFL’s list that it doesn’t: its weather and its stadium.

It’s obvious the NFL has a type—or, more specifically, a couple of types—when it comes to cities that host the Super Bowl. Of the 56 Super Bowls, 50 have taken place in warmweather locales, such as Miami (which has hosted 11 times) or New Orleans (10). Of the six games played in cooler winter climates, five took place in indoor stadiums, shielding the game from potentially brutal conditions that could affect the quality of play.

The only game played outdoors in a colder climate took place in 2014 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, just a few miles outside of New York City—which happens to be the home of the NFL’s headquarters. Convenience may have been one factor in the decision to award East Rutherford the game, and the fact that MetLife Stadium was just four years old was likely another. But the league was also certainly cognizant of the benefits that would come with holding the Super Bowl just miles from the nation’s largest city and media market.

It’s not as easy for other cities to get the league’s attention. In Denver’s case, Empower Field is not only an outdoor venue, but it’s also not new. Seven of the past 12 Super Bowl stadiums, including all of the cold-weather venues, hosted the game within four years of opening. Each of the league’s nine newest stadiums has either hosted a Super Bowl or will house the game in the next three years. There’s something of a tacit understanding

that if you (the team and city) build it, they (the NFL and the Super Bowl) will come.

At just 21 years old, Empower Field is the 16th oldest of the NFL’s 30 stadiums, and unlike venues that are roughly the same age or older, such as New Orleans’ Caesars Superdome or Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, the Broncos’ home hasn’t undergone a recent renovation. (Replacing a section of seats that caught on fire last year doesn’t count, apparently.) Newer, glossier facilities are perhaps

the clearest and most sensible explanation for why outlying municipalities such as East Rutherford; Glendale, Arizona; Arlington, Texas; and Santa Clara, California, have hosted the Super Bowl while larger cities with more to offer—such as Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Seattle—have never been given the opportunity.

The fact that Denver has never hosted a Super Bowl is not due to a lack of trying. In 2012, the Broncos and Visit Denver submitted

a letter of intent to the Super Bowl Advisory Committee to host the event in 2018, 2019, or 2020, but according to Payne, the proposal didn’t get very far. “I don’t think we ever went down to any more formal stages of trying to host because they have that preference,” Payne says of the desire for new and indoor stadiums. “It’s even in their bid documents.”

GIVEN EVERYTHING that needs to be in place for the Super Bowl to come to town, it’s fair to wonder why so many cities make such an effort to lure an event that will be gone almost as quickly as it arrives. The primary reason, of course, is money. There’s an obvious financial benefit for the city that hosts the Super Bowl: According to a report from the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission, the 2022 Super Bowl in Inglewood, California, was expected to bring between $234 million and $477 million in revenue to Los Angeles County, including between $12 million and $22 million in tax revenue.

Not everyone, however, is sold on the idea of Super Bowls being economic boons for host cities. Victor Matheson, a sports

economist and professor at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, estimates that a more accurate figure for a host city’s economic windfall is between $30 million and $100 million. That’s a significant sum, but it doesn’t take into account the sizable costs a host city must shoulder on the NFL’s behalf. In a 153-page document of NFL requirements for a host city obtained

control over this, so they can say, ‘If you’re not willing to pay our demands, we can find someone else who’s willing to do it instead.’ They’re able to effectively squeeze all of the potential benefits out of that city.”

by the Minneapolis Star Tribune in 2014, the phrase “at no cost to the NFL” appeared 45 times and related to everything from parking and hotel space to wireless connectivity and under-field heating systems.

“The NFL knows they have this one very, very special event, probably the biggest single social event in the United States outside of Christmas and Thanksgiving,” Matheson says. “[The Super Bowl] is kind of like this weird, manufactured holiday. They know they have

Then there are the costs associated with the main reason the Super Bowl ever winds up in a given city: the stadium itself. Each of the seven newest NFL stadiums that have hosted a Super Bowl or will host one in the near future came with a price tag of at least $1.1 billion. Several of those projects received public funding: Public subsidies paid for nearly $500 million of the $1.1 billion U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis and $750 million of Las Vegas’ $1.9 billion Allegiant Stadium.

Empower Field was completed in 2001 at a cost of $400.7 million, with a multicounty sales tax accounting for 60 percent of that bill. Even when adjusted for inflation, that final cost is still less than half of what was spent on many new Super Bowl venues. In the time since Empower Field was built, stadiums have gone from being large structures for hosting games, and sometimes concerts, to

There’s an obvious financial benefit for the city that hosts the Super Bowl.

opulent football palaces that double as hubs for shopping and entertainment.

There’s speculation that Empower Field was constructed so that a dome could be added to it, a significant investment that would bolster Denver’s Super Bowl candidacy. (A spokesperson for the Broncos declined to make any executives from the front office available for an interview for this article.) “It is absolutely in no way worth it for Denver to say, ‘Well, let’s spend a few hundred million dollars putting a dome on that stadium so we can host the Super Bowl,’ ” Matheson says. “That would be ridiculous.”

For all of those potential drawbacks, the event still has a singular aura, one of many reasons cities continue to comply with the NFL’s extensive list of demands and preferences. A Super Bowl enhances a city’s reputation, increases its visibility, and gives it a certain legitimacy. It’s what Daniel Funk, professor of sport and recreation management at Temple University in Philadelphia, calls psychic income. “That’s something that’s really hard to quantify, but it’s something that gets people excited,” Funk says. “It’s hard to rally around a road project. That’s important, don’t get me wrong. But it’s pretty easy to rally around a Super Bowl coming to town.”

It’s the kind of irresistible pull that could keep a city like Denver interested. Hancock jokingly says that, since he took office, he has kept track of Denver’s weather on the day of the Super Bowl. Over the past six years, the average high temperature was 56 degrees. In 2020, the temperature got up to 63, just one degree below the high that day in Miami, where Super Bowl LIV was played that year. That’s the sort of figure that seems ready-made for a pitch to the NFL.

For all the obstacles that stand in the way, some of which appear insurmountable, both Payne and Hancock say they’re open to the idea of a future bid. “I think we’re willing to do it,” Hancock says. “I think there’s probably some renewed energy and optimism since the new [Broncos] ownership is in town. They’re willing to take a look at the stadium and its ongoing capacity going forward. I know I’m excited about that.” In the coming years, Denverites will learn just how excited the NFL is about the Mile High City as a potential Super Bowl host, as well. m

Craig Meyer is a Denver-based freelance writer. Before moving to Colorado last year, he spent 10 years as a sportswriter with the Pittsburgh PostGazette, primarily covering college basketball and football. Email feedback to letters@5280.com.

Springs

Soaking at Desert Reef hot springs near Florence

BY AARON COLUSSI

PHOTOGRAPH

Eternal

Everything old is new again at Colorado’s hot springs, where recent expansions and upgrades have created fresh ways of savoring the Earth’s oldest bathtubs. BY

KELLY BASTONE

uncharted waters

A change in ownership transformed humble Trimble Hot Springs into world-class Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa.

■ With an Olympic-size pool and two hot soaking tubs, century-old Trimble Hot Springs had long offered greater appeal for local families than traveling glitterati. But when that swimming pool fell into a state of disrepair in the winter of 2018-’19, a trio of investors offered to revive not just the pool but the entire property. “Our vision is to be a wellness facility that can compete on the national and global scene,” says Bryan Yearout, one of the purchasing partners. After executing a complete overhaul of the facilities, located eight miles north of Durango, the ownership team opened Durango Hot Springs Resort & Spa in August 2020 with a swimming pool, four hot pools, and a promise that more was to come. Now, Yearout and company’s grand vision is nearing completion. Boasting 40 soaking tubs (an adult soak is $39), plus a swimming pool, reflexology path, and rain tower—all complemented by a day spa, clubhouse, and an outdoor stage and amphitheater—Durango Hot Springs has broadened its appeal.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays in the warmer months, bands from the local music scene take to the stage. The tunes can be heard from each of the soaking options, most of which are adult-only and nestled among the hills or set amid gardens that make Durango Hot Springs look like a botanic park.

Further separating this steamy destination from others in the Centennial State and around the world, its source water contains very little sulfur, has 34 different minerals, and is enhanced by two technologies that are, so far, unique to Durango Hot Springs. One treatment infuses the spring water with nano-size oxygen bubbles that are tiny enough to be absorbed by the skin’s pores. (Oxygen rebuilds muscle and could even enhance your mood, with some advocates claiming it reduces stress and promotes sleep.) The other treatment changes the molecular structure of the water’s minerals, causing them to bind together so they remain in solution and feel soft, rather than sticky, on soakers’ skin.

Durango Hot Springs didn’t stop at fancy water, though. The wellness theme continues at the newly built spa, where a meditation garden offers bodywork clients an outdoor relaxation area in addition to an indoor lounge. Guests can opt to purchase the Trimble Day Club pass, a $150 option that provides access to a separate facility with a sun deck as well as private changing rooms and the opportunity to claim one of eight cedar soaking tubs. “We appeal to the whole spectrum of hot springs lovers,” Yearout says. “People who want solitude, people who like a social scene, and parents with kids. We have a way to please all of those guests.”

Bigger and Better— But Still perfectly Weird

Desert Reef’s recent improvements didn’t alter its personality.

■ “Development” can be a dirty word among hot springers, who often prefer a light touch when nature’s plumbing gets upgraded. The makeover at 37-yearold, clothing-optional Desert Reef near Florence follows this philosophy.

From left: Courtesy of Terrance Siemon; Aaron Colussi

The just-completed renovation refurbished the existing 36-by-50-foot pool, added four new pools to the main area, and created five smaller ones, which can be privately rented. Visitors can now sleep on-site in one of five vintage Airstream campers or five tiny homes, the latter of which are outfitted with private pools. Says co-owner Chris McLaughlin, “We’re letting more people in, but we’re staying small, because nobody enjoys a crowded pool—or, at least, we don’t.”

Fortunately, crowding has never been an issue at this tucked-away, attention-shy resort, where a weekday soak runs $25. Not only has Desert Reef limited the number of swimmers at any given time since its early days, but the refuge has also kept itself so

secret that many residents of Florence don’t even know about it.

Despite the recent improvements and the addition of overnight accommodations, Desert Reef has held tight to its eccentricities. Although the facility is working on a liquor license, for now it’s BYOB. Cell phones are forbidden in the pool area. Males (solo or in groups) aren’t admitted unless accompanied by their partners or women. Youths under 18 years old can only enter if they book a private hot spring rental. To preserve a tranquil vibe, guests can’t drive to their units, so visitors tote their luggage in carts. But if you dig the idea of keeping quirky places weird, you’ll love this clandestine getaway—not despite its idiosyncrasies but because of them.

THE NAKED TRUTH

Skinny-dipping in a San Luis Valley hot spring taught me the beauty of being au naturel in nature.

■ I was looking for a place to camp on the way home from a wedding in Santa Fe, New Mexico. There was to be a total supermoon eclipse that September night, and my husband and I are just woo-woo enough to be into such things. So, when I found Valley View Hot Springs, a campground with six natural soaking holes and three human-made pools tucked along the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, my toes tingled in my Birkenstocks. Then I read the fine print: Owned by the nonprofit Orient Land Trust, Valley View’s 2,200 acres are entirely clothing-optional. Were we hippie enough for that? I was a little apprehensive, but I booked a site and figured we’d find out. After arriving, we pitched our tent and explored our options, hiking from one pond to another. The people we encountered walking around were clothed, something of a necessity given the late fall chill. Most of the folks soaking were not. But we soon realized it was like being in a yoga class: No matter how self-conscious you feel, no one’s paying attention to you. Especially in a place where the stunning landscape gives you something to ogle instead.

As dusk fell, we found a little soaker occupied by just one other couple. We made small talk while we shyly disrobed and slipped in. The giant moon rose over a peak to the east and slowly turned red-brown as it passed through the Earth’s shadow. Watching, I felt truly one with the surrounding terrain—nothing separating my skin from the warm mineral waters, the gravelly bottom, and the bats swooping inches from my face to snap up insects from the cool night air. I decided it wasn’t weird at all to be sans swimsuit but, instead, the most natural thing in the world. —Jessica LaRusso

Improving Upon Perfection

The already über-luxe cabins at Dunton Hot Springs get a face-lift.

■ It’s a rare occurrence that someone leaves Dunton Hot Springs feeling like the property fell short. But that’s precisely why this all-inclusive luxury resort near Telluride is refreshing all lodging interiors and remodeling some of its 1880s-era cabins: There was nothing wrong with the existing window treatments, towels, and furnishings, but here, “nice” simply isn’t good enough. Since 2001, when this former mining village got upcycled into high-end lodging, dining,

and soaking facilities, the destination has devoted itself to delivering spectacular service and aesthetics. So, in fall 2022, Dunton began redecorating the guest accommodations, and one of them—New House—was remodeled to make it accessible to guests using wheelchairs. “Everything should feel new,” says Dunton Hot Springs spokesperson Christina Rossi.

With that in mind, Dunton also added a “new” cabin to its portfolio this year, for a total of 14. A 19th-century building called Chuck’s that had been used for staff housing is now a four-bedroom guesthouse catering to families and groups. The basement bunkrooms are perfect for tykes and teens. On the main and upper levels, you’ll find two bedrooms, one with a queen bed and one with a king. And the location

is prime: One of only two Dunton accommodations to sit right on the banks of the babbling West Dolores River, Chuck’s includes a deck that overlooks the water.

Dunton’s saloon and dance hall are also slated for an expansion, to be completed by late 2023. Yet embracing the new has never prevented this property from appreciating what’s old—including the cabins’ hand-hewn logs and Butch Cassidy’s signature carved into the antique wooden bar. The kitchen’s creations have earned Dunton admission into the Relais & Châteaux network of epicure-pleasing properties (and Bon Appétit has ranked this getaway among America’s top five foodie destinations), but it isn’t the house-made granola or the iron-skillet lamb loin that makes Dunton Hot Springs revered among jet-setters: It’s that the nearly 200-acre property includes steaming hot springs that bubble up beneath staggering views of the jagged San Juan Mountains.

Most guests take the waters—soaking is included with your stay—at the bathhouse, which has floor-to-rafter windows that provide views of 14,256foot Mt. Wilson. Two more plein-air pools (at the 107-degree source of the springs and beside the bathhouse, where the water is closer to 103 degrees) promote sky-watching. And two cabins feature private soaking spots: Well House includes an indoor spring that’s available year-round, while Dunton Store has an 85-degree outdoor soaker that’s open in summer. So, while the cabins’ sunflower showerheads feel great and the museum-quality art gratifies the eye, what guests truly cherish is the Earth’s watery embrace.

From left: Marianna Jamadi/Courtesy of Dunton Hot Springs; Jack Richmond Photography/Courtesy of Dunton Hot Springs

MINING FOR HEAT

Have all of Colorado’s hot springs already been discovered? Far from it, says Steve Beckley, who developed Glenwood Springs’ Iron Mountain Hot Springs and is planning to launch a new hot spring destination in Utah. We asked him what it takes to discover new sources of steamy satisfaction.

5280: How do you know where to look for new hot springs?

Steve Beckley: I worked in geology for many years. After graduating from Colorado School of Mines with a degree in petroleum engineering, I went into the oil and gas industry and eventually moved to Glenwood Springs to build Glenwood Caverns. So, I have that background, but I also did a lot of research into geothermal studies of Colorado.

Can anyone do that research?

Yes. The Colorado Geological Survey published a bulletin called “An Appraisal of Colorado’s Geothermal Resources.” It was intended to explore the potential for energy production and identified bright spots where people might be able to make steam and turn a turbine. But you can also look at those bright spots to see which ones are relatively accessible and which ones might supply a usable flow of water.

And there’s untapped potential?

Sure, because most of the recent geothermal exploration hasn’t been for wellness like it was in the 1800s, when a lot of America’s hot springs were developed as healing centers. Since then, Western medicine has dominated our approach to health, but over the past decade I’ve seen a greater interest in the wellness potential of mineral springs, and I believe there will be a lot more hot springs developed in the future.

Kids-Free Zone

A Glenwood Springs–based hot springs resort isn’t kicking out the kiddos—it’s just making more room for the grown-ups.

■ Iron Mountain Hot Springs opened in 2015 with 16 little soaking ponds, a jetted spa, and a freshwater family pool that made for a more intimate experience than that at its sprawling neighbor, the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool. When the cozy concept proved to be even more popular than anticipated, Iron Mountain’s ownership increased the property’s soaking capacity for adults—without changing its commitment to the kiddie crowd.

To be fully completed by summer 2023, the 21-and-older-only expansion will boast 10 additional small dippers plus a 55-degree cold plunge feature and a pair of twotiered freshwater ponds connected by a waterfall. “We reproduced the most popular features from the original layout,” says general manager Aaron McCallister. Guests loved the two riverside pools and the ones with rounded, foot-massaging stones embedded in the bottoms—so all of the new pools have reflexology floors and sit beside the Colorado. Plus, the area’s new Sand Bar cafe will serve several frozen cocktails, which guests can sip while soaking or on the heated patio.

Iron Mountain is also growing its experience program, which re-creates the mineral makeup of famous hot springs around the world: The sulfur- and silica-rich potion found at Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, the therapeutic mineral blend from Kinosaki, Japan, and the skin-nourishing springs of Amman, Jordan, are among the 10 rotating recipes that let bathers sample something different. Not that Iron Springs’ wells, which are high in relaxation-inducing sulfate and iron and include 12 other minerals, aren’t perfectly restorative.

A timed reservation system ensures the complex never feels overrun—with adults or children, who are still welcome in the original footprint. (Kids under five are limited to the Family Pool.) Still, weekends buzz with bathing and imbibing because the existing cafe was already popular for the quality of its food and beverage offerings: Thin-crust pizzas use a cauliflower dough that’s adored by both sides of the gluten-free fence, and batch-made cocktails only add to the relaxation quotient. Winter specials include cider spiked with Stoneyard Distillery’s Cinnamon Fire. That, plus the 108-degree water, can thaw the deepest chill.

From left: Vanessa Lovegrove; Courtesy of Iron Mountain Hot Springs

Overloved

Rampant abuse prompted “No Trespassing” signs at Rico Hot Springs, where owners devised a friendly way to minimize unruly swimmers.

■ Dave Bulson, who has lived near Telluride for three decades, recalls the glory days of the state’s undeveloped hot springs. “I remember Colorado before the internet,” he says, “when you could only hear about hot springs by word-of-mouth.”

Things are different now, of course. But Bulson still likes taking the waters so much that, in October 2020, he and his wife, Michelle Haynes, purchased land beside the Dolores River where molybdenum prospectors had punctured a warm artesian spring, which now breaches the earth in several spots along the waterway. Known as Rico Hot Springs, the couple’s milky, mineral-laden spring emerges at 109 degrees and collects in a travertine-lined pool four feet deep and 10 feet around before flowing through a wooden flume that feeds a 106-degree secondary pond.

Tucked beneath an embankment flanking CO 145, Rico Hot Springs was easy to reach—for those in the know. For a long time, that consisted of the 250 Rico residents who cherished their local secret. But as social media spread the word, litter proliferated. Then, as the pandemic wore on, more visitors arrived and created conflict. “People took up residency there,” says Bulson, who had been happy to allow responsible locals to use his springs. But when squatters and human feces proliferated, sanitation became a concern. Multiple incidents of assault and drug use prompted calls to police, but with the nearest law enforcement station located 90 minutes away, regulation was scarce.

“The last thing in the world we wanted to do was to put up a big fence,” Bulson says. But in 2021, the couple installed a gate and “No Trespassing” signs. They also drew up a legal waiver that locals could sign and submit to visit the spring at will. Although he’s received a few complaints about the closure, he says most people understand the change was warranted. “They may not like it, but they understand,” he says. Compliance is “pretty good,” he adds, because locals are educating outsiders about the change in policy.

“In our own imperfect way, we’ve preserved what we feel is an important aspect of hot springs in Colorado,” Bulson says. Developed soaking spots abound, he says, “but it’s different when you walk through the mud and the willows to find a hot spring, and those places are disappearing.”

THE HOLDOUTS

Undeveloped soaking spots in Colorado remain at South Canyon Hot Springs, located four miles west of Glenwood Springs beside South Canyon Creek Road, and at Penny Hot Springs south of Carbondale, near mile marker 55 on CO 133. If you’re willing to hike, try Piedra River Hot Springs west of Pagosa Springs. Starting from the Sheep Creek trailhead, it’s a 1.4-mile hike downhill to the rock-lined riverside pools. All of these sites are experiencing increased visitation and misuse à la Rico. If you go, bring respect for the landscape and future visitors along with you.

A New romance

Mt. Princeton Hot Springs adds steamy accommodations perfect for couples who want an escape.

■ Like a well-loved summer camp, Mt. Princeton Hot Springs has a comfortable, timeworn feel. Given that the resort dates back to 1897, that’s not a huge surprise. Now, though, glittering new on-site lodging options have boosted the getaway’s style points and created romantic cocoons for couples looking for some sizzling alone time. In spring 2022, 10 suites with leather couches, marble bathrooms, and balconies overlooking Chalk Creek came online; then, this winter, another creekside building

(comprising 10 suites) joined the fold. Upper-level units feature vaulted ceilings, gas fireplaces, and kitchenettes with stainless steel appliances, while groundlevel accommodations have microwaves and minifridges.

The so-called Creekside Suites sit near the property’s growing network of recreational trails, which becomes all the more compelling when you learn that each night’s lodging fee includes two days of complimentary mountain bike, fat bike, snowshoe, or cross-country ski rentals. Hot springs also sit just beyond your door. (A weekday adult soak is $35.) The Creekside Hot Springs in Chalk Creek are completely undeveloped, so soakers can stack or remove stones to adjust the temperature (the hottest flows

measure a scorching 120 degrees) in the sandy-bottomed, one-foot-deep pools.

A five-minute walk from the Creekside Suites leads to the resort’s main concentration of spring-fed pools, including a lap pool, soaking pool, and water slide as well as an infinity pool framed by 14,275-foot Mt. Antero. You can even claim some of those pools for yourself: Since 2019, guests have been able to rent one of several soaking spots for private use, typically after the springs close to the public. (Times vary and rates start at $125 for 90 minutes.) Choose from the cascading spa pools, the infinity pool (which can be paired with a reservation for the 400-foot water slide), or the Creekside springs. Between that exclusivity and the cozy new couples’ nests, Mt. Princeton is now a roosting spot for lovebirds.

GO IT ALONE

The state’s hottest geothermal pocket underlies Mt. Princeton, and these dreamy Chaffee County getaways let you savor that energy within your very own hot spring.

■ Antero Hot Springs Cabins Nathrop

If waving a magic wand could create your dream getaway, it would probably look like one of these three rustic-chic log cabins, each graced with its own springfed hot pool in back. The two-bedroom Cottonwood cabin and its hand-hewn square timbers housed the Cottonwood Lakes post office in 1900; now, its handbuilt, quartz fireplace and backyard hot spring warm chilly travelers. The threebedroom Hortense cabin (pictured) dates from 1920, but its kitchen was remodeled in 2021, and the spacious Chalk Cliffs Chalet sleeps groups of eight comfortably. From $325 per night

■ Merrifield Homestead Cabins Buena Vista

Whimsically painted wood shingles, chinked logs, and natural-log railings make Holloway Cabin (which sleeps four) adorably Instagrammable. The Merrifield Cabin offers groups with children more space. The rentals have well-stocked kitchens, outdoor grills, and share a backyard hot spring, which is perched above a rushing mountain stream. From $450 per night

■ Treehouse Hot Springs Nathrop

An elevated round house with expansive windows that admit 360-degree views of the surrounding tree branches, this unique rental contains five bedrooms and five bathrooms—and a ground-level swimming pool that’s fed by mineral spring water that guests can make warmer or cooler using the handy thermostat (between 98 and 104 degrees). From $495 per night m

This spread, from left: Vanessa Lovegrove; Lisa Seaman; Phreckles Photography

THE

Almanac COLORADO

FROM WINTER’S LEGENDARY SKIING TO FALL’S EPIC HIKING—AND ALL THE RAFTING, MUSIC FESTIVALING, FISHING, QUAFFING, AND WILDLIFE-WATCHING IN BETWEEN—THERE’S TRULY NO DOWNTIME IN A COLORADO YEAR. GRAB YOUR CALENDAR: WE HAVE YOUR 2023 PLANS RIGHT HERE.

BY ELISABETH KWAK-HEFFERAN ILLUSTRATIONS BY MARIA GABRIELLA GASPARRI

FEBRUARY JANUARY



CLIMB THE ICE

The spectacular frozen waterfalls at Ouray’s Uncompahgre Gorge form the country’s finest place to learn to ice climb. And there’s never a better time to do so than at Ice Festival time. Come for climbs, clinics, costume parties, and a peek at the world’s best climbers scampering up the cascade at the Elite Mixed Climbing Competition. January 19 to 22; free admission; check the website for clinic times and rates

ICE FISH AT THE 3 LAKES

Anglers know frosty toes are a small price to pay for the chance to hook brag-worthy fish. With reliably thick coverage on Grand Lake, Lake Granby, and Shadow Mountain Reservoir, plus hungry trout that haven’t recently seen lures, early season ice fishing could be your new obsession. “January might not always be the best weather, but it’s great fishing,” says Dan Shannon, a guide for Granby-based Fishing with Bernie. “It’s a good time for trophy fish and numbers.” Feeling lucky? Compete for the biggest catch during the 3 Lakes Ice Fishing Contest, held January 27 to 29.

RACE ON A FROZEN RIVER

“It’s a novel thing for a river to freeze so solidly that you’re able to run on it,” says John Reesor, race director for Alamosa Parks and Recreation’s annual Rio Frio 5K on the ice-covered Rio Grande. “So why not do something fun with it?” Step into your Microspikes and join 150-some other runners for a laid-back trot: “No one’s try ing to PR on this racecourse,” Reesor says. The 5K is the centerpiece of the Rio Frio Ice Fest, a three-day extravaganza (January 27 to 29) with ice sculpting, a pub crawl, and an icy bonfire. takes place on January 28; $25

WANDER THE TROPICS

Had enough of ice? The equatorial climate in the Wings of the Tropics exhibit at Westminster’s Butterfly Pavilion means temps hover in the 80s, keeping its 1,600-plus butterflies happy as they flit freely among the greenhouse’s blooms. $14.50 per adult; $9.50 per child

SAY “I (STILL) DO”

Is there a better way to spend Valentine’s Day than joining in a mass wedding-slash-vowrenewal ceremony? We think not. This year, the annual event in Loveland takes place on the ice at Budweiser Events Center before the AHL’s Colorado Eagles take the ice. (Game tickets are included for all lovebirds, because nothing says “I love you” like hockey.) About 50 couples gather to say or renew their vows in this Sweetheart City nondenominational ceremony, and compared with courthouse nuptials, “it’s far more special, memorable, and unique,” says Christine Forster, owner of My Big Day Marketing and Events, which runs the show. February 14; $140 per couple

ICE SKATE ON A FROZEN LAKE

Who needs a rink when you can twirl among the peaks? Evergreen Park and Recreation District clears and grooms 8.5 acres of Evergreen Lake for hockey and figure skating once the ice is thick enough, creating what it boasts is the largest skating lake in Colorado. Go in early February for the best ice. $15 per person; $10 skate rental

 STOP AND SMELL THE ORCHIDS

Transport yourself to fairer weather at the Denver Botanic Gardens Orchid Showcase. You’ll wander among thousands of delicate blooms chosen to highlight the vast diversity of orchid forms, colors, and shapes and get a peek at the gardens’ rarest species. Plus, “it really is magical to sit in a tropical environment and watch snow falling on the other side of the window,” says Nick Snakenberg, the gardens’ curator of tropical collections. January 12 to February 20; included with $15 adult admission to the gardens

From left: Vicki Hurd Photography/Courtesy of Ouray Ice Park; Scott Dressel-Martin/Courtesy of Denver Botanic Gardens

SNOWSHOE TO FINE DINING

One of Colorado’s most, ahem, elevated meals can be found just a one-mile snowshoe (or Nordic ski) away from Ski Cooper. Hike through a frosted evergreen forest to reach the Tennessee Pass Cookhouse at 10,800 feet. What looks like a garden-variety yurt on the outside holds an elegant restaurant within, serving four-course dinners starring the likes of braised elk rack and duck leg confit. In mid- to late March, you’ll make it in time to catch the sun set over the Sawatch Range before appetizers. Don’t want to go home? Snowshoe another 0.3 miles and snuggle down in one of the six cozy sleep yurts. Dinner is $102 per person and includes trail fee and rental gear; six-person yurts start at $215 per night

SPOT SANDHILL CRANES

If the sight of 20,000 four-foot-tall birds hopping, flapping, and loafing en masse sounds like your kind of show, head to the San Luis Valley’s Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge to catch the March migration. Every year, these graceful avians stop at the refuge to feast on grains as they make their way from their winter grounds in New Mexico to their northern summer ranges. You can scope the birds on your own for free or join the Monte Vista Crane Festival for guided tours (prices are TBD). March 10 to 12

SKI MAXIMUM POWDER

Christopher Steiner, of ski website zrankings.com, says it doesn’t get better than March for skiing Colorado’s snowiest resort, Wolf Creek. “The two things that matter in the spring are elevation and northfacing slopes,” he says. Wolf Creek’s base sits at a towering 10,300 feet, and 65 percent of its slopes face north. Translation: great snow, and lots of it. Wolf Creek averages 387 inches per year—20 inches more than runner-up Winter Park Resort. $85 to $95 for an adult lift ticket

BACKPACK CANYON COUNTRY

Early-bird campers know that the Western Slope desert is where it’s at for springtime nights under the stars. April’s typically mild temps and reliable water make it prime season to experience the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness’ red rock canyons, rock art panels, and waterfalls. Where exactly should you go? Try an out-and-back up Big Dominguez or Little Dominguez canyons (or both). “They’re the stars of the show for spectacular scenery and remote wilderness quality,” says Chris Herrman, executive director of the Colorado Canyons Association. Start from the Bridgeport trailhead and hike at least three miles into either of the roughly 15-mile-long canyons to reach the backpacking zone, then scout a campsite. Waste disposal bag required

MOUNTAIN BIKE THE DESERT

The Grand Valley’s high-desert landscape hosts hundreds of miles of flowy, rolly, jumpy trails, many of which have scenic views of the Colorado River and surrounding red rock canyons—and by April, most of it is snow-free, with temps in the 60s and 70s. The best first-timer sampler platter starts at the mellow 18 Road trail network, says Kevin Sperle, chairman of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association’s Grand Valley Canyons chapter. For your second day, though, check out the Kokopelli trail system, an intermediate to advanced collection of pathways featuring “slickrock, slabs, and views for miles,” Sperle says. Finish at locals’ favorite Lunch Loop, a spiderweb of more technical trails.

SWIRL AND SIP IN VAIL

More than 50 wineries (plus dozens of Vail’s vaunted restaurants) gather in the mountains to offer tastings of their top-shelf Pinots, Chardonnays, and rosés at the Taste of Vail. Once your blood-alcohol content levels out, put on your planks for a late-season ski run or two. April 5 to 8; event admissions run from $85 to $225

Courtesy of Bob Wick/Bureau of Land Management

MAY

RAFT THE YAMPA RIVER THROUGH DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT

Combine lighter crowds, more comfortable weather, and the start of peak water flows, and you have a May whitewater trip through this desert oasis spanning the ColoradoUtah border. “May really is the prime month for the Yampa through Dinosaur National Monument, which is an absolutely marvelous trip,” says Lynn Schuett of Durango-based Mild to Wild Rafting. The four- or five-day floats cruise on sections of Class III water that flow beneath rock walls of red and orange, where bighorn sheep and coyotes roam and eagles soar. Go with a guide, or secure a permit for a private trip through a lottery at recreation.gov through January 31

FISH THE ARKANSAS RIVER

In the Arkansas River Valley, Mother’s Day is less about brunch and much more about fly-fishing, thanks to the famous caddis hatch that generally lines up with May’s momfest. The peak of the hatch in the Salida area is usually mid-April through early May, says Braden Baker of outfitter and fly shop ArkAnglers. Warming water prompts the river’s caddisflies to pupate right around Tax Day, kicking off a trout feeding frenzy that anglers can exploit for “some of the best dry-fly fishing of our whole spring season,” Baker says. Tip: Puterbaugh’s black foam caddis fly is a classic for a reason.

SURF THE SOUTH PLATTE

You’re still more likely to see rafts than surfboards on Colorado’s rivers—but that’s changing as more bicoastal transplants and newbie surfers take to river surfing. June’s higher flows make it the perfect time to learn. One of the best spots for beginners is Englewood’s River Run Park along the South Platte River, says Jake Vos, the man behind the online guide endlesswaves.net. “It’s easy to get to, and you’re not worried about big swims back [to the bank],” he says. “The features are particularly fast and powerful for their size, and that’s pretty darn fun.” Start with Chiclets, the most forgiving wave; progress upstream to Benihana and Six, water features controlled by hydraulic wave shapers that shift to maximize changing flows out of Chatfield Reservoir.

CELEBRATE TELLURIDE BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL’S 50TH YEAR

Don’t wait to snap up tickets to the show that helped popularize newgrass music and has hosted the likes of James Taylor, Bruce Hornsby, Johnny Cash, and Emmylou Harris. “[The festival] can sell out without even announcing who’s playing,” says G. Brown, executive director of the nonprofit Colorado Music Experience and author of Telluride Bluegrass Festival: The First Forty Years. FYI: Tickets went on sale on December 1. June 15 to 18

 BOAT HORSETOOTH RESERVOIR

With air temps in the 80s and the water warmed up to the 60s, June is when boating season really begins at Fort Collins’ Horsetooth Reservoir. The 6.5-mile-long lake lures both speedboat wakeboarders and cruise-y pontooners; head to the reservoir’s central waters for the former and pick a tucked-away cove for the latter. Brett McGraw, owner of boating guide company Buckhorn Ridge Outfitters, recommends Dixon Cove for quiet and Eltuck Cove, aka Party Cove, for some action. Boat rentals are available on-site. $20 daily entrance fee for vehicle and boat trailer

ENDLESS SUMMER

JUNE

June marks the start of a summer’s worth of recurring shows, festivals, and special events across the state. Fill in the blank spots on your iCal with these top options.

Rodeo Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo; Fridays and Saturdays, late June to late August Theater Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Boulder; various dates, mid-June to mid-August Medieval Frivolity Colorado Renaissance Festival, Larkspur; Saturdays and Sundays, June 17 to August 6

HIKE AMONG THE WILDFLOWERS

Come July, the high meadows of the Elk Mountains transform into a mosaic of yellow mule’s ears, rosy Indian paintbrush, and blue columbines. Crested Butte is ground zero for the bloom bonanza, thanks to the Mancos Shale that underlies the area. “Conifers don’t grow on it, as it’s usually too dry and always too salty,” says Amy Ellwein, who leads geobotany tours for the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival. “At 9,000 feet, if there’s a grassy meadow, it will be covered in wildflowers [due to] the absence of competition.” Flower-peep on your own on the Rustler Gulch or West Maroon trails or join the fest for guided hikes and photo workshops. Dates and prices TBD

BIKEPACK THE GREAT DIVIDE

The country’s premier bikepacking trail might just be the 3,087-mile Great Divide Mountain Bike Route, which yo-yos across the spine of the Rockies from Canada to the Mexican border. Colorado boasts some of its finest miles. High summer brings ideal temperatures and a (usually) snow-free path perfect for a multiday sampler ride. Carolyne Whelan, editor-in-chief of Adventure Cyclist magazine, recommends the 240 miles from Steamboat Springs to Salida: You’ll cruise through a historic mining town, earn bragging rights climbing 11,499foot Boreas Pass, and hit an “incredible climb and descent coming into Salida,” she says, with primo camping spots along the way. 

CATCH AN OPERA

It’s all about Shakespeare at this year’s Central City Opera Festival, which features Romeo and Juliet, Kiss Me Kate, and Rossini’s Otello on the main stage. Shows take place six or seven times a week in the circa 1878 opera building. “There’s not a bad seat in the house,” says Gail Bransteitter, director of marketing and communications. June 24 to August 6; $30 to $108



TEST YOURSELF IN LEADVILLE

Finishing the legendary Leadville Trail 100 Run, aka the Race Across the Sky, is a serious notch in any ultrarunner’s belt. With a minimum elevation of 9,219 feet, 15,744 feet of elevation gain, and easily 24 straight hours of running, this 100-miler will take you to your lowest lows—and highest highs. Mere mortals can race the Leadville 10K instead (August 13) or simply cheer on the superhumans at the finish line. August 19 to 20; visit leadvilleraceseries. com for registration options

FEAST ON LOCAL BOUNTY

What makes Colorado’s summer treats so delicious? Soil, water, and elevation all play a role, but the biggest factor is the state’s hot summer days paired with cool nights, a combo that supercharges the natural sugars in our prized melons, peaches, and sweet corn. “Palisade is the perfect microclimate—the exact right niche that a peach thrives in,” says Chris Schmaltz, partner and general manager at Clark Family Orchards. Farmers across Colorado can say the same for their star crops. Don’t miss these three, all at peak ripeness in August.

GO JUMP IN A LAKE

The dog days of summer can get brutally hot in southeastern Colorado: Lamar recorded the state’s record-high temp of 115 degrees in 2019. The best coping strategy? A dip in John Martin Reservoir, which bills itself as an “oasis on the plains” with swimming at both the reservoir (PFD required) and adjacent Lake Hasty. $9 daily vehicle pass

What: Cantaloupes

From: The Rocky Ford area in southeastern Colorado Try this: Chop and toss with honeydew and prosciutto for a bright salad.

What: Sweet corn From: Olathe, on the Western Slope Try this: Grill it on the cob, then slather with butter and sprinkle with lime juice and chili powder.

What: Peaches From: Palisade, on the Western Slope Try this: Slice and top with homemade whipped cream.

From left: Amanda Tipton Photography/Courtesy of Central City Opera; Courtesy of Life Time

SEPTEMBER



RAISE A PINT—ER, OUNCE

Denver’s Great American Beer Festival is big—the most revelers (40,000), different beers (more than 2,000), and breweries (500) of any ticketed beer fest in the country. Slip on your best wig (the costume contests are half the fun) and get sampling, one ounce at a time. September 21 to 23; $95

HIKE A FOURTEENER

Most people consider summer the highelevation hiking season, but hold out till the first weeks of September for even better peakbagging conditions: You’ll hit the sweet spot between thunderstorm season and snow squalls, when the conga-line crowds fade away. For the perfect mix of solitude, scenic glory, and Class II to III challenges, head for 14,351-foot Blanca Peak (the state’s fourthhighest summit) in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Your plan for the roughly 14-mile round-trip jaunt: Camp at Lake Como to set yourself up for an alpine start to the apex.

SPICE IT UP WITH PUEBLO CHILES

Once again, credit Colorado’s hot days and cool nights for creating something special. This time of year, it’s the ultratasty Pueblo chile. The climate “builds them into very thick, very flavorful peppers” that keep their shape when cooked or roasted, says Dalton Milberger, president of the Pueblo Chile Growers’ Association. Pueblo chiles actually encompass a host of varieties, but the quintes sential pepper that’s perfect for all your recipes is the medium-hot Mosco. Head to Pueblo for the Chile & Frijoles Festival to grab ’em hot from the roaster. September 22 to 24; $6

LEAF-PEEP GOLDEN ASPENS

There’s no one best spot to see the Centennial State’s famed fall-foliage show—that’s how blessed we are with hillsides slathered in bright yellow aspens come mid- to late September. OK, fine: We’re partial to the gold rush along the Capitol Creek Trail just south of Snowmass.

OCTOBER

GET LOST IN A CORN MAZE

Anderson Farms in Erie carves an elaborate labyrinth into its 25-acre cornfields every fall, opening up eight twisting miles of trails dotted with games and checkpoints for intrepid explorers. Prefer less corn and more gore? Head next door to the Terror in the Corn haunted experience. Daily from late September through October 31; maze, $17 to $27; Terror in the Corn, Thursday through Sunday, $35 to $39

LISTEN TO COWBOY POETRY

What’s cowboy poetry, exactly? Born from the tradition of actual cowboys entertaining each other round the campfire, the art usually “has something to do with a cowboy, a ranch, a cow, or a horse—and it’s usually funny,” says Lindy Simmons, president of the board of directors for the Durango Cowboy Poetry Gathering, where the greats perform songs and spoken poems every year in schools, in saloons, and even on horseback trail rides. September 28 to October 1

 HEAR AN ELK BUGLE

From mid-September through October, bull elk compete for alpha male status by rounding up harems of cows and defending them from challengers by knocking antlers. Starting around dusk, bulls let out a piercing whistle-meets-honk—aka a bugle—to show off their virility to females and posture for any upstart males in the area. Hear the bulls’ haunting calls in Rocky Mountain National Park’s Moraine Park: You stand a great chance of spotting elk along the Cub Lake Trail. $30 per vehicle (timed-entry reservation via recreation.gov required until mid-October)

From left: Courtesy of Brewers Association; Getty Images

December

 PRAY FOR SNOW

GET OUT FOR FRESH AIR FRIDAY

Black Friday is so last decade: Celebrate Fresh Air Friday instead, with free admission to all 42 state parks. These five gems are particularly worthy this time of year. November 24

Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Golden: Choose from more than 35 miles of trails, some of which offer vistas of snowcapped peaks. Bonus: Most are open to skiing or snowshoeing if there’s snow on the ground.

Mueller State Park, Divide: Fall wildlife-watching for elk, mule deer, golden eagles, great horned owls, and turkey is stellar at this park in the foothills near Pikes Peak.

Navajo State Park, Arboles: Mild fall temps at this 15,600-acre reservoir that extends well into New Mexico mean year-round boating, fishing, and camping.

Pearl Lake State Park, Clark: Make a weekend of exploring the lake by booking one of the park’s two yurts, accessible via a half-mile hike, ski, or snowshoe.

State Forest State Park, Walden: High elevation (8,500 feet minimum) makes for a decent chance of early-season skiing. Still seeing dirt? Scope out the park’s famous moose on 100-plus miles of trails.

UPGRADE YOUR THANKSGIVING TURKEY

If you want to hunt your own edible showstopper for the holiday table this year, go for it—just know that fall wild turkey hunting is challenging, says Aaron Berscheid, district wildlife manager with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “You have to sneak up on a bird that has really good vision,” he says. It’s easier to spot the Rio Grande subspecies, which hangs out near river bottoms on the Eastern Plains, than the mountain-dwelling Merriam’s. No luck? No problem. Buy heritage turkeys, which are raised like their wild cousins (i.e., much more sustainably) and are more flavorful. Denver’s Marczyk Fine Foods stocks them come Thanksgiving.

Is Breckenridge’s Ullr Fest about asking the Norse god of snow for a powdery winter or simply an excuse to wear Viking horns and take part in a bid for the world’s longest shotski? Only one way to find out. Head for the hills to celebrate the 60th anniversary of this snowtacular. You’ll be able to cheer on the parade, watch the coronation of Ullr King and Queen (titles bestowed on the new royals based on their contributions to the city and their love of snow), and warm up at the Ullr bonfire. December 7 to 10

BE DAZZLED BY HOLIDAY LIGHTS

’Tis the season for strolling through blinking LED wonderlands, and Clark Griswold ain’t got nothin’ on the Front Range’s best light events. At right, a few of our favorites.

RIDE THE POLAR EXPRESS Kids, this one’s for you: Put on your fleecy jammies and climb aboard the Polar Express (aka the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad) for a ride to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus—hot chocolate and a spirited reading of the Chris Van Allsburg classic included. MidNovember to January 1; prices TBD

Fort Collins: Find twinkly trees, blossoms, and giant, bedazzled watering cans at Garden of Lights. Gardens on Spring Creek; December 8 to 24; $10 for adults, $5 for kids five to 11, children four and under free

Colorado Springs: Inflatable rhinos, leopards, and orangutans are all sparkles at Electric Safari. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo; early December through early January (reservations required); $24.75 for 12 and older

Littleton: Tunnels, lake reflections, and a huge blow-up snowman make the season merry at A Hudson Christmas Extravaganza of Lights. The Hudson Gardens & Event Center; opens the day after Thanksgiving; prices TBD m

BY DAVID WILLIAMS

BY SPENCER CAMPBELL

PHOTOGRAPHY

FRANK AZAR LOVES TWO THINGS IN THIS WORLD: LAWYERING AND WINNING

These two things feed off each other, as every motion, jury selection, and verdict is an opportunity for victory. But according to Azar, 65, one metric of success stands above the rest: “My brother said, ‘What’s the test of who’s the best lawyer of them all?’ ” Azar says. “You know, like, Mirror, mirror, on the wall, right? And he said, ‘Well, it’s the richest of them all.’ And then I go, ‘That’s right.’ ”

“Are you the richest of them all?” I ask.

“No, I wish,” Azar responds, rolling an unlit cigar between his thumb and fingers.

“Pretty close, though?”

“In Colorado? Probably. But, see, they all think I’m just this schlock guy. But I do a lot of other stuff.”

“Schlock, like…?”

“You know. Car wreck guy. We do a lot more stuff than that. I don’t advertise it,” he says.

The admission is perhaps a little surprising. After all, this is the same man who made his name flooding airwaves and plastering roadsides with commercials and billboards. That name? “The Strong Arm.” “Before I was ever interested in doing plaintiffs’ work, I thought of Frank Azar as a Colorado institution, similar to Jake Jabs, similar to Dealin’ Doug, similar to the guy hawking jewelry at Shane Co.,” says Joshua Hotchkiss, an attorney at Franklin D. Azar & Associates (FDA). “If you grew up in Colorado, if you hear those voices or those names, it feels like a Sunday morning at your house, because that’s where you always heard them.”

Azar idolizes larger-than-life characters: Portraits of John Wayne and the Rat Pack hang on his walls. The door to his office—a massive wooden entryway lined with brown-buttoned leather and featuring a gold nameplate that announces an impending audience with “Franklin D. Azar”—was made to resemble the one MI6 boss M uses in the early James Bond films. But even Azar has grown tired of the Strong Arm persona. “I wish I’d never thought of that,” he says, leaning back in his desk chair. Wearing a white polo shirt open nearly to his sternum, his close-cropped hair grayer than it looks in his ads, Azar appears more prepared for a golf course than for the courtroom, and for good reason: He’s got a tee time later this afternoon.

Even if Azar is one of the richest attorneys of them all, the infamy his alter ego has engendered is a burden. Azar remembers being in Denver District Court and inquiring if members of the jury knew him. “No, Mr. Azar,” the judge interjected. “That’s not the question to ask. Has anyone seen him on TV?” Every hand shot up. He rarely takes cases to trial anymore because his very presence can be considered prejudicial. His lawyers routinely file motions asking judges to preclude discussion of FDA and its advertising in front of the jury.

Next month, however, the Strong Arm will get an opportunity to defend himself. In State Farm v. Claudio E. De La Cruz-Arellano, lawyers for the insurer are expected to cast Azar, whose firm is representing the defendants, as a money-hungry ambulance chaser who games the system for his own benefit. In order to thwart what he says is a mischaracterization, Azar plans to make a rare appearance in the courtroom.

Says DezaRae LaCrue, an FDA attorney, “We’re hoping Frank’s presence will mitigate any bad feelings people have about Frank Azar.”

Because, the thinking goes, if people just got to know Azar, even a little bit, they’d see the guy his friends back home in Trinidad see. The guy who saved the local golf course, who funds an after-school program in town, who’s always willing to write a check for the private school. Azar might live in ritzy Cherry Hills today, but he says he’s not all that different from the kid who grew up in Las Animas County in the 1960s. “Like my friend Mark Wahlberg,” Azar says. “Everybody’s got this perception of him, and he’s really a smalltown guy like I am. That’s why we get along.”

For most of the 20th century, lawyers considered themselves above advertising. But in 1977, two attorneys in Phoenix took out a simple advertisement in a local paper to market their new legal clinic: A divorce cost $175, an adoption $225. The promotion violated an Arizona ban on advertising for attorneys, and the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled 5-4 in favor of the clinic, citing free speech.

After getting his bachelor’s degree at the University of Colorado Boulder, Azar graduated from the University of Denver’s law school in 1982, when lawyers were still figuring out how far they could push the bounds of commercial decorum. In the years after he got his J.D., he lived in Alaska and Denver before returning in 1984 to Trinidad, where he worked as an assistant district attorney for three years. He moved back to the Denver area in 1987 to open Franklin D. Azar & Associates. He says he preferred helping people to putting them behind bars.

At first, the only “associates” were Azar’s sister (who was in law school at the time), an adjuster, and a college fraternity buddy who had failed the bar exam five times. Azar built a successful firm over the next three years but had to spend much of his 16-hour days looking for people to represent by networking at clubs, restaurants, and golf courses. “I knew how to do the cases,” Azar says. “It was just getting the business.” His first attempts at advertising on TV—looking grave in front of a shelf of law books—failed to attract clients.

Then, in 1990, Azar attended a seminar in Dallas where he met Brian Loncar. Loncar built a thriving personal injury firm on the back of ads that promised a uniquely Texan brand of tough justice, including one spot in which he drove a tank through an intersection. He connected Azar with a New Orleans ad agency owned by Richard D. Sackett that specialized in producing commercials for lawyers. (Sackett’s “One Call, That’s All” for New Orleans lawyer

Morris Bart remains the “Just Do It” of personal injury law.) The agency didn’t believe in subtlety in advertising: Instead of law books, Sackett’s first ad for Azar featured a car smashing into a desk.

Loncar and Azar became best friends, sharing a love of golf and, once the money started rolling in, expensive cars: Bentley for Azar, Rolls Royce for Loncar. They shot identical commercials in a Dallas warehouse Loncar owned, with the only difference being the star of the ad. When Loncar felt he needed a catchy phrase to counter a competitor named Jim Adler, “the Texas Hammer,” the pair came up with “the Strong Arm” name together. Both men used it in their ads, though Azar was the one who trademarked the term.

The commercials changed everything. Azar, generally speaking, doesn’t think much of lawyers who advertise. “Most of these guys on TV—most of them—they’re a joke,” he says. But clearly, the practice has worked for him. Today, FDA has about 300 employees in eight offices around Colorado, and the firm handles 4,000 to 6,000 carrelated injury cases each year, many of them undoubtedly brought in by FDA’s advertising. When I tell Azar that it’s rumored he spends $12 million a year on marketing, he laughs. “Let them think that,” he says. “It’s a lot more than that.”

Azar has profited greatly from practicing his particular brand of law, and his fortune buys him access to elite circles. His office is filled with photographs of a smiling Azar, usually in a golf shirt, standing with celebrities such as Dick Butkus, Jesse Jackson, John Kerry, Dianne Feinstein, and, yes, Mark Wahlberg.

Azar met the Boogie Nights actor at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, where both are members, along with A-listers such as Adam Sandler, Tom Brady, and Larry David. Azar says of Wahlberg, “He’s always pushing me. ‘Frank, you got to lose weight. You got to

Azar’s signature billboards are ubiquitous throughout metro Denver.

work out.’ He’s a good friend. He really likes to see people better themselves.” Next to the Wahlberg photo on Azar’s desk is one with Tiger Woods, whose tournaments and charities Azar often supports. “He’s a trip,” Azar says. “You know what he’s saying in that picture? ‘Gunga dunga.’ I’m not shitting you. ” (Neither Woods nor Wahlberg responded to requests for comment.)

Along with wealth comes attention—and in Azar’s case, that has manifested as rumors of plaintiff (or settlement) milling, which is the practice of luring large numbers of clients to a firm only to push them toward fast settlements. It’s about volume. “Given the tremendous amount of advertising expenditures,” Loncar’s former office manager once explained in a lawsuit, “the success of the business required quick turnover of clients and quick settlements.” A former Loncar lawyer told the Dallas Observer in 1997 that many of the firm’s clients were represented by people who didn’t even have college degrees.

Azar downplays the impact that advertising has on his business and instead points to the money he’s obtained for clients over the years. Not everyone, though, has been pleased with Azar’s results. During the 2000s, a construction worker sued FDA, claiming the firm practiced deceptive advertising and that his lawyer had pressured him to take a $4,000 settlement despite $25,000 in medical bills. FDA beat the case and won a $300,000 countersuit in 2008. The same year, a jury awarded another former client, Shawna Jimenez, $145,000 after she, too, said her attorney convinced her to take a lowball settlement. Azar appealed, and the sides settled out of court.

In recent years, Azar has hired a number of skilled trial attorneys, including Natalie Brown (whom Colorado Law Weekly has named as the best litigator in the state) and LaCrue (who, along with her mentor Brown, has earned a spot on this magazine’s list of Denver’s Top Lawyers, which starts on page 58, three years running). “The whole

point of [hiring talented attorneys who could go to court] was to change his reputation and to be a more serious litigation firm,” LaCrue says. “And I think we’ve done that, because you used to hear from attorneys, you know, ‘Frank settles everything.’ And now what I hear from people is, ‘Frank litigates everything.’ ”

One day this past November, I got a text from Azar: “Give me a call.” A lawyer in his firm had just won a $2.5 million verdict for his client, a motorcycle driver with nearly $940,000 in medical expenses after a car turned left in front of him, clipping his vehicle. Azar was elated. “I knew the damages were big, but I didn’t think they’d be that big,” he said between sips of Coors Banquet. Victory must have tasted particularly sweet because the insurer was State Farm, which Azar views as one of his chief nemeses. “They need to respect us,” Azar says of insurance companies, “because we will go in there and get these big verdicts on them if they don’t pay on time.”

Another benefit of having a large war chest is that you can subsidize cases when necessary. As a boss, FDA lawyer Hotchkiss compares Azar to Bill Belichick— he doesn’t deploy wild motivational tactics. He’s clear about the direction he expects his lawyers to take a case. “But on a personal side, he’s exceedingly giving,” Hotchkiss says. At least three times in the past year, Hotchkiss asked if the firm could waive its fee so that clients could take home a little bit extra toward their medical bills. Azar agreed every time.

Plenty of Azar’s fortune also finds its way back to Trinidad. For more than three decades (before the pandemic interrupted the

Azar at his desk, which sits behind a button-studded brown leather door modeled on that of James Bond’s boss, M

event), he hosted a charity golf tournament to support the municipal golf course, which now resides on Franklin D. Azar Drive. He financed a $250,000 scholarship fund at Trinidad State College and donated more than $100,000 for an after-school program for the town. Andrea Jimenez, who married one of Azar’s close childhood friends, writes him a letter every time her beloved Holy Trinity Academy needs money. He toured the K-12 private school once: “I don’t know who was more excited,” Jimenez says, “Frank or the kids.”

The Azars have a long history in Las Animas County, and perhaps no family member was more prominent than Franklin W. Azar, who had a distinguished law career. A photo in FDA’s conference room captures Azar’s bookish father in a dark suit with a horseshoe of hair, studious browline glasses, and a tight-lipped expression. Born in 1912, Franklin left the family ranch near Trinidad for the University of Colorado Boulder, then received a scholarship to Harvard Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude. The elder Azar taught at what’s now called Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh until his wife persuaded him to move his young family home to Trinidad in the 1940s.

Franklin became the town’s district attorney in 1967, and although Azar remembers Trinidad as a quiet, insular place when he was growing up, it did have moments of Wild West drama—like when someone stormed the DA’s office, held a gun to Franklin’s head, and pulled the trigger. Fortunately, the gun misfired.

It was a heart attack, not a gunshot, that ended Franklin’s life in 1971. His namesake, the youngest of Franklin’s three children, was in eighth grade at the time, but Azar’s favorite story about life in Trinidad didn’t occur until years after his father’s death. When Azar returned to town and was working as an assistant district attorney, a man approached him on the street and, apropos of nothing, said, “ ‘If you can be an honest, hardworking lawyer like your dad, you’ll be a success,’ and walked off,” Azar says. “Never seen him since. Didn’t even know who he was. And I know pretty much everybody in Trinidad.”

It was one of those connections to his hometown that led to the biggest case of Azar’s career. In the 1990s, Azar learned through an old friend from the Trinidad district attorney’s office that the Walmart in town had been claiming to pay its pharmacists on salary when it was really compensating them hourly—a violation of the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act. Azar filed suit on behalf of the pharmacists, then got to thinking: If Walmart was taking advantage of its white-collar employees, what was the company doing to its minimum-wage workers?

Azar’s intuition was correct: Walmart had been forcing employees to work off the clock, altering timecards, and refusing to let people take breaks. Azar says some employees at the Trinidad Walmart brought unpaid relatives to the job to help them finish their work because they were afraid of being fired. But the misconduct wasn’t limited to Trinidad. Azar discovered that Walmart, then the largest private employer in the country, was cheating its employees in stores all across the United States.

Azar was one of the first attorneys to recognize the malfeasance— and its potential rewards. Working with a network of lawyers, he filed class-action lawsuits against the company in 26 states. Walmart settled most of the cases, but the company forced Azar and his partners to trial in three jurisdictions: California, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. FDA first filed suit against Walmart in 1995 but didn’t see a courtroom until 2005. “It requires confidence in your case and a lot of money to stick it out [that long],” says Michael Christian, a San Francisco lawyer who represented Walmart plaintiffs in California. “Frank had those things.”

Still, in an attempt to spread FDA’s resources thin, Walmart named about 400 witnesses it could’ve called at the Philadelphiabased trial. Azar moved a handful of lawyers to Pennsylvania full time to ensure they were prepared. “That, I think, is his strongest attribute,” says Nate Axvig, a former FDA attorney who worked on the Walmart cases. “If he sees something, he will stick with it. Other lawyers would have stopped. They would have given up.” In the end, only four of Walmart’s potential witnesses ended up testifying.

Azar’s persistence (and the risk FDA took by spending millions to cover the expenses of the yearslong litigation) paid off—literally. In California, the jury awarded a $172 million verdict to plaintiffs; in Pennsylvania, $188 million. A judge in Minnesota determined Walmart was liable for up to $2 billion in damages, so the company settled before a jury could put an exact figure to its liability. The

“0N A PERSONAL SI DE , HE’S EXCEEDINGLY GIVING.

judgments, along with the other Walmart settlements Azar was involved in, made the Strong Arm a rich man. Proponents of tort reform would probably say too rich: According to an April 2020 study from Jones Day, a multinational law firm that often advocates for tort reform, plaintiffs in U.S. federal courts receive less than 40 percent of all class-action settlements, with most of the money going to attorneys. Individually, meanwhile, employees involved in the Walmart class-action cases received from $1,500 to $3,000 for each year they’d worked at the company.

When Congress was looking into class-action reform, Azar says he met with Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut. Azar remembers Dodd remarking that an individual Walmart settlement didn’t amount to much money, to which Azar responded, “It is, Senator, if you’re making $17,000 a year.” But the most important thing, which Azar says he considers “the crown jewel” in his legacy, is that he and the other attorneys forced Walmart to treat its employees better. “I don’t know if [Azar is] a brilliant legal mind,” FDA’s Hotchkiss says. “But he’s tenacious, and he works hard to see the angles that other people don’t see.”

Over the decades—through the various lawsuits and accusations, the burned bridges and bad press—Azar remained best friends with Loncar, the Dallas lawyer who helped him become the Strong Arm. But Loncar had long struggled

2 023

I LLUSTRATIONS BY A IDAN YETMAN-MICHAELSON

t’s simply a fact of life that even the least litigious among us will need a lawyer at some point. When you find yourself in that position, though, navigating the complicated legal world can be overwhelming, especially when you consider that the law has been split into dozens of categories: Everything from criminal law to bankruptcy to insurance necessitates specific expertise. That’s why we put together Denver’s Top Lawyers 2023, our ninth annual list of the best attorneys in the region. To compile the list, we first invited lawyers in the seven-county metro area to vote for the peers they respect most in 50 legal specialties. Survey responses in hand, we then did weeks of reporting to get an on-the-ground perspective: Who are the best litigators? The finest contract writers? Who’s been quietly building a name for herself? Who’s been coasting on an outdated reputation? Based on those interviews and our survey results, we assembled the following list of the most skilled attorneys around town.

AGRICULTURAL/RURAL

Justin D. Cumming

LEWIS ROCA

1601 19th St., Suite 1000 Denver 80202 303-623-9000 lewisroca.com

Kent Holsinger

HOLSINGER LAW

1800 Glenarm Place, Suite 500 Denver 80202 303-722-2828 holsingerlaw.com

Russell Sprague

CLINE WILLIAMS WRIGHT

JOHNSON & OLDFATHER 215 Mathews St., Suite 300 Fort Collins 80524 970-221-2637 clinewilliams.com

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Leland Anderson

JUDICIAL ARBITER GROUP

1601 Blake St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-572-1919 jaginc.com

Robbie Barr

BARRADR

1777 S. Harrison St., Suite 1504 Denver 80210 303-579-1188 barradr.com

Ann Frick

JUDICIAL ARBITER GROUP

1601 Blake St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-572-1919 jaginc.com

L. Tyrone Holt

HOLT GROUP

1675 Broadway, Suite 2100 Denver 80202 303-225-8500 holtllc.com

Rebecca Kourlis

AEGIS ADR 4248 Woodlands Blvd., Suite 125 Castle Rock 80104 720-689-1021 aegisadr.com

Joan McWilliams

MCWILLIAMS MEDIATION GROUP

P.O. Box 6216 Denver 80206 303-830-0171 mcwilliamsmediation.com

Bill Meyer

JUDICIAL ARBITER GROUP

1601 Blake St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-572-1919 jaginc.com

Kathryn E. Miller

LITTLETON ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

1901 W. Littleton Blvd., Suite 100 Littleton 80120 303-798-2533 ladrmediation.com

Larry Naves

JUDICIAL ARBITER GROUP

1601 Blake St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-572-1919 jaginc.com

Gordon “Skip” Netzorg

SHERMAN & HOWARD

633 17th St., Suite 3000 Denver 80202 303-297-2900 shermanhoward.com

Richard J. Rotole ROTOLE & ROTOLE 6855 S. Dayton St., Suite 3445 Englewood 80155 303-399-1600 denvermediationexperts.com

ANTITRUST

Timothy R. Beyer

BRYAN CAVE LEIGHTON PAISNER

1700 Lincoln St., Suite 4100 Denver 80203 303-861-7000 bclplaw.com

Karma Giulianelli

BARTLIT BECK

1801 Wewatta St., Suite 1200 Denver 80202 303-592-3165 bartlit-beck.com

Diane Hazel

FOLEY & LARDNER

1400 16th St., Suite 200 Denver 80202 720-437-2000 foley.com

Tom McMahon

JONES & KELLER 1675 Broadway, Suite 264 Denver 80202 303-573-1600 joneskeller.com

Katie Reilly

WHEELER TRIGG O’DONNELL 370 17th St., Suite 4500 Denver 80202 303-244-1800 wtotrial.com

Jeffrey S. Roberts

FAEGRE DRINKER 1144 15th St., Suite 3400 Denver 80202 303-607-3500 faegredrinker.com

Todd Seelman

LEWIS BRISBOIS BISGAARD & SMITH

1700 Lincoln St., Suite 4000 Denver 80203 720-292-2002 lewisbrisbois.com

APPELLATE

Kendra N. Beckwith

LEWIS ROCA

1601 19th St., Suite 1000 Denver 80202 303-623-9000 lewisroca.com

Sean Connelly

CONNELLY LAW

1700 Lincoln St., Suite 2400 Denver 80203 303-302-7849 sconnellylaw.com

Robert T. Fishman

RIDLEY MCGREEVY WINOCUR

303 16th St., Suite 200 Denver 80202 303-629-9700 ridleylaw.com

Marcy Glenn

HOLLAND & HART

555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Christopher Jackson

HOLLAND & HART

555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Ruchi Kapoor

KAPOOR LAW & POLICY

1600 Stout St., Suite 1400 Denver 80202 303-577-1650 kapoorlp.com

Kathleen A. Lord

LORD LAW FIRM

1544 Race St. Denver 80206 303-394-3302

Ruth Moore

MOORE WILLIAMS

14143 Denver West Parkway, Suite 100 Golden 80401 720-370-3088 moorewilliams.com

Blain Myhre

BLAIN MYHRE

P.O. Box 3600 Englewood 80155 303-250-3932 blainmyhrellc.com

Dean Neuwirth

SPENCER FANE

1700 Lincoln St., Suite 2000 Denver 80203 303-839-3800 spencerfane.com

Marsha Piccone

FOX ROTHSCHILD

1225 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-292-1200 foxrothschild.com

Shannon W. Stevenson

DAVIS GRAHAM & STUBBS 1550 17th St., Suite 500 Denver 80202 303-892-9400 dgslaw.com

Theresa Wardon Benz

WHEELER TRIGG O’DONNELL 370 17th St., Suite 4500 Denver 80202 303-244-1800 wtotrial.com

Marie Williams

MOORE WILLIAMS

14143 Denver West Parkway, Suite 100 Golden 80401 720-370-3088 moorewilliams.com

BANKING

Deborah Bayles

STINSON

1144 15th St., Suite 2400 Denver 80202 303-376-8400 stinson.com

Robert Botts

STINSON 1144 15th St., Suite 2400 Denver 80202 303-376-8400 stinson.com

Christian Otteson

OTTESON SHAPIRO 7979 E. Tufts Ave., Suite 1600 Denver 80237 720-488-0220 os.law

Shawn Turner

HOLLAND & KNIGHT

1801 California St., Suite 5000 Denver 80202 303-974-6660 hklaw.com

Karen Witt

LEWIS ROCA 1601 19th St., Suite 1000 Denver 80202 303-623-9000 lewisroca.com

BANKRUPTCY

Stephen Berken

BERKEN/CLOYES

1159 Delaware St. Denver 80204 303-623-4357 berkencloyes.com

Jeffrey Brinen

KUTNER BRINEN DICKEY RILEY

1660 Lincoln St., Suite 1720 Denver 80264 303-832-2400 kutnerlaw.com

James T. Markus

MARKUS WILLIAMS YOUNG & HUNSICKER

1775 Sherman St., Suite 1950 Denver 80203 303-830-0800 markuswilliams.com

Matt McCune

MCCUNE LEGAL 3900 E. Mexico Ave., Suite 300 Denver 80210 303-759-0728 mccunelegal.com

Mark L. Miller

LAW OFFICES OF MARK L. MILLER 2230 S. Fraser St., Suite 5 Aurora 80014 303-745-3405

Michael J. Pankow

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

Tara Salinas

SALINAS LAW GROUP

501 S. Cherry St., Suite 1100 Denver 80246 303-825-0197 salinaslawgroup.com

CIVIL LITIGATION

Michael S. Burg

BURG SIMPSON ELDREDGE HERSH & JARDINE 40 Inverness Drive East Englewood 80112 303-792-5595 burgsimpson.com

Heather Carson Perkins FAEGRE DRINKER

1144 15th St., Suite 3400 Denver 80202 303-607-3500 faegredrinker.com

Kelley B. Duke

IRELAND STAPLETON PRYOR & PASCOE

717 17th St., Suite 2800 Denver 80202 303-628-3663 irelandstapleton.com

Carolyn Fairless

WHEELER TRIGG O’DONNELL

370 17th St., Suite 4500 Denver 80202 303-244-1800 wtotrial.com

Hubert Farbes Jr. BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK 410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

Hugh Gottschalk

WHEELER TRIGG O’DONNELL

370 17th St., Suite 4500 Denver 80202 303-244-1800 wtotrial.com

David P. Hersh

BURG SIMPSON ELDREDGE HERSH & JARDINE

40 Inverness Drive East Englewood 80112 303-792-5595 burgsimpson.com

Kenzo Kawanabe

DAVIS GRAHAM & STUBBS 1550 17th St., Suite 500 Denver 80202 303-892-9400 dgslaw.com

Michael L. O’Donnell

WHEELER TRIGG O’DONNELL

370 17th St., Suite 4500 Denver 80202 303-244-1800 wtotrial.com

Daniel M. Reilly

FENNEMORE

1700 Lincoln St., Suite 2400 Denver 80203 303-291-3200 fennemorelaw.com

Katie Reilly

WHEELER TRIGG O’DONNELL 370 17th St., Suite 4500 Denver 80202 303-244-1800 wtotrial.com

Shannon W. Stevenson

DAVIS GRAHAM & STUBBS

1550 17th St., Suite 500 Denver 80202 303-892-9400 dgslaw.com

John Walsh

WILMERHALE

1225 17th St., Suite 2600 Denver 80202 720-598-3428 wilmerhale.com

Mark Williams

SHERMAN & HOWARD

675 15th St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-297-2900 shermanhoward.com

CIVIL RIGHTS LITIGATION

Matthew Cron

RATHOD MOHAMEDBHAI 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 100 Denver 80205 303-578-4400 rmlawyers.com

Tim Fox

FOX & ROBERTSON 1 Broadway, Suite B205 Denver 80203 303-951-4164 foxrob.com

Adam Frank

FRANK LAW OFFICE

1133 N. Pennsylvania St. Denver 80203 303-800-8222 franklawoffice.com

Paula Greisen

KING & GREISEN

1670 York St. Denver 80206 303-298-9878 kinggreisen.com

Erica Grossman

HOLLAND, HOLLAND EDWARDS & GROSSMAN 1437 High St. Denver 80218 303-860-1331 hheglaw.com

John Holland HOLLAND, HOLLAND EDWARDS & GROSSMAN 1437 High St. Denver 80218 303-860-1331 hheglaw.com

Anna Holland Edwards

HOLLAND, HOLLAND EDWARDS & GROSSMAN 1437 High St. Denver 80218 303-860-1331 hheglaw.com

Darold Killmer

KILLMER, LANE & NEWMAN 1543 Champa St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-571-1000 kln-law.com

David A. Lane

KILLMER, LANE & NEWMAN 1543 Champa St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-571-1000 kln-law.com

Andy McNulty

KILLMER, LANE & NEWMAN

1543 Champa St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-571-1000 kln-law.com

Qusair Mohamedbhai

RATHOD MOHAMEDBHAI 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 100 Denver 80205 303-578-4400 rmlawyers.com

Mari Newman

KILLMER, LANE & NEWMAN

1543 Champa St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-571-1000 kln-law.com

Siddhartha Rathod

RATHOD MOHAMEDBHAI

2701 Lawrence St., Suite 100 Denver 80205 303-578-4400 rmlawyers.com

Amy Robertson

FOX & ROBERTSON

1 Broadway, Suite B205 Denver 80203 303-951-4164 foxrob.com

Faisal Salahuddin

SALAHUDDIN LAW FIRM 4535 Raleigh St. Denver 80212 303-974-1084

Elizabeth Wang

LOEVY & LOEVY 2060 Broadway, Suite 460 Boulder 80302 720-328-5642 loevy.com

Zach Warren

HIGHLANDS LAW FIRM

501 South Cherry St., 11th Floor Denver 80246 720-722-3880 highlandslawfirm.com

Laura Wolf

SPARK JUSTICE LAW

1312 17th St., Suite 569 Denver 80202 303-802-5390 spark-law.com

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION

Fred Baumann

LEWIS ROCA

1601 19th St., Suite 1000 Denver 80202 303-623-9000 lewisroca.com

Stacy Carpenter

POLSINELLI

1401 Lawrence St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-572-9300 polsinelli.com

Carolyn Fairless

WHEELER TRIGG O’DONNELL

370 17th St., Suite 4500 Denver 80202 303-244-1800 wtotrial.com

Franz Hardy

GORDON REES SCULLY MANSUKHANI 555 17th St., Suite 3400 Denver 80202 303-534-5160 grsm.com

David P. Hersh

BURG SIMPSON ELDREDGE HERSH & JARDINE 40 Inverness Drive East Englewood 80112 303-792-5595 burgsimpson.com

Kenzo Kawanabe

DAVIS GRAHAM & STUBBS

1550 17th St., Suite 500 Denver 80202 303-892-9400 dgslaw.com

Timothy R. Macdonald

ARNOLD & PORTER 1144 15th St., Suite 3100 Denver 80202 303-863-1000 arnoldporter.com

Michael L. O’Donnell

WHEELER TRIGG O’DONNELL

370 17th St., Suite 4500 Denver 80202 303-244-1800 wtotrial.com

Meshach Y. Rhoades

CROWELL & MORING 999 18th St., Suite 3000 Denver 80202 303-524-8660 crowell.com

Byeongsook Seo

SNELL & WILMER 1200 17th St., Suite 1900 Denver 80202 303-634-2000 swlaw.com

Maral J. Shoaei

DORSEY & WHITNEY 1400 Wewatta St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-629-3400 dorsey.com

Christopher Toll HOLLAND & HART 555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

COMMUNICATIONS/TECHNOLOGY

Rebecca DeCook

MOYE WHITE

1400 16th St., Sixth Floor Denver 80202 303-292-2900 moyewhite.com

Y OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIST, ANSWERED.

Which lawyers did you survey?

All licensed attorneys in the seven-county metro area were welcome to participate in our survey, which went live on 5280.com in May 2022. We reached out to more than 17,000 licensed attorneys actively registered with the Colorado Supreme Court’s Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel and connected with local bar associations to make sure we received a strong response to the peer-reviewed ballot.

How did you ensure that big law firms didn’t stuff the ballot box?

Good question! To vote, attorneys had to register with their work email addresses and Colorado attorney registration numbers. We monitored IP addresses to make sure one person wasn’t voting for everyone in a firm. We checked out suspicious votes—and tossed them if necessary.

Were the results from the ballot the only data you used?  No. To supplement the online ballot results, we did what we do best: research. We made many, many phone calls, spent hours mining the

Raymond L. Gifford

WILKINSON BARKER KNAUER

2138 W. 32nd Ave., Suite 300 Denver 80211 303-626-2350 wbklaw.com

Deborah Howitt

DORSEY & WHITNEY

1400 Wewatta St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-629-3400 dorsey.com

Peter J. Kinsella

PERKINS COIE

1900 16th St., Suite 1400 Denver 80202 303-291-2300 perkinscoie.com

Mindy V. Sooter

WILMERHALE

1225 17th St., Suite 2600 Denver 80202 720-598-3428 wilmerhale.com

Charles W. Steese

ARMSTRONG TEASDALE 4643 S. Ulster St., Suite 800 Denver 80237 720-200-0676 atllp.com

Mark Williams

SHERMAN & HOWARD

675 15th St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-297-2900 shermanhoward.com

CONSTRUCTION

J. David Arkell

MOYE WHITE

1400 16th St., Sixth Floor Denver 80202 303-292-2900 moyewhite.com

Henry Bangert

BELTZER BANGERT & GUNNELL 5420 S. Quebec St., Suite 103 Greenwood Village 80111 720-576-7225 bbglaw.com

Buck S. Beltzer

BELTZER BANGERT & GUNNELL 5420 S. Quebec St., Suite 103 Greenwood Village 80111 720-576-7225 bbglaw.com

Laurie Choi

SNELL & WILMER

1200 17th St., Suite 1900 Denver 80202 303-634-2000 swlaw.com

internet for standout cases, and generally did our due diligence on each name on the list.

How did you pick the specialties represented on the ballot?

We assembled this year’s list of 50 specialties based on input from the Colorado Bar Association, attorneys, and area law firms.

I’ve heard the list is rigged—that only lawyers who advertise with you make it. Is that the case?  Nope. The Top Lawyers list is unaffected by which attorneys advertise with 5280. Local attorneys sometimes choose to advertise after they have been selected for the list, but how much, if, or when lawyers choose to advertise is not taken into consideration.

Does 5280 check out every attorney on the list?  Our fact-checking department independently verifies every lawyer’s pertinent information (name, phone number, office address, website, etc.). We take the added step of sending the list to the Colorado Supreme Court’s Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel to check for disciplinary and licensing issues—meaning all attorneys on the list were in good standing with the state at press time.

Alvin M. Cohen

WOODS AITKEN

7900 E. Union Ave., Suite 700 Denver 80237 303-606-6700 woodsaitken.com

Daniel M. Gross

WOODS AITKEN

7900 E. Union Ave., Suite 700 Denver 80237 303-606-6700 woodsaitken.com

Bret R. Gunnell

BELTZER BANGERT & GUNNELL 5420 S. Quebec St., Suite 103 Greenwood Village 80111 720-576-7225 bbglaw.com

L. Tyrone Holt

HOLT GROUP

1675 Broadway, Suite 2100 Denver 80202 303-225-8500 holtllc.com

William Meyer

POLSINELLI

1401 Lawrence St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-572-9300 polsinelli.com

Matthew J. Ninneman

HALL & EVANS

1001 17th St., Suite 300 Denver 80202 303-628-3300 hallevans.com

Jonathan G. Pray

BROWNSTEIN

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

Julie M. Walker

IRELAND STAPLETON PRYOR & PASCOE

717 17th St., Suite 2800 Denver 80202 303-628-3604 irelandstapleton.com

CONSTRUCTION DEFECT LITIGATION

Duncan Griffiths

GRIFFITHS LAW

10375 Park Meadows Drive, Suite 520 Lone Tree 80124 303-858-8090 griffithslawpc.com

Jeffrey P. Kerrane

KERRANE STORZ

370 Interlocken Blvd., Suite 630 Broomfield 80021 720-898-9680 kerranestorz.com

Mark W. Nelson

NELSON LAW FIRM 1740 N. High St. Denver 80218 303-861-0750 nelsonlawfirm.net

Craig S. Nuss

BURG SIMPSON ELDREDGE HERSH & JARDINE

40 Inverness Drive East Englewood 80112 303-792-5595 burgsimpson.com

Mari K. Perczak

BURG SIMPSON ELDREDGE HERSH & JARDINE 40 Inverness Drive East Englewood 80112 303-792-5595 burgsimpson.com

Ivan A. Sarkissian

MCCONAUGHY & SARKISSIAN 4725 S. Monaco St., Suite 200 Denver 80237 303-649-0999 mslawpc.com

Bradley N. Shefrin

HALL BOOTH SMITH

5619 DTC Parkway, Suite 1200 Greenwood Village 80111 303-773-3500 hallboothsmith.com

Heidi E. Storz

KERRANE STORZ

370 Interlocken Blvd., Suite 630 Broomfield 80021 720-898-9680 kerranestorz.com

CRIMINAL

Lara M. Baker

FOSTER GRAHAM MILSTEIN & CALISHER

360 S. Garfield St., Sixth Floor Denver 80209 303-333-9810 fostergraham.com

David Beller

RECHT KORNFELD

1600 Stout St., Suite 1400 Denver 80202 303-573-1900 rklawpc.com

James Castle

CASTLE & CASTLE 1544 Race St. Denver 80206 303-800-3273 castleandcastlepc.com

Megan Downing

RECHT KORNFELD

1600 Stout St., Suite 1400 Denver 80202 303-573-1900 rklawpc.com

Iris Eytan

EYTAN LAW

2701 Lawrence St., Suite 108 Denver 80205 720-440-8155 eytanlawfirm.com

Jamie Hubbard

STIMSON LABRANCHE HUBBARD 1652 N. Downing St. Denver 80218 720-689-8909 slhlegal.com

Marci G. LaBranche

STIMSON LABRANCHE HUBBARD 1652 N. Downing St. Denver 80218 720-689-8909 slhlegal.com

Kevin M. McGreevy

RIDLEY MCGREEVY WINOCUR 303 16th St., Suite 200 Denver 80202 303-629-9700 ridleylaw.com

Laura A. Menninger

HADDON, MORGAN AND FOREMAN

950 17th St., Suite 1000 Denver 80202 303-831-7364 hmflaw.com

Dru

Nielsen

HADDON, MORGAN AND FOREMAN

950 17th St., Suite 1000 Denver 80202 303-831-7364 hmflaw.com

Jeffrey S. Pagliuca

HADDON, MORGAN AND FOREMAN 950 17th St., Suite 1000 Denver 80202 303-831-7364 hmflaw.com

Lisa Polansky

POLANSKY LAW FIRM 4999 Pearl East Circle, Suite 201 Boulder 80301 303-415-2583 polanskylawfirm.com

Patrick L. Ridley

RIDLEY MCGREEVY WINOCUR 303 16th St., Suite 200 Denver 80202 303-629-9700 ridleylaw.com

Kathryn Stimson

STIMSON LABRANCHE HUBBARD 1652 N. Downing St. Denver 80218 720-689-8909 slhlegal.com

Martin Stuart

MCDERMOTT STUART & WARD 140 E. 19th Ave., Suite 300 Denver 80203 303-832-8888 mswdenver.com

Fredric M. Winocur

RIDLEY MCGREEVY WINOCUR 303 16th St., Suite 200 Denver 80202 303-629-9700 ridleylaw.com

DISABILITY

Teresa Abbott

LAW OFFICE OF TERESA ABBOTT 13791 E. Rice Place, Suite 209 Aurora 80015 720-334-2864 thabbottlaw.com

HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

FIRM BACKGROUND | Michael S. Burg established the firm in 1977 and was joined by Peter Burg, Alan Simpson, Scott Eldredge, David Hersh, and Kerry Jardine to build one of the top trial firms in the nation with over 70 Lawyers.

MISSION | To be Good Lawyers. Changing Lives®. It’s not just a slogan, it’s who we are.

PASSION | We want to change peoples’ lives for the better by fighting for them in court and securing fair compensation.

ADVERSARIES | Anyone who injures or attempts to take advantage of our clients.

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS

| YAZ®/Yasmin®, Pradaxa®, Ortho Evra®, Gadolinium-based contrast agents, Heparin®, DePuy ASR®, Bextra®/Celebrex®, Zyprexa®, Testosterone Replacement Therapy, Lawrence/Andover, Massachusetts Gas Explosion Cases.

ACCOLADES | 33 Super Lawyers® 2022; 36 Best Lawyers® in America 2022; #1 National Products Liability Firm—Martindale Hubbell; #1 Product Liability, Mass Tort, and Class Action Plaintiffs in Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Litigation—The U.S. Legal 500; Top 25 Most Influential Law Firms—The National Trial Lawyers.

RESULTS | $1 Billion+ Settlements/Judgments/Verdicts; 200+ recoveries in excess of $1 Million.

SCOTT J. ELDREDGE 2023 TOP LAWYER 6X WINNER Shareholder

STEPHAN J. MARSH 2023 TOP LAWYER • 4X WINNER Shareholder

DAVID P. HERSH

TOP LAWYER • 8X WINNER Shareholder

CRAIG S. NUSS

› PERSONAL INJURY: PLAINTIFF

Chalat Hatten & Banker PC

JIM CHALAT 2023 TOP LAWYER • 8X WINNER

EVAN BANKER 2023 TOP LAWYER • 4X WINNER

“Our clients come to us during times of emotional and financial distress. The legal process is complex. We seek justice for our clients, but are also a reliable support system,” says senior partner Jim Chalat. “From the very beginning of the attorneyclient relationship, we emphasize the importance of trust and communication. It is this hands-on approach, the firm’s all-for-one-one-for-all mentality, and our strength as trial lawyers that has earned us acclaim among clients and our Colorado community.”

The trial lawyers at Chalat Hatten & Banker PC specialize in complex catastrophic personal injury matters, with a particular focus on wrongful death cases, motor vehicle collisions, ski and snowboard collisions, product defects, premises liability and professional malpractice.

Jim and Evan have earned recognition for their civility, professionalism, results, and pro bono commitment. Jim’s recent recognition as Colorado Law Week’s “People’s Choice” for Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury Attorney was especially rewarding because he represents people, not corporations or insurance companies.

Best Lawyers in America® lists both Jim and Evan in the field of Plaintiffs’ Personal Injury; Best Lawyers® has twice named Jim “Lawyer of the Year.” Evan’s notable trial experience includes one of the largest auto/pedestrian verdicts in Colorado history – an $18.1 million verdict – and a defective product case against Ford Motor Company which resulted in a $7 million judgment. Results such as these have led to the firm being named a Tier 1 “Best Law Firm” in Denver for Personal Injury Litigation –Plaintiffs by U.S. News and World Report – Best Lawyers® for five consecutive years.

Jim and Evan believe the awards and honors they have earned are a testament to the reputation they and their firm have built with integrity, honesty, and professionalism. Accolades such as 5280’s “Top Lawyers” are particularly significant since selection is based on votes from colleagues, many of whom are defense attorneys Jim and Evan argue against in court. “It shows the respect we have earned from our opponents, who know the attorneys at Chalat Hatten & Banker are true to their word,” says Evan Banker.

Jim and Evan acknowledge their debt of gratitude to their partners, Russell Hatten and Linda Chalat, and their paralegal staff, who have been essential to the accomplishments of the firm. If you have questions or need legal assistance in any personal injury matter, Jim and Evan welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

CHALATLAW.COM (303) 861-1042

| attorney@chalatlaw.com

1600 Broadway, Suite 1920, Denver, CO 80202

Jim Chalat: jchalat@chalatlaw.com

Evan Banker: ebanker@chalatlaw.com

› ELDER, PROBATE LITIGATION

Chayet & Danzo

MARCO CHAYET 2023 TOP LAWYER • 9X WINNER

TAMARA TRUJILLO 2023 TOP LAWYER • 1X WINNER

For the past 20 years, Chayet & Danzo, LLC has focused our practice on the needs of families, the elderly, and at-risk members of the Denver metro area and throughout the state of Colorado. Our team of attorneys and staff are dedicated to providing the highest quality legal services in a cost-effective and personal manner for every elder law issue, estate plan and probate litigation case.

Mr. Chayet is the founder and managing partner of Chayet & Danzo LLC and ColoradoElderLaw.com. He is the Public Administrator for the 18th Judicial District, and teaches elder law as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Colorado School of Law, where he also received his Juris Doctor. Mr. Chayet is awarded as a Top Attorney in both Elder law and Probate litigation.

Senior Attorney Tamara Trujillo joined the firm in 2009. Ms. Trujillo is a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, and is a past director of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She is an adjunct professor of elder law at the University of Colorado Law School and is awarded as a Top Elder law Attorney.

COLORADOELDERLAW.COM (303) 355-8550

650 S. Cherry Street, Suite 710 Denver, CO 80246

› FAMILY LAW/DIVORCE

Colorado Family Law Project

MAHA KAMAL 2023 TOP LAWYER • 3X WINNER

Maha Kamal, Esq. founded the Colorado Family Law Project in 2016. She is one of the few family law attorneys in the Denver metro area who provides sliding scale and unbundled legal services to clients in divorce, custody, and mediation.

Ms. Kamal is a member of the CBA’s Family Law Section Executive Council and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Executive Council. She is a big supporter of the arts and humanism. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Art Students League of Denver and as a trustee of the American Humanist Foundation. She also served on the Denver International Airport’s Art Selection Panel. She co-chairs the Paraprofessionals and Legal Services Supreme Court subcommittee with the (ret) Hon. Angela Arkin, and is helping to bring the first limited licensure program to Colorado alongside sister states like Utah, Arizona, and Minnesota.

She is fluent in Spanish, Hindi, and Urdu. Aside from law, Ms. Kamal is writing a collection of South Asian ghost stories and is an avid artist.

COLORADOFAMILYLAWPROJECT.COM (720) 224-3010

1627 Vine Street, Denver, CO 80206

Who I Am: I am Alana Anzalone, and I opened the Colorado Branch of Anzalone Law Offices in 2013 - a firm rooted in balancing compassion for my injured clients and the fierce and relentless fight for justice. I am passionate about understanding what really matters when representing victims of someone else’s wrongdoing. I believe that, without a connection, it is impossible to truly advocate for my clients. Connection allows me to tell their real story and their experiences to an insurance company or a jury. The relationship is a true partnership and something to fight for.

A True Trial Lawyer: I have a proven track record of obtaining successful results for my clients. I am not afraid to take a case to trial - in front of a jury - to obtain true justice and a full, uncompromised reward for my clients. I recently obtained one of the top verdicts in Colorado in a personal injury trial. I have been a Colorado Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2017, a Colorado Super Lawyer for 2023, a Top 40 under 40 National Trial Lawyer since 2016, and a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

What Being a Lawyer Means to Me: “To me, being a lawyer means being a counselor, providing a shoulder to cry on, providing a resource of information, and being the voice for injured victims who get taken advantage of by big corporations. When I get a verdict in favor of a client, I get this incredible feeling that I potentially made their lives a little easier - and that’s the best feeling.”

What I Do: I represent clients injured because of car and truck crashes, hazardous conditions on someone else’s property, medical negligence, dog bites, nursing home abuse and sexual abuse and assault.

› IMMIGRATION

Kristin A. Knudson

2023 TOP LAWYER • 1X WINNER

J.D., University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2008, graduated with Order of St. Ives honors for graduating in the top 10%.

Kristin Knudson founded her own firm in 2013 that grew into Knudson & Associates LLC, a boutique firm specializing in immigration and naturalization law that provides personalized services to business and families in their immigration matters. She helps employers bring employees of extraordinary ability to the United States, represents businesses in transferring workers to the U.S., and prepares visa applications for investors and entrepreneurs. She provides high quality, compassionate representation to families, victims of crime and immigrants in removal proceedings. She speaks fluent Spanish. Kristin served as Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Colorado Chapter, is a board member on the Colorado Lawyers Committee, and Chairs the AILA Colorado Liaison Committee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

KNUDSONANDASSOCIATES.COM (303) 974-7758 550 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 302 Lakewood, CO 80226

› FAMILY LAW/DIVORCE

Nicoal C. Sperrazza, Esq.

2023 TOP LAWYER • 3X WINNER

Nicoal C. Sperrazza provides support to clients regarding family law and divorce, and her office also provides estate planning services. With her background in customer service, Ms. Sperrazza enjoys the opportunity to interact with her clients in a personal way. She is a passionate advocate and has a reputation for providing highly personalized counsel to her clients. Ms. Sperrazza is well-versed in managing high-asset, complex, and contentious matters.

In addition to being selected as a 5280 Top Lawyer for three consecutive years, she was also selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2020-2023. Ms. Sperrazza was selected as a 2022 Denver Bar Association’s Pro Bono Star, and serves as the President Elect for the Denver Bar Association.

DENFAMILYLEGAL.COM (303) 481-6360 nsperrazza@denfamilylegal.com 3900 E. Mexico Avenue Suite 300 Denver, CO 80210

Law Offices of Daniel J. Caplis, LLC

2023 TOP LAWYER • 2X WINNER

Dan Caplis is a true trial lawyer. He recently won five multi-million dollar jury verdicts in a row in less than two years. His firm believes that Dan is the only trial lawyer in Colorado history to accomplish that. One of those jury trials resulted in the largest trucking case verdict in Colorado history, twenty-six million dollars. In his last 14 trials Dan has won jury verdicts far beyond the best offers made before trial. Many of those verdicts were ten times or more the amount of the offer.

Dan quickly points out that all of these victories are a total team effort, starting with his partner Babar Waheed. Dan calls Babar “one of the great legal minds of our era” and says that Babar’s legal brilliance has been a key part of the firm’s success. Dan has been honored with the Pro Vitae Award from the Archdiocese of Denver, which was presented by Archbishop Charles Chaput; the Humanitarian of the Year award, presented by now Archbishop of Los Angeles Jose Gomez; and was named one of the 25 most powerful people in Denver by 5280 magazine. Dan has also received a multitude of top legal honors including recognition by Super Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

Dan is an award-winning syndicated radio talk show host and a legal analyst who has been featured on Fox News, NBC, CNN, ABC, BBC, and in many of the nation’s top newspapers including The Washington Post and USA Today.

As a former seminarian and the son of a police officer, it has been Dan’s obsession to build a world-class firm for regular people. Dan believes that he and Babar have achieved that, and that their trial results prove it. As Dan likes to say “talk is cheap, actions speak louder than words, and results matter”.

DANCAPLISLAW.COM (303) 770-5551 6400 S. Fiddlers Green Circle Suite 2200 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

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FAMILY LAW/DIVORCE

Hogan Omidi, PC

HALLEH OMIDI 2023 TOP LAWYER • 3X WINNER

KATHLEEN HOGAN 6X WINNER

Kathleen “Kathy” Hogan wrote the book on family law in Colorado. She devotes her practice primarily to complex financial cases, parental responsibilities, and child custody related issues. Other areas of expertise include prenuptial agreements and appeals in all areas of family law.

Halleh Omidi counsels clients on all the various aspects of dissolution of marriage cases, including complex asset division, allocation of parental responsibilities, child support, maintenance, paternity, post-decree modifications, marital agreements, and appeals. She is experienced in litigation and also excels in negotiating an optimal outcome in less contentious domestic matters.

Their firm handles cases throughout the state of Colorado.

HOGANOMIDI.COM (303) 691-9600

3773 Cherry Creek North Drive Suite 950 Denver, CO 80209

› FAMILY LAW/DIVORCE, CONSTRUCTION DEFECT LITIGATION

Griffiths Law PC

SUZANNE GRIFFITHS 2023 TOP LAWYER • 8X WINNER DUNCAN GRIFFITHS 2023 TOP LAWYER • 2X WINNER

Griffiths Law’s 5280 Top Lawyers, Suzanne Griffiths and Duncan Griffiths, are part of our unrivaled team of attorneys.

Griffiths Law is the right choice for Colorado family law and civil litigation cases. Ranging from the straightforward to the highly complex, Griffiths Law always provides a well-prepared case. We litigate. We collaborate. We protect your future.

Protecting Your Future

GRIFFITHSLAWPC.COM

(303) 858-8090

10375 Park Meadows Drive Suite 520 Lone Tree, CO 80124

April D. Jones is the founder and CEO of Jones Law Firm, PC, Denver’s premier family law firm. April and the firm are celebrating over 20 years of serving families throughout Colorado. She is a highly active and respected member of the legal and non-legal community and strives to be someone who looks out for the best interests of her clients, staff, peers, and community. As a highly sought-after Family Law Attorney with over 30 years of experience, April continues to build and lead a powerhouse team of family law practitioners who support families in transition. April chooses a team that shares her same passion for people. With their determination to be thoughtful, strategic, and knowledgeable in every unique case, April and her team are a force that is unstoppable when it comes to helping families.

“Being a family law attorney means you handle a lot of divorces, and you handle a lot of child custody issues. It is the most heartbreaking thing in the world anybody could ever choose to do, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Even though I’m walking into awkward, painful, heartbreaking situations, I know it’s one hundred times more heartbreaking for the client. My job is to help them get to the other side of this so they can start over. I must try to make this as quick, painless, and inexpensive as possible, and it’s an impossible task. I’m glad I chose it, and I believe in making a difference.” - A.D.J.

› FAMILY

LAW/DIVORCE

Sherr Puttmann Akins Lamb PC

MEGAN M. SHERR 2023 TOP LAWYER • 8X WINNER DAVID A. LAMB 2023 TOP LAWYER • 5X WINNER

Sherr Puttmann Akins Lamb is a full-service family law firm specializing in divorce, legal separation, child custody, juvenile law, and more.

Megan M. Sherr is a founding shareholder and CEO of Sherr Puttmann Akins Lamb PC. Megan has an extensive background in family law and vast legal experience successfully litigating and negotiating all types of family law cases, with an emphasis on legally complex and high asset cases. Megan’s drive, work ethic, tenacity, and compassion have earned her high marks from her clients and peers.

David A. Lamb is a founding shareholder and CTO of Sherr Puttmann Akins Lamb PC, and a seasoned family law and trial attorney. David’s practice includes divorce, custody disputes, and post-decree litigation. He has been on the faculty of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and the Colorado Family Law Institute, and also assists families as a mediator, PC/DM, and arbitrator.

(303) 741-5300 info@spalfamilylaw.com 7979 E. Tufts Avenue Suite 1650 Denver, CO 80234

›

INSURANCE

The JAMS Difference

JON F. SANDS 2023 TOP LAWYER • 6X WINNER

Mediator, arbitrator, special master appointments and other services calling for a provider of neutral services to the Bar and Bench.

Jon Sands has been a trial lawyer for over 42 years in Colorado. His practice has taken him to virtually every venue in the state. A second generation Colorado native, he is familiar with both jury pools and courts around the state. He has also practiced extensively in the United States District Court for Colorado and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. He is licensed to practice in the United States Court of Federal Claims.

His practice has been limited to litigation of civil cases involving a wide variety of matters including insurance coverage, insurance bad faith, real estate (including being a member of the CBA State Title Standards committee for several years), title insurance, real estate appraisal process and appraiser liability, partition, cases against officers and directors of financial institutions, professional liability insurance, protection of trade secrets, commercial contract disputes, bodily injury and other kinds of civil litigation.

JAMSDENVER.COM (303) 296-3377 1200 Seventeenth Street, Suite 1250 Denver, Colorado 80202

PHOTO BY MARGS SEEGERS MUSSON

Francis Owen, LLC

AMANDA FRANCIS OWEN

2023

TOP LAWYER • 1X WINNER

Amanda Francis Owen represents clients in catastrophic personal injuries, wrongful death, rideshare negligence, civil rights, and insurance bad faith cases. Amanda received this year’s New Trial Lawyer of the Year Award from the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. In one nomination, a colleague said: “Amanda embodies the courage and perseverance of a trial lawyer better than anyone else I know. She never shies away from trial and is always employing new and creative trial tactics.”

In 2021, Amanda obtained the 15th largest jury verdict of all personal injury verdicts in Colorado, and 24th largest verdict in Colorado overall.

Amanda started Francis Owen LLC with her husband, Shawn Owen, offering a boutique experience to select clients. “We choose a small number of deserving clients who need our help when being bullied by insurance companies. We’re radically honest, we’re ready for trial, and we’re all in on our clients. We’re here to help them recover – to regain what’s been lost or stolen because of the negligence of another.”

Our mission is to help our clients heal: physically, emotionally, and financially.

Amanda believes that health and bodily integrity –your right to have agency over choices concerning your own body – are priceless assets. There is no fair market value for your ability to walk, work, think, or live as you choose. When your health and bodily integrity are compromised through no fault of your own, an insurance company can’t be trusted to value it fairly. Amanda is honored to advocate for a just result and empathetically support her clients while doing so.

Amanda is a dedicated advocate and teaches lawyers throughout the country how to better represent clients. She is a frequent speaker and teacher at educational seminars for the American Association of Justice, the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, and the Women’s Trial Lawyer Network. She is recognized by the National Brain Injury Trial Lawyers Association- Top 25, The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 for Personal Injury, has a 10 out of 10 Avvo Rating, and is a graduate of the Trial Lawyers College.

3200 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 520 Denver, Colorado 80209 (303) 228-1010

› IMMIGRATION

MyRights Immigration Law Firm

2023 TOP LAWYER • 3X WINNER

Complete litigation, legal advice, and transactional legal services for public corporations, government organizations and individuals.

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MYRIGHTSIMMIGRATION.COM

(303) 495-5121 8205 E. Colfax Avenue Denver CO, 80220

› PERSONAL INJURY: PLAINTIFF

Tara M. Mager, Esq.

2023 TOP LAWYER • 1X WINNER

Tara Mager’s passion is advocating for and seeking justice on behalf of her clients. Her practice focuses on personal injury, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, amusement park accidents, insurance bad faith, and wrongful death cases. She has spent most of her life working with injured victims and knows firsthand how injuries change lives.  Tara takes pride in providing personalized, compassionate, and aggressive representation to every client.

Supporting the community and advocating for children has always been close to Tara’s heart. She works closely with the Yellow Brick Road Project, and Make-A-Wish Colorado. Tara is a current member of the Wishmakers Council and the Co-Chair of the Annual Make-AWish Holiday Wish Store at Children’s Hospital.

Tara Mager has been recognized as a National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, as a Rising Star in Personal Injury Law by the American Institute of Legal Advocates, one of the Top 40 Young Lawyers by the National Alliance of Women in the Law, as a Lawyer of Distinction in the field of Personal Injury, and as a Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2019.

MAGERLAW.COM

(303) 569-4200 1290 Broadway, Suite 600 Denver, CO 80203

Peter specializes in water rights, water quality, and land and water conservation law. He began his legal career as the first executive director of the Colorado Water Trust, created to restore environmental flows and the riverine ecology of the state’s overused streams and rivers. Peter subsequently defended the encumbrance of water rights in conservation easements, obtaining a legal precedent for land trusts nationally. He continues to work with land trusts to creatively secure water for the future, including ground(water) breaking programs to address aquifer mining.

CU Law published “Water and Growth in Colorado” in 2001, which Peter co-authored in law school. It was the most comprehensive study of the legal and policy issues of supplying water to meet Colorado’s traditional economic base, changing public values, and burgeoning population growth since the 1950s, led to the creation of the Interbasin Compact Committee in 2005, and set the stage for Colorado’s Water Plan in 2016. It also established Peter as a creative leader in the development of new ways to meet water demands, such as the “Super Ditch,” which rotationally leases irrigation water for municipal use, an alternative to the historical “buy-and-dry” that devastates many farm communities.

As special assistant attorney general, Peter represented Colorado, New Mexico, and other states in 16 years of litigation across the nation that ultimately led to a victory for western water rights.

Peter also assists his friends in the Sherpa communities in Colorado and Nepal, e.g., spearheading the reconstruction of schools following the 2015 earthquake.

›

ELDER

Frazer-Abel Law

VIRGINIA FRAZER-ABEL

2023 TOP LAWYER • 4X WINNER

Counsel at Frazer-Abel Law specialize in elder law, probate administration and litigation, guardianships and conservatorships, estate and special needs planning, public benefits, settlement planning and fiduciary work. Attorneys Virginia Frazer-Abel, Eric Kelly, Geoffrey Carpenter, and Kailie Wilson are committed to providing clients with the highest level of legal representation and oversee legal needs with honesty and integrity.

VFALEGAL.COM (720) 638-1465 4704 Harlan Street, Suite 250 Denver, CO 80212

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TRANSPORTATION

Icenogle Seaver Pogue,

P.C.

TAMARA K. SEAVER 2023 TOP LAWYER • 2X WINNER

For 28 years Tamara Seaver has advised clients regarding financing, building, and operating Colorado’s public transportation facilities. She is general counsel for all of the state’s public highway authorities and has spoken both nationally and internationally regarding innovative finance, governance, and construction strategies supporting public transportation infrastructure, including deployment of regional cooperative governmental authorities and public-private partnerships (P3s).

ISP-LAW.COM (303) 867-3004 4725 South Monaco Street, Suite 360 Denver, CO 80237

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GOVERNMENT RELATIONS/CONTRACTS/LOBBYING

Colorado Advocates

JEP SEMAN 2023 TOP LAWYER • 3X WINNER

For 30 years, Colorado Advocates has formulated winning advocacy strategies to help our clients successfully navigate the intersection of Colorado law, regulation, legislation, and politics. Thank you, 5280, and congratulations to fellow 2023 Top Lawyers!

COLORADOADVOCATES.COM (720) 377-0703

23 S. Kalamath Street, Suite 200, Denver, CO 80223 jseman@coloradoadvocates.com

Jerry R. Bowman

2023 TOP LAWYER • 1X WINNER

Since becoming licensed in 2011, Jerry has dedicated himself to providing quality legal representation to those who lost loved ones or have themselves been seriously injured because of someone else’s negligence. Jerry understands his clients contact him at one of the most difficult points in their lives. He takes pride in being a voice for his clients and, at the same time, relishes in the resolve they exhibit. Every day, Jerry is inspired by his clients’ efforts at overcoming obstacles in pursuit of justice.

Jerry is incredibly proud that Bowman Law is one of the only personal injury law firms in Colorado with over 500 5-star reviews. Jerry’s commitment to excellence has resulted in excellent personal accolades as well. In 2021, he was honored by the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association as the New Trial Lawyer of the Year. That same year, he received one of the top verdicts in the State of Colorado. Jerry has also been recognized by the Colorado Supreme Court for his role in providing pro bono legal work and by Super Lawyers as one of the top 40 lawyers in the United States under the age of 40.

Jerry is honored to be named one of the top lawyers in Denver.

“Jerry was a phenomenal attorney. Not only was he very quick to respond, answering all my questions and putting my mind at ease, but he also was a pleasure to work with. Professional, first and foremost, but a human being at the end of the day and that was such a refreshing alternative to the other lawyers who had approached me.” - Matt Proctor, ★★★★★

“I am so grateful for the incredible support and guidance Jerry Bowman offered when dealing with my difficult case. With absolute professionalism and genuine care, Jerry made my experience with his firm exceptional. I recommend Jerry and his team to anyone who’s encountered any type of unfortunate situation. He will work with you and support you through whatever it is you’re dealing with.”

- Alexa Kubica, ★★★★★

2727 Bryant St., Ste. 102 Denver, CO 80211 (720) 863-6904 info@copihelp.com

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›

SECURITIES

Davis & Ceriani, P.C.

VALERI PAPPAS 2023 TOP LAWYER • 3X WINNER

Valeri Pappas’s litigation experience includes participating in all phases of multimillion-dollar litigation, jury trials and arbitrations. Valeri’s securities experience is primarily in representing aggrieved institutional and individual investors in securities fraud actions. Her practice areas also include employment matters, commercial litigation and general civil litigation.

DAVISANDCERIANI.COM (303) 534-9000 1600 Stout Street, Suite 1710 Denver, CO 80202

IMMIGRATION

Monclova Law P.C.

MARIA GUADALUPE MONCLOVA

2023 TOP LAWYER • 1X WINNER

Maria has been practicing law for 14 years and is the founder of Monclova Law P.C. As a young girl she dreamed of becoming an immigration attorney to ensure that immigrants have equal access to the judicial system. Maria gets to know her clients on a very personal level and she becomes her client’s lawyer, friend, and therapist. She understands what they are going through and much of her time is spent reassuring them that everything will be fine. Through the years, Maria has been able to stop many deportations and keep families together in this country. Maria specializes in deportation defense, family immigration, and humanitarian visas for victims of crime and persecution.

ABOGADAMONCLOVA.COM | (303) 974-5049 1745 S. Federal Blvd., Denver, CO 80219 facebook-square INSTAGRAM @abogadamonclova

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LABOR/EMPLOYMENT: DEFENSE

Jon Olafson

2023 TOP LAWYER • 1X WINNER

Protecting your organization’s most valuable assets, including your people and trade secrets, is at the heart of Jon’s practice. Employment disputes, trade secret protection, and employment transitions are Jon’s routine. Jon is also an award-winning leader, advocate, and facilitator for organizational belonging, authenticity, and inclusion and will help your organization be a destination for all employees.

LEWISBRISBOIS.COM (720) 562-9767 1700 Lincoln Street, Suite 4000, Denver, CO 80203 jon.olafson@lewisbrisbois.com

INJURY: PLAINTIFF

Varner Faddis Elite Legal, LLC

LAUREN E. VARNER, ESQ.

2023 TOP LAWYER • 2X WINNER

A NEW KIND OF INJURY LAW FIRM

Lauren specializes in plaintiffs’ personal injury and wrongful death. She is proudly living her destiny fighting for the legal and moral rights of those whose bodies have been violated and lives profoundly changed at the carelessness of another. Her work includes protecting clients from being kicked when they’re down by the insurance companies, holding those companies accountable to their promises, and empowering clients to persevere in spite of the relentless underhanded insurance defense tactics.

With family in the medical field, Lauren grew up witnessing the devastation that injury can bring to a person’s life. This background not only motivates her today, but has also afforded her a deep interest in, and understanding of, the medical issues her clients face every day, enabling her to go toe-to-toe with many of the insurance defense team’s best medical experts. Lauren regularly achieves six and seven figure resolutions on behalf of clients.

Her boutique law firm offers white-glove, luxury legal services, often for less than the larger law firms in town. This elevated approach to injury law, and the firm’s commitment to integrity, have resulted in countless five-star client reviews across many platforms.

Lauren has most notably received this 5280 Top Lawyer designation two years in a row, has been named a SuperLawyers Rising Star annually since 2019, and was chosen as one of Law Week Colorado’s Top Women in 2019. Lauren has dedicated her time as a board member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers’ Association, chair of the Women Trial Lawyers’ Network, and mentor to DU law students.

6025 South Quebec Street, Suite 100 Centennial, CO 80111 (720) 770-8335

› WORKERS’ COMP: CLAIMANT

Law Office of O’Toole & Sbarbaro, P.C.

NEIL D. O’TOOLE

JOHN A. SBARBARO 2023 TOP LAWYER • 9X WINNER

Established in 1998, and specializing in Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability for over two decades, the lawyers at the Law Office of O’Toole & Sbarbaro, PC, welcome the opportunity to serve injured workers in these complicated areas of law.

OTOOLE-SBARBARO.COM

O: (303) 595-4777 | F: (303) 825-6759 226 W. 12th Avenue, Denver, CO 80204-3625

› PROBATE LITIGATION, ELDER

Lathrop GPM LLP

ALISON ZINN 2023 TOP LAWYER • 8X WINNER

TOM RODRIGUEZ 2023 TOP LAWYER • 8X WINNER

Alison and Tom help clients resolve situations involving trusts, estates, and protected proceedings, including disputes concerning wills, trusts, probate fiduciaries, beneficiaries, guardianships and conservatorships.

LATHROPGPM.COM (720) 931-3200 675 15th Street, Suite 2650 Denver, CO 80202

› CRIMINAL

Polansky Law Firm

LISA A. POLANSKY 2023 TOP LAWYER • 1X WINNER

EXPERIENCED ASSERTIVE ADVOCACY. The team at Polansky Law Firm brings over five decades of combined experience in criminal defense to the representation of those facing criminal accusations. The boutique firm, comprised of all former public defenders, has built a reputation for toughness, integrity and fearless dedication. The lawyers apply their client-centered, team approach to both adult and juvenile cases in state and federal court. The firm has achieved countless successes at all levels of criminal litigation.

POLANSKYLAWFIRM.COM (303) 415-2583 4999 Pearl East Circle, Ste. 201 Boulder, Colorado 80301

› ANTITRUST

Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith

TODD R. SEELMAN 2023 TOP LAWYER • 9X WINNER

Todd has 30 years of experience representing clients as an advisor and in litigation involving antitrust and competition, securities and financial fraud, and related complex commercial matters. Todd has extensive experience in class actions and multi-district litigation. He is also the national chair of the firm’s Antitrust Group.

LEWISBRISBOIS.COM

Todd.Seelman@lewisbrisbois.com (720) 292-2002

Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher, LLP

LARA M. BAKER 2023 TOP LAWYER • 6X WINNER DANNY S. FOSTER 2023 TOP LAWYER • 3X WINNER DAVID WM. FOSTER 5X WINNER MICHAEL MILSTEIN 2023 TOP LAWYER • 1X WINNER

Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher, LLP is a team of dedicated, local attorneys who work collaboratively with our clients to ensure the highest levels of success, professionalism, and advocacy across a comprehensive field of legal disciplines.

FOSTERGRAHAM.COM | (303) 333-9810 360 S. Garfield Street, Suite 600 Denver, CO 80209

› IMMIGRATION

CHRISTINE M. HERNANDEZ 2023 TOP LAWYER • 2X WINNER

As a removal defense attorney, Christine M. Hernandez is often the last line of defense in deportation proceedings, fighting for her clients to remain in the US with their families. Christine’s approach to the practice of immigration law is best described as fearless and creative advocacy.

HDEZLAW.COM (303) 623-1122 1801 York Street Denver, CO 80206

Ireland Stapleton

JAMES BENJAMIN 2023 TOP LAWYER • 4X WINNER

KELLEY DUKE 2023 TOP LAWYER • 1X WINNER

JULIE WALKER 2023 TOP LAWYER • 1X WINNER

Ireland Stapleton, one of Colorado’s premiere law firms since 1926, is a full-service commercial law firm providing diverse and comprehensive legal services to businesses, individuals, and government entities on matters involving corporate, litigation, real estate, employment, environmental, energy, estate planning, special districts, government relations and regulatory affairs, and intellectual property law.

IRELANDSTAPLETON.COM (303) 623-2700 717 17th Street, Suite 2800, Denver, CO 80202

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PROBATE LITIGATION

Wade Ash, LLC

LETITIA MAXFIELD

2023 TOP LAWYER • 1X WINNER

Letty is a partner of Wade Ash LLC. As a trust and estate litigator, Letty advocates for the resolution of complex and controverted trust, estate, guardianship, conservatorship, and related probate administration, wealth transfer, and tax matters. Within her field of practice, she represents professionals, family members, and serves as an expert witness.

WADEASH.COM (303) 322-8943 4500 Cherry Creek S. Dr., Ste. 600 Denver, Colorado 80246

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FAMILY LAW/DIVORCE

Woody Law Firm

DANAÉ

D.

WOODY 2023 TOP LAWYER • 1X WINNER

Danaé Woody received her J.D. from the University of Denver (‘12). She focuses her practice on complex dissolutions of marriage, nonparent/ third parent rights, and appeals. Danaé is a leader in the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations and is a founder of the Federal Limited Appearance Program in Colorado.

WOODYLAWLLC.COM (303) 968-1711 140 E. 19th Avenue, Suite 600 Denver, CO 80203

DINING GUIDE

Indicates a restaurant featured in 5280 for the first time (though not necessarily a restaurant that has just opened).

Indicates inclusion in 5280’s 2022 list of Denver’s best restaurants. These selections are at the discretion of 5280 editors and are subject to change

A

A5 $$$$

Downtown / Steak House The team behind Forget Me Not and Tap and Burger offers a refreshing chophouse experience with a stellar lineup of steaks in a hip, delightfully funky bar and dining room. Reservations accepted. 1600 15th St., 303-623-0534. Dinner

African Grill & Bar $$$

Lakewood / African Head to this cheery African restaurant for rich stews, fried fish, rice dishes, and friendly service. Get the chakalaka, a traditional vegetarian South African stew. 955 S. Kipling Pkwy., Lakewood, 720-229-7778. Lunch, Dinner

Annette $$$

Aurora / American Caroline Glover brings a warm, intimate dining experience to Stanley Marketplace. Enjoy a family-style menu featuring seasonal salads, toasts, and wood-grilled fare. Reservations accepted. Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St., Ste. 108, Aurora, 720-710-9975. Dinner

Blackbelly $$$

Boulder /American At Blackbelly, chef Hosea Rosenberg’s carnivore-friendly menu features charcuterie, small plates, and daily butcher specials. Try the crispy pig ears with red pepper jelly. Also check out the grab-and-go market next door. Reservations accepted. 1606 Conestoga St., Boulder, 303-247-1000. Dinner

Want More Dining Options? Visit our online listings at 5280.com/ restaurants.

BBellota $$$

RiNo / Mexican Go for elevated regional Mexican fare like shrimp tacos basted in shrimpshell-infused butter and the popular fried quesadilla de requesón. Pair your meal with a tequila- or mezcal-based cocktail. Reservations accepted. The Source, 3350 Brighton Blvd., 720-542-3721. Lunch, Dinner

The Bindery $$$

LoHi / Contemporary Linda Hampsten Fox’s eatery offers worldly fare inspired by her travels. Settle in for a sophisticated brunch or get the smoked rabbit pecan pie with mustard gelato for dinner. Reservations accepted. 1817 Central St., 303-993-2364. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

CChez Maggy $$$$

Downtown /French Chef Ludo Lefebvre plates up Colorado-inspired French classics at this brasserie inside the Thompson Denver hotel. Don’t miss the expertly prepared escargot and the gluten-free crab cake bound with shrimp paste. Reservations accepted. 1616 Market St., 720-794-9544. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Chook $

Platt Park /Australian Chook specializes in Aussiestyle, charcoal-grilled rotisserie chicken and fresh veggie sides like smashed cucumbers and celeryapple slaw. Multiple locations. Reservations not accepted. 1300 S. Pearl St., 303-282-8399.

Lunch, Dinner

Comal Heritage Food Incubator $$ Globeville / International Find an array of family recipes from Latin America at this welcoming restaurant, which has a rotating menu and provides job training to immigrant and refugee women. Reservations not accepted. 3455 Ringsby Ct., Ste. 105, 303-292-0770. Lunch

Corrida $$$$ Boulder /Spanish Housed on the rooftop level of the Pearl West building, this elegant Spanish steak house offers stunning Flatiron views and fabulous cocktails and wines. Splurge on the Japanese wagyu or opt for a regeneratively sourced steak. Reservations accepted. 1023 Walnut St., Ste. 400, Boulder, 303-444-1333. Dinner, Brunch

DDaughter Thai Kitchen & Bar $$$$ Highland /Thai This upscale Thai restaurant from Ounjit Hardacre serves beautifully plated dishes and inventive cocktails with an elegant ambience to match. Try the lychee-kissed massaman curry with bone-in Colorado lamb. Reservations accepted. 1700 Platte St., Ste. 140, 720-667-4652. Lunch, Dinner

Derecho $$$ Cherry Creek / Spanish Inventive cocktails, a deep wine list, and delicious tapas are part of the elegant experience at this bar from the team behind Machete Tequila & Tacos. Reservations accepted. 2817 E. Third Ave., 720-769-8166. Dinner, Brunch

Dry Storage $$ Boulder / Cafe Savor coffee and carbs galore at this innovative cafe and retail grain mill. An exquisite selection of pastries, breads, and sandwiches are made from scratch daily. Reservations not accepted. 3601 Arapahoe Ave., Unit D-181, Boulder, 720-420-0918. Breakfast, Lunch

MADE FOR SHARING

Five-month-old Derecho in Cherry Creek—located above Machete Tequila & Tacos—is a chic stop for Spanish tapas, Old World wines, and cocktails. Inside the airy, light-filled space, enjoy grilled baguette slices laden with tender gigante beans, smoked cascabel oil, and black garlic aïoli. Or pair a French-vermouth-infused Negroni with the piquillo rellenos: tangy marinated peppers stuffed with goat cheese and splashed with sherry vinaigrette.

SYMBOL

Jazz Shows 2023

EEdgewater Public Market $ Edgewater / International Satisfy your cravings for everything from hearty wild game sandwiches to spicy Ethiopian fare at this eclectic collective of nearly two dozen food stalls and boutiques. Tenants include popular restaurants such as Konjo Ethiopian, Lucky Bird, Lazo Empanadas, vegan-friendly Gladys, and more. 1111 14th St., Edgewater, 303-389-3343. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

El Valle Mexican Restaurant $ Sunnyside / Mexican This casual Mexican spot serves filling breakfast burritos, plates of sizzling fajitas, and street-style tacos. Reservations accepted. 2925 W. 38th Ave., 303-975-6456. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

chicken wings, ribs, and more. Order the jalapeñocheddar sausage. Also try the Lone Tree location. 5120 W. 120th Ave., 303-379-9205. Lunch, Dinner

Dazzle is moving to the Denver Performing Arts Complex in early 2023. Subscribe to the newsletter for updates at www.DazzleDenver.com

FThe Fifth String $$$$ LoHi / American At the Fifth String, chef Amos Watts offers his seasonally inspired cooking alongside an in-house beef butchering program. The results, such as the tallow candle bread service, are delicious and inventive. Reservations accepted. 3316 Tejon St., Ste. 102, 720-420-0622. Dinner

Flower Child $$ Boulder / Health This hip eatery serves veggie bowls, fresh salads, and other health-focused fare. Also try the Cherry Creek location. Reservations not accepted. 2580 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, 303-386-8090. Lunch, Dinner

French 75 $$$$ Downtown / French Mizuna’s younger, more casual sibling features approachable French bistro fare. Visit for the revamped happy hour to enjoy $1.50 pours of prosecco and Miller High Life and $4 bottomless truffle fries. Reservations accepted. 717 17th St., Ste. B, 303-405-7575. Lunch, Dinner

Honey Elixir $$

HRiNo / Contemporary Nonalcoholic potions, boozy cocktails, sipping chocolate, teas, and more, along with a menu of light bites, are the draw at this stunning bar. 2636 Walnut St., #104, 720-328-5992. Dinner

Hop Alley $$$

RiNo / Chinese From Tommy Lee of Uncle, this neighborhood hangout serves dishes rooted in the Chinese tradition with a touch of distinctive flair. Try the dan dan mian and the fiery la zi ji laced with numbing peppercorns. Reservations accepted. 3500 Larimer St., 720-379-8340. Dinner

Gaby’s German Eatery $$

GLakewood / German This Lakewood restaurant serves delicious German and European fare, including stews, schnitzel, and a new raclette special. Reservations accepted. 245 S. Harlan St., Lakewood, 720-329-8188. Lunch, Dinner

The Greenwich $$$ RiNo / Pizza Restaurateur Delores Tronco brings a slice of her favorite New York City neighborhood to RiNo at the Greenwich. Don’t miss the satisfying sourdough pizzas and fresh, seasonal salads. Reservations accepted. 3258 Larimer St., 720-868-5006. Dinner

GQue

BBQ $$

Westminster / Barbecue This fast-casual joint serves award-winning hickory-smoked pork, brisket,

Il Porcellino Salumi $$

IBerkeley / Deli This market and deli strives to provide the highest quality, locally raised cured meats in Colorado. Pick a selection to take with you, or enjoy a fresh salumi platter or sandwich in-house. 4334 W. 41st Ave., 303-477-3206. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Istanbul Bakery & Cafe $

Washington Virginia Vale / Middle Eastern Inside the shopping center at the intersection of South Monaco Parkway and Leetsdale Drive, friendly owner Ismet Yilmaz prepares authentic Turkish pastries. Try the su böreği (water börek) or pistachio baklava. Also check out the University Park location. 850 S. Monaco Pkwy., Ste. 9, 720-536-5455. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

JJamaican Grille $$ Lincoln Park / Jamaican This family-owned Jamaican restaurant serves classic Caribbean-centric dishes like jerk chicken and fried plantains, accompanied by a menu of rum-infused cocktails. Also try the Jamaican Mini Grille and International Jerk Market in Lakewood. Reservations accepted. 709 W. Eighth Ave., 303-623-0013. Lunch, Dinner

Kachina Cantina $$

KDowntown / Southwestern Located in the Dairy Block, this spot specializes in Southwestern fare, such as Navajo tacos. Also try the Westminster-based sister location, Kachina Southwestern Grill. Reservations accepted. 1890 Wazee St., 720-460-2728. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Roberta Gambarini

Kneebody

Mark Guiliana

Tatiana Eva-Marie & Avalon Jazz Band: Django Reinhardt Birthday Celebration

Kobe An $$$

Cherry Creek / Asian Everything is traditional at this Japanese restaurant, including the seating. The menu features Japanese favorites, such as tempura, gyoza, and yakisoba. Reservations accepted. 231 Milwaukee St., 303-989-5907. Lunch, Dinner

views of downtown and an inviting menu. Reservations accepted. 2030 W. 30th Ave., 303-993-3120. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Next Level Burger $

Manna Restaurant $

La

LDiabla Pozole y Mezcal $$

Ballpark / Mexican James Beard Award finalist Jose Avila serves up comforting pozole and other traditional Mexican fare at this casual eatery. Don’t miss the weekend brunch for chilaquiles, huaraches, and a killer house michelada. Reservations not accepted. 2233 Larimer St., 720-519-1060. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Le French $$

Southmoor Park / French This chic Belleview Station bistro, owned by French-Senegalese sisters, transports diners to France via pastries and Parisian cuisine. Ring in cocktail hour with wine and beverages courtesy of an afternoon cart service. Reservations accepted. 4901 S. Newport St., 720-710-8963. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Linger $$

Highland / International Set in the former Olinger Mortuary’s parking garage, this restaurant takes you around the world with a menu of small plates. Enjoy

MCastle Rock /American This restaurant located inside Centura Adventist Hospital serves comforting pizzas, burgers, and mains. Don’t miss the broth bowl with soba noodles and shaved steak. Reservations not accepted. 2350 Meadows Blvd., Castle Rock, 720-455-3664. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Matsuhisa Denver

$$$$

Cherry Creek / Japanese Legendary chef Nobu Matsuhisa kicks Japanese staples up to the next level. Start with signature uni shooters, then dive into the iconic black cod with sweet miso. Reservations accepted. 98 Steele St., 303-329-6628. Lunch, Dinner

Misfit Snackbar $$

City Park / Contemporary Chef-owner Bo Porytko serves a rotating lineup of creative plates at this walk-up kitchen inside Middleman cocktail bar. Each one is a satisfying and imaginative twist on familiar pub fare. Try the chips and dip: smashed potatoes with an ever-changing house sauce. Reservations not accepted. 3401 E. Colfax Ave., 303-353-4207. Dinner

NUniversity /American Visit the Denver outpost of this national vegan chain for burgers, brats, and shakes, plus comforts like fries and tots topped with plant-based beer cheese. Reservations not accepted. 1605 E. Evans Ave., 720-640-6900. Lunch, Dinner

NOLA Voodoo Tavern and Perks $$

Cole / Southern New Orleans native and owner Henry Batiste serves his grandmother’s recipes for gumbo, po’boys, and much more at this Louisianainspired spot. Don’t miss the Crawfish Monica: rotini pasta with cream sauce and shellfish. Reservations accepted. 3321 Bruce Randolph Ave., 720-3899544. Lunch, Dinner

Olive & Finch $$

OCity Park West / International Discover wholesome, inspired meals at this restaurant, bakery, and juice bar, where you’ll find a full coffee bar, artisan sandwiches, hearty soups, tasty salads, and house-made pastries made daily. Also try the Cherry Creek location. 1552 E. 17th Ave., 303-832-8663. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn Song Cycle with the Colorado Symphony FEB 3-4

PPete’s Kitchen $

Cheesman Park / American A Denver landmark and a staple for late-night comfort food, Pete’s is known for its breakfasts but also serves gyros and souvlaki sandwiches. Reservations not accepted. 1962 E. Colfax Ave., 303-321-3139. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Point Easy

$$$$

Whittier / Contemporary This casual, inviting farmto-table eatery reimagines American and Italian classics with thoughtfully sourced ingredients, many of which are local. Reservations accepted. 2000 E. 28th Ave., 303-233-5656. Dinner

Somebody People $$

Overland /Mediterranean At this vegan restaurant, Sam and Tricia Maher and head chef Art Burnayev run a pasta program with dishes that celebrate seasonal bounty. Try the $40 Feed Me experience. Reservations accepted. 1165 S. Broadway, Ste. 104, 720-502-5681. Dinner, Brunch

Spuntino $$$

Highland /Italian Enjoy the locally sourced menu at this Italian-inspired, husband-and-wife-owned spot. Try the seasonal pasta or any dish with Southern Indian influences. Don’t miss the house-made gelato for dessert. Reservations accepted. 2639 W. 32nd Ave., 303-433-0949. Dinner

Sunday Vinyl $$$$

Downtown /European This hip European-style restaurant and wine bar at Union Station offers warm hospitality and exquisite cuisine, all to the soundtrack of a vinyl-only playlist. Try the house hot dog and fresh oysters. Reservations accepted. 1803 16th St., 720-738-1803. Dinner, Brunch

Quiero Arepas $$

QPlatt Park / Latin American Venezuelan flatbreads, or arepas, are the draw. Try the La Havana, a take on a Cubano featuring slow-roasted pork, ham, and Muenster with a creamy mayo-mustard-pickle sauce. 1859 S. Pearl St., 720-432-4205. Lunch, Dinner

Super Mega Bien $$$ RiNo /Latin American Dana Rodriguez offers large-format, shareable items and Pan-Latin small plates, the latter served from roving dim-sum-style carts. Try the braised lamb with grilled cactus salad. Reservations not accepted. The Ramble Hotel, 1260 25th St., 720-269-4695. Dinner

RRedeemer Pizza $$$

RiNo / Pizza Spencer White and Alex Figura, the duo behind Dio Mio, bring blistered, New York City–style sourdough pizza to RiNo. Nosh on full-size pies in the dining room or nab a slice to go from the casual walk-up window on the back patio. Reservations accepted. 2705 Larimer St., 720-780-1379. Dinner

Rewild

$$$

West Highland / American Enjoy veggie-forward small plates and locally sourced mains at Nurture’s eveningtime restaurant, Rewild, helmed by chef Juan Tapia. Don’t miss the roasted delicata squash and other seasonal delights. Reservations accepted. 2949 Federal Blvd., 303-390-1252. Dinner

TTamayo $$$ Downtown / Mexican This spot serves modern dishes based on traditional recipes and ingredients. Visit the rooftop lounge and the selection of more than 100 tequilas. Reservations accepted. 1400 Larimer St., 720-946-1433. Lunch, Dinner, Brunch

Tavernetta $$$$

Downtown / Italian The team behind Boulder’s Frasca Food and Wine offers the same attention to detail and hospitality at this more casual Denver restaurant. Go for dishes from across Italy and the deep wine list. Reservations accepted. 1889 16th St., 720-605-1889. Lunch, Dinner

SSafta $$$

RiNo /Mediterranean Chef Alon Shaya brings his modern Israeli fare to Denver. Start with creamy hummus and wood-oven pita before moving on to harissa-coated roast chicken and tender cabbage cooked sous vide. Reservations accepted. The Source Hotel & Market Hall, 3330 Brighton Blvd., 720-408-2444. Lunch, Dinner

Seoul Mandoo $$

Aurora / Korean This petite spot serves steamed and fried Korean dumplings that are made from scratch daily. Don’t miss the wang mandu (giant dumplings). Reservations not accepted. 2222 S. Havana St., Unit J, Aurora, 303-953-9590. Lunch, Dinner

Tocabe, An American Indian Eatery $ Berkeley / American Feast on Indigenous fare like fry bread tacos with bison, beans, lettuce, cheese, and salsas alongside spicy potato- and corn-laden green chile stew. Also try the Greenwood Village location. Reservations not accepted. 3536 W. 44th Ave., 720-524-8282. Lunch, Dinner

UUchi Denver $$$$

RiNo / Japanese James Beard Award–winning chef Tyson Cole combines unexpected flavors for his unique take on Japanese food at this restaurant with its own garden. Visit for the daily happy hour when nigiri and temaki are less than $10. Reservations accepted. 2500 Lawrence St., 303-444-1922. Dinner

Uncle $$

Speer / Asian A bustling atmosphere defines this popular noodle house. The menu includes Chinesestyle steamed buns and, of course, noodles. Also try the Highland location. Reservations accepted. 95 S. Pennsylvania St., 720-638-1859. Dinner

Urban Village Grill $$$

Lone Tree / Indian Chef Charles Mani serves classic and contemporary dishes from regions from across India at this eatery inside Park Meadows Mall. Reservations accepted. 8505 Park Meadows Center Dr., Unit 2184, Lone Tree, 720-536-8565. Lunch, Dinner

Water Grill $$$$

Downtown / Seafood Fresh seafood is flown in daily to this upscale restaurant, filling a comprehensive menu of whole fish, crustaceans, and raw bar offerings. Whet your appetite with the Fanny Bay oysters, then follow up with the Chilean sea bass surrounded by butternut squash gnocchi. Reservations accepted. 1691 Market St., 303-727-5711. Lunch,

Dinner

The Wolf’s Tailor $$$$

Yabby Hut $$

YLakewood / Cajun Transport yourself to the bayou at this seafood joint. Dive into crawfish, shrimp, and crab, then leave the mess on the throw-away tablecloths. 3355 S. Yarrow St., Lakewood, 303-985-0231. Lunch, Dinner

Vital Root $

VBerkeley / American Grab a seat in the airy space and nosh on chilled carrot-ginger soup or a veggie dosa at this health-conscious eatery. Reservations not accepted. 3915 Tennyson St., 303-474-4131. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Vinh Xuong Bakery $

Athmar Park / Vietnamese This family-owned bakery has roots in Denver that stretch back more than 25 years, serving up delicious banh mi sandwiches and other tasty Vietnamese treats. Reservations not accepted. 2370 W. Alameda Ave., 303-922-0999. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sunnyside / Contemporary Chef Kelly Whitaker fuses Asian and Italian techniques and ingredients at this hip Sunnyside eatery. The results, such as 7X brisket braised in dashi and red wine, are unique and delicious. Reservations accepted. 4058 Tejon St., 720-456-6507. Dinner

ZZin Zin’s Burmese Cuisine $ Aurora /Asian Sample Burmese cuisine like beef samosas and mohinga (rice noodles in a split pea purée) at this takeout-only restaurant located inside Aurora Town Center. 14200 E. Alameda Ave., Aurora, 720-982-2477. Lunch, Dinner

Zorba’s $$

Xicamiti La Taquería $$

XGolden / Mexican This long-standing joint serves cooked-to-order burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and alambres (skillet dishes) made with recipes inspired by Walter Meza’s childhood in Mexico. Reservations not accepted. 715 Washington Ave., Golden, 303-215-3436. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Congress Park / Greek Zorba’s has served comforting fare, from moussaka to chicken and waffles, in Congress Park since 1979. 2626 E. 12th Ave., 303-321-0091. Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch



These listings are in no way related to advertising in 5280. If you find that a restaurant differs significantly from the information in its listing or your favorite restaurant is missing from the Dining Guide, please let us know. Write us at 5280 Publishing, Inc., 1675 Larimer St., Suite 675, Denver, CO 80202 or dining@5280.com.

VALENTINE’S IS COMING

with substance misuse, and in 2015, he suffered a relapse. Azar got him into rehab in January 2016, but it didn’t take. Loncar’s teenage daughter died by suicide later that year. Azar met with Loncar after the funeral and brought up Len Bias, the college basketball star who died from a cocaine overdose in 1986. “Don’t do anything stupid,” Azar implored his friend.

A few weeks later, Loncar was found dead in his brand-new Rolls Royce convertible at 8:30 in the morning, Azar says: “He’d OD’d on cocaine.” It felt like Azar had lost a brother. “I belong to Dallas National Golf Club, which is probably one of the greatest golf clubs in the country,” Azar says. “I went down to Dallas twice, and I just felt so bad. I haven’t been down there since.”

But the Strong Arm doesn’t dwell. Rather than using Loncar’s death as an

excuse to retreat into a more relaxed existence, Azar seems more inspired than ever to defend—and extend—his empire. This year, FDA filed suit against Slocumb Law Firm, which used Google ad words and metadata so advertisements for the Alabama-based firm appeared when people searched for Azar. Azar is also involved in a suit-countersuit with the former head of his class-action division. He says she tried to steal clients; she says he defamed her.

And then there is the case of Judge Edward Moss. As a judge in Colorado’s 17th Judicial District, Moss presided over Adams and Broomfield county courts for nearly two decades, which means he came into frequent contact with FDA lawyers. “He did not like Frank,” says FDA’s LaCrue, “and he would often make it very well known.”

Because of Azar’s commercials, juries frequently enter trials carrying preconceived notions about FDA lawyers. “More often than not,” LaCrue says, “it’s detrimental.”

In an attempt to sidestep that prejudicial land mine, many FDA attorneys—though not LaCrue, she says—ask judges to forbid the defense from mentioning that they are in the employ of Franklin D. Azar &

Associates. When Azar attorneys filed one such motion in Moss’ courtroom, the judge replied, “If you think your advertising prejudices your client’s ability to get a fair trial, and rule 1.7 says you shouldn’t do things because there’s a personal interest of the lawyer, why don’t you just stop advertising?” Moss says he held no special animus toward Azar and meant no harm by the comment. “Mr. Azar never appeared in front of me in 16 years, so I’ve never met him,” Moss says. “I’ve never seen him, except for on TV.”

Colorado state judges are appointed to their seats for an initial term of two years but are up for general election after that (every four years for the county court, six years for district court, eight for appeals court, and 10 for the state Supreme Court). The state organizes bodies called Judicial Performance Commissions to evaluate candidates and to recommend to voters whether judges should be retained or not—and they almost always are. According to a 2016 story by 9News, only three state judges had been voted off their benches during the previous two decades, a statistic that explains why hardly anyone ever wastes money contributing to

judicial races. But in 2018, Azar surprised many, including the judge, by spending more than $300,000 in an effort to remove Moss from the bench.

Azar claims he didn’t act alone and that a group of 50 to 60 area lawyers wanted to oust Moss, although he declines to name names. And, he says, his crusade wasn’t just against Moss: It was also against the system that allowed Moss to keep his seat. “You tell me there’s only been three bad judges [in 20 years]?” Azar says. “You have to basically assassinate somebody on the steps of the courthouse as a judge before they’ll do anything about it.”

Voters retained Moss, who worked for two more years and then vacated the bench when he hit the mandatory retirement age of 72. Moss says he bears no ill will toward FDA attorneys: “They’re in court a lot, they know what they’re doing, they specialize in this one area of law, and they’re good lawyers.” On the day Moss retired, LaCrue says the judge said to her, “Today is my last day. I’m sure there’s a giant party at Frank Azar.” (Moss denies the exchange.) If there were a celebration—and Azar says there wasn’t—it would’ve been because there’d now be no

chance Moss could preside over State Farm v. Claudio E. De La Cruz-Arellano.

The case dates to 2015, when a teenager lost control of his vehicle while drag-racing and crashed into another car. The victim, De La Cruz-Arellano, accumulated medical bills of greater than $600,000 and later that year sued parties involved in the accident who were insured by State Farm. But the defendants entered into an agreement with De La Cruz-Arellano, who was represented by FDA, that shielded them from personal financial liability greater than the insurance policy’s limits (in this case, $25,000). In return, the defendants agreed not to dispute the damages sought by the plaintiff, which a judge later determined to be $1.38 million. The arrangement paved the way for De La Cruz-Arellano to try and collect that money directly from State Farm, as opposed to the defendants.

Not surprisingly, the company wasn’t pleased with the newfound alliance between plaintiff and defendants. In 2016, it sued all three, and Moss, then the judge on the case, ruled in favor of State Farm, determining De La Cruz-Arellano had no claim against the insurance company. (Moss’ ruling

came down in 2018. Azar started funneling money into a campaign against the judge later that year.) FDA appealed to the Colorado Court of Appeals, which sided with Azar. The case will finally go to trial next month—but this time with a new judge on the bench.

In a twist worthy of a courtroom drama, the FDA team believes it needs the Strong Arm’s help to win this suit. LaCrue and Brown tried a similar case against State Farm in 2016 and believe they lost the trial because the insurer’s lawyers, the same ones they will face next month, attacked Azar by characterizing him as a greedy ambulance chaser. LaCrue, who will try the case for FDA, has asked her boss to return to the courtroom for the first time in a long time. Azar will handle jury selection. He will likely ask about backgrounds and beliefs. Biases. Do you know who I am? Then, the thinking goes, the jury will see that Azar is a human being—not just a billboard. If they just get to know him a little, maybe he can win them over. m

Spencer Campbell is 5280 ’s features editor. Email feedback to letters@5280.com.

Going from a student in the Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) Future Center to a DSF Alum and now beginning my career as a DSF Campus Advisor has been a full circle experience. DSF allowed me to see college as a possibility and helped take away a lot of the uneasiness, doubt, barriers, and challenges. Starting at the DSF Future Center set me up for life-long success.

Xochitl Ramirez Amaro

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William T. Dawson

WILLIAM T. DAWSON

1575 Race St. Denver 80206 303-455-0400 williamdawsonlaw.com

Steven R. Earl

APEX DISABILITY LAW

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Alonit Katzman

ELLIOTT LAW OFFICES

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Michael S. Krieger

MICHAEL S. KRIEGER

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Shawn E. McDermott

MCDERMOTT LAW

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Chris Noel

JAMES L. NOEL

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ELDER

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CHAYET & DANZO

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CONOVER LAW

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Virginia Frazer-Abel

FRAZER-ABEL LAW 4704 Harlan St., Suite 250 Denver 80212 720-638-1465 vfalegal.com

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LAW OFFICE OF BRADLEY J. FRIGON P.O. Box 271621 Littleton 80217 720-200-4025 bjflaw.com

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GERMANY LAW FIRM

77 Erie Village Square, Suite 100 Erie 80516 303-454-3711 coelderlaw.com

M. Carl Glatstein

GLATSTEIN & O’BRIEN 2696 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 350 Denver 80222 303-757-4342 denverprobatelaw.com

Ayo Labode

LAW OFFICE OF AYO LABODE

455 Sherman St., Suite 100 Denver 80203 720-295-9509 labodelaw.com

Letitia M. Maxfield

WADE ASH

4500 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 600 Denver 80246 303-322-8943 wadeash.com

Thomas A. Rodriguez

LATHROP GPM 675 15th St., Suite 2650 Denver 80202 720-931-3200 lathropgpm.com

Tamara E. Trujillo CHAYET & DANZO 650 S. Cherry St., Suite 710 Denver 80246 303-355-8500 coloradoelderlaw.com

ENTERTAINMENT & SPORTS

Leigh Augustine

AUGUSTINE SPORTS 5994 S. Holly St., Suite 400 Greenwood Village 80111 720-432-1069 augustinesports.com

Errol Brown

HAYNES BOONE 675 15th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-382-6230 haynesboone.com

Sarah Hartley BRYAN CAVE LEIGHTON PAISNER 1700 Lincoln St., Suite 4100 Denver 80203 303-861-7000 bclplaw.com

Mark Kurtenbach

HOGAN LOVELLS

1601 Wewatta St., Suite 900 Denver 80202 303-899-7300 hoganlovells.com

James D. Leonard FAEGRE DRINKER 1144 15th St., Suite 3400 Denver 80202 303-607-3500 faegredrinker.com

Dave Ratner

CREATIVE LAW NETWORK 2701 Lawrence St. Denver 80205 720-924-6529 creativelawnetwork.com

Steven B. Smith

BRYAN CAVE LEIGHTON PAISNER 1700 Lincoln St., Suite 4100 Denver 80203 303-861-7000 bclplaw.com

Craig A. Umbaugh

HOGAN LOVELLS

1601 Wewatta St., Suite 900 Denver 80202 303-899-7300 hoganlovells.com

ENVIRONMENTAL

Jennifer Biever

WILLIAMS WEESE PEPPLE & FERGUSON

1801 California St., Suite 3400 Denver 80202 303-861-2828 williamsweese.com

Barbara J.B. Green

SULLIVAN GREEN SEAVY 3223 Arapahoe Ave., Suite 300 Boulder 80303 303-355-4405 sullivangreenseavy.com

Ana Maria Gutierrez

HOGAN LOVELLS 1601 Wewatta St., Suite 900 Denver 80202 303-899-7300 hoganlovells.com

John R. Jacus

DAVIS GRAHAM & STUBBS 1550 17th St., Suite 500 Denver 80202 303-892-9400 dgslaw.com

Peter Nichols

BERG HILL GREENLEAF RUSCITTI

1712 Pearl St. Boulder 80302 303-402-1600 bhgrlaw.com

Gabe Racz

VRANESH AND RAISCH 5303 Spine Road, Suite 202 Boulder 80301 303-443-6151 vrlaw.com

Scott H. Reisch

HOGAN LOVELLS

1601 Wewatta St., Suite 900 Denver 80202 303-899-7300 hoganlovells.com

Carlos R. Romo

WILLIAMS WEESE PEPPLE & FERGUSON 1801 California St., Suite 3400 Denver 80202 303-861-2828 williamsweese.com

Elizabeth

H. Temkin

DAVIS GRAHAM & STUBBS

1550 17th St., Suite 500 Denver 80202 303-892-9400 dgslaw.com

Eric Waeckerlin

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

J. Kemper Will

BURNS, FIGA & WILL 6400 S. Fiddlers Green Circle, Suite 1000 Greenwood Village 80111 303-796-2626 bfwlaw.com

ESTATE PLANNING

Michelle Adams

LAW OFFICE OF MICHELLE ADAMS 2373 Central Park Blvd., Suite 100 Denver 80238 720-740-4463 coloradofamilylegacy.com

Desta Asfaw

HOLLAND & HART

555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Merry H. Balson

BALSON FAIX & MCVEY 6041 S. Syracuse Way, Suite 315 Greenwood Village 80111 720-974-6350 balsonfaix.com

Laura Dinan

HOLLAND & HART

555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Susan R.

Harris

SUSAN R. HARRIS & ASSOCIATES

5600 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Suite 255 Greenwood Village 80111 303-741-4776 srhassoc.com

Michelle Rose-Hughes

TUTHILL & HUGHES

55 Madison St., Suite 555 Denver 80206 303-243-3100 tuthillhughes.com

David Starbuck

BAKERHOSTETLER

1801 California St., Suite 4400 Denver 80202 303-764-4107 bakerlaw.com

Bridget Sullivan

SHERMAN & HOWARD 633 17th St., Suite 3000 Denver 80202 303-297-2900 shermanhoward.com

Stephanie M. Tuthill

TUTHILL & HUGHES 55 Madison St., Suite 555 Denver 80206 303-243-3100 tuthillhughes.com

FAMILY LAW/DIVORCE

Jordan Fox

SHERMAN & HOWARD

633 17th St., Suite 3000 Denver 80202 303-297-2900 shermanhoward.com

Suzanne Griffiths

GRIFFITHS LAW 10375 Park Meadows Drive, Suite 520 Lone Tree 80124 303-858-8090 griffithslawpc.com

April Jones

JONES LAW FIRM 9085 E. Mineral Circle, Suite 190 Centennial 80112 303-799-8155 denverdivorceattorneys.com

Maha Kamal

COLORADO FAMILY LAW PROJECT 1627 Vine St. Denver 80206 720-897-5182 coloradofamilylawproject.com

David A. Lamb

SHERR PUTTMANN AKINS LAMB 7979 E. Tufts Ave., Suite 1650 Denver 80237 303-741-5300 spalfamilylaw.com

Kate M. Lewis

COOPER RAMP CAGE BUCAR LEWIS 1441 18th St., Suite 300 Denver 80202 303-296-9412 crcbl.com

Halleh T. Omidi

HOGAN OMIDI

3773 Cherry Creek North Drive, Suite 950 Denver 80209 303-691-9600 hoganomidi.com

Jerremy M. Ramp

COOPER RAMP CAGE BUCAR LEWIS

1441 18th St., Suite 300 Denver 80202 303-296-9412 crcbl.com

Megan Sherr

SHERR PUTTMANN AKINS LAMB

7979 E. Tufts Ave., Suite 1650 Denver 80237 303-741-5300 spalfamilylaw.com

Nicoal C. Sperrazza

LAW OFFICE OF NICOAL C. SPERRAZZA 3900 E. Mexico Ave., Suite 604 Denver 80210 303-481-6360 denfamilylegal.com

Danaé D. Woody

WOODY LAW FIRM

140 E. 19th Ave., Suite 600 Denver 80203 303-968-1711 woodylawllc.com

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS/ CONTRACTS/LOBBYING

Jon Anderson

MAVEN LAW GROUP 6501 E. Belleview Ave. Englewood 80111 303-218-7150 mavenlawgroup.com

Norman Brownstein

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-233-1100 bhfs.com

Michael Feeley

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-233-1100 bhfs.com

Douglas

J. Friednash

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-233-1100 bhfs.com

Mark Grueskin

RECHT KORNFELD

1600 Stout St., Suite 1400 Denver 80202 303-573-1900 rklawpc.com

Melissa Kuipers Blake

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-233-1100 bhfs.com

Scott Martinez

MARTINEZ AND PARTNERS 1228 15th St., Suite 213 Denver 80202 303-578-6258 martinezandpartners.com

Sarah Mercer

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-233-1100 bhfs.com

Christopher Murray

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-233-1100 bhfs.com

Trey Rogers RECHT KORNFELD

1600 Stout St., Suite 1400 Denver 80202 303-573-1900 rklawpc.com

Jep Seman

COLORADO ADVOCATES 23 S. Kalamath St., Suite 200 Denver 80223 720-377-0703 coloradoadvocates.com

Martha Tierney

TIERNEY LAWRENCE 225 E. 16th Ave., Suite 350 Denver 80203 720-242-7577 tierneylawrence.com

HEALTH

Erin M. Eiselein

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

Jennifer L. Evans

POLSINELLI

1401 Lawrence St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-572-9300 polsinelli.com

Colleen Faddick POLSINELLI

1401 Lawrence St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-572-9300 polsinelli.com

Mark A. Fogg

CHILDS MCCUNE

821 17th St., Suite 500 Denver 80202 303-296-7300 childsmccune.com

Ann C. McCullough

POLSINELLI

1401 Lawrence St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-572-9300 polsinelli.com

Jim Miles

GREENBERG TRAURIG

1144 15th St., Suite 3300 Denver 80202 303-572-6500 gtlaw.com

Anna-Liisa Mullis

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

Meghan E. Pound

CAPLAN AND EARNEST

3107 Iris Ave., Suite 100 Boulder 80301 303-443-8010 celaw.com

Jennifer A. Sullivan

CAPLAN AND EARNEST 3107 Iris Ave., Suite 100 Boulder 80301 303-443-8010 celaw.com

Emily K. Weber

FOLEY & LARDNER

1400 16th St., Suite 200 Denver 80202 720-437-2000 foley.com

IMMIGRATION

Leigh A. Alpert

BATTAN ALPERT 4440 Arapahoe Ave., Suite 110 Boulder 80303 303-444-8668 battanalpert.com

Mark R. Barr

LICHTER IMMIGRATION 1601 Vine St. Denver 80206 303-554-8400 lichterimmigration.com

Ali Brodie

FOX ROTHSCHILD 1225 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-292-1200 foxrothschild.com

Christina Brown

LAW OFFICE OF CHRISTINA BROWN 1888 Sherman St., Suite 200 Denver 80203 303-747-3494 cbrownlawoffice.com

Courtney Butler

PALMER POLASKI

1761 N. Emerson St. Denver 80218 303-736-6650 eahimmigration.com

Jennifer Casey

KOLKO & CASEY 5251 S. Quebec St., Suite 200 Greenwood Village 80111 303-371-1822 kolkocasey.com

Catherine A. Chan

CHAN LAW FIRM 1737 Gaylord St. Denver 80206 303-586-5555 chanimmigration.com

Angela Cifor

MCGUIRE LAW

58 Inverness Drive East, Suite 203 Englewood 80112 720-922-2988 mcguirelegalsolutions.com

Kathleen M. Glynn

GROB & EIRICH

12596 W. Bayaud Ave., Suite 390

Lakewood 80228 303-816-8147 grobeirich.com

Lisa Green

GREEN & MARIS

1790 30th St., Suite 200 Boulder 80301 303-444-9500 greenmaris.com

Aaron C. Hall

JOSEPH & HALL 12203 E. Second Ave. Aurora 80011 303-297-9171 immigrationissues.com

David Harston

PALMER POLASKI 1761 N. Emerson St. Denver 80218 303-736-6650 eahimmigration.com

Christine M. Hernández

HERNANDEZ & ASSOCIATES

1801 York St. Denver 80206 303-623-1122 hdezlaw.com

Jennifer Howard

JOSEPH & HALL 12203 E. Second Ave. Aurora 80011 303-297-9171 immigrationissues.com

Jeff Joseph

BERRY APPLEMAN & LEIDEN

1900 Wazee St., Suite 303 Denver 80202 303-248-7888 bal.com

Kristin Knudson

KNUDSON & ASSOCIATES 550 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 302 Lakewood 80226 303-974-7758 knudsonandassociates.com

Shawn D. Meade

MYRIGHTS IMMIGRATION LAW FIRM 8205 E. Colfax Ave. Denver 80220 303-495-5121 myrightsimmigration.com

Hans Meyer

MEYER LAW OFFICE 1547 N. Gaylord St. Denver 80206 303-831-0817 themeyerlawoffice.com

Maria Monclova

MONCLOVA LAW 1745 S. Federal Blvd. Denver 80219 303-974-5049 abogadamonclova.com

Camila Palmer

PALMER POLASKI

1761 N. Emerson St. Denver 80218 303-736-6650 eahimmigration.com

Koby Polaski

PALMER POLASKI 1761 N. Emerson St. Denver 80218 303-736-6650 eahimmigration.com

Alyssa Reed

REED IMMIGRATION 2325 W. 72nd Ave. Denver 80221 303-957-0192 reedimmigration.com

INSURANCE

W. Randolph Barnhart

HAILEY HART

383 Corona St., Suite 319 Denver 80218 720-400-7970 haileyhartlaw.com

John P. Craver

WHITE AND STEELE

600 17th St., Suite 600N Denver 80202 303-296-2828 whiteandsteele.com

Bradley A. Levin

LEVIN SITCOFF WANEKA 1512 Larimer St., Suite 650 Denver 80202 303-575-9390 levinsitcoff.com

Christopher R. Mosley FOLEY HOAG 720-782-5075 foleyhoag.com

Franklin D. Patterson

PATTERSON RIPPLINGER 5613 DTC Parkway, Suite 400 Greenwood Village 80111 303-741-4539 prpclegal.com

Dennis Polk

HOLLEY, ALBERTSON & POLK 1667 Cole Blvd., Building 19, Suite 100 Lakewood 80401 303-233-7838

Terence M. Ridley

SPENCER FANE

1700 Lincoln St., Suite 2000 Denver 80203 303-839-3800 spencerfane.com

Michael J. Rosenberg

JORDAN, HERINGTON & ROWLEY 5445 DTC Parkway, Suite 1000 Greenwood Village 80111 303-766-8153 jordanlaw.com

Jon F. Sands

SWEETBAUM SANDS 1200 17th St., Suite 1250 Denver 80202 303-888-9148 sweetbaumsands.com

Jeremy A. Sitcoff

LEVIN SITCOFF WANEKA 1512 Larimer St., Suite 650 Denver 80202 303-575-9390 levinsitcoff.com

Evan Stephenson

SPENCER FANE

1700 Lincoln St., Suite 2000 Denver 80203 303-839-3800 spencerfane.com

Nelson A. Waneka

LEVIN SITCOFF WANEKA

1512 Larimer St., Suite 650 Denver 80202 303-575-9390 levinsitcoff.com

Zachary Warzel

KEATING WAGNER POLIDORI FREE 1290 Broadway, Suite 600 Denver 80203 303-534-0401 keatingwagner.com

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: LITIGATION

Aaron Bradford

SHERIDAN ROSS

1560 Broadway, Suite 1200 Denver 80202 303-863-9700 sheridanross.com

Robert R. Brunelli

SHERIDAN ROSS

1560 Broadway, Suite 1200 Denver 80202 303-863-9700 sheridanross.com

Tim Getzoff

HOLLAND & HART

1800 Broadway, Suite 300 Boulder 80302 303-473-2700 hollandhart.com

Kourtney Mueller Merrill

PERKINS COIE

1900 16th St., Suite 1400 Denver 80202 303-291-2300 perkinscoie.com

Mindy V. Sooter

WILMERHALE

1225 17th St., Suite 2600 Denver 80202 720-598-3428 wilmerhale.com

Amanda Tessar

PERKINS COIE

1900 16th St., Suite 1400 Denver 80202 303-291-2300 perkinscoie.com

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: PATENT

Michael Drapkin

HOLLAND & HART

1800 Broadway, Suite 300 Boulder 80302 303-473-2700 hollandhart.com

Gregory P. Durbin

POLSINELLI 1401 Lawrence St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-572-9300 polsinelli.com

Ben Fernandez WILMERHALE 1225 17th St., Suite 2600 Denver 80202 720-598-3428 wilmerhale.com

Richard J. Holzer Jr.

HOLZER PATEL DRENNAN 216 16th St., Suite 1350 Denver 80202 720-204-5731 hpdlaw.com

Craig A. Neugeboren

NEUGEBOREN O’DOWD 726 Front St., Suite 220 Louisville 80027 720-536-4900 neugeborenlaw.com

Lee R. Osman

DORSEY & WHITNEY

1400 Wewatta St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-629-3400 dorsey.com

Margaret Polson

POLSON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

1001 W. 120th Ave., Suite 215 Westminster 80234 303-485-7640 polsoniplaw.com

David St. John-Larkin

PERKINS COIE

1900 16th St., Suite 1400 Denver 80202 303-291-2300 perkinscoie.com

Kirstin L. Stoll-DeBell FAEGRE DRINKER 1144 15th St., Suite 3400 Denver 80202 303-607-3500 faegredrinker.com

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: TRADEMARK

Andrea Anderson

HOLLAND & HART

1800 Broadway, Suite 300 Boulder 80302 303-473-2700 hollandhart.com

Alexander J.A. Garcia

HOLLAND & HART

1800 Broadway, Suite 300 Boulder 80302 303-473-2700 hollandhart.com

Scott Havlick

HOLLAND & HART

1800 Broadway, Suite 300 Boulder 80302 303-473-2700 hollandhart.com

Charlene Krogh

DORSEY & WHITNEY

1400 Wewatta St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-629-3400 dorsey.com

Kazuyo Morita

HOLLAND & HART

1800 Broadway, Suite 300 Boulder 80302 303-473-2700 hollandhart.com

Dave Ratner

CREATIVE LAW NETWORK

2701 Lawrence St. Denver 80205 720-924-6529 creativelawnetwork.com

Sabrina C. Stavish

SHERIDAN ROSS

1560 Broadway, Suite 1200 Denver 80202 303-863-9700 sheridanross.com

Miriam D. Trudell

SHERIDAN ROSS 1560 Broadway, Suite 1200 Denver 80202 303-863-9700 sheridanross.com

INTERNATIONAL

Stephen Bain

WELBORN SULLIVAN MECK & TOOLEY

1401 Lawrence St., Suite 1800 Denver 80202 303-830-2500 wsmtlaw.com

Troy Braegger

DORSEY & WHITNEY

1400 Wewatta St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-629-3400 dorsey.com

Jay JuneKun Choi

JAY JUNEKUN CHOI

8310 S. Valley Highway, Suite 300 Englewood 80112 303-956-1620 jaychoilaw.com

Amy Hirter

CASCADE BUSINESS LAW 700 Cascade Ave. Boulder 80302 303-359-4244 cascadebizlaw.com

Garth Jensen SHERMAN & HOWARD 633 17th St., Suite 3000 Denver 80202 303-297-2900 shermanhoward.com

Paul Thompson DORSEY & WHITNEY 1400 Wewatta St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-629-3400 dorsey.com

David Wilson

SHERMAN & HOWARD 633 17th St., Suite 3000 Denver 80202 303-297-2900 shermanhoward.com

JUVENILE DEFENSE

Holly Gummerson

GUMMERSON & NICKOLAUS

5400 Ward Road, Building 2, Suite 200 Arvada 80002 720-328-2862 gummersonnickolaus.com

Michael Juba

JUBA LAW OFFICE 675 N. Grant St. Denver 80203 303-974-1080 jubalawoffice.com

Hannah Seigel Proff

PROFF LAW 3309 N. Downing St. Denver 80205 303-628-5581 profflaw.com

Mike Rafik

RAFIK & JACOBSON 711 Walnut St. Boulder 80302 303-444-9292 rafiklaw.com

Jenifer Stinson

STINSON LAW OFFICE 1245 E. Colfax Ave., Suite 300 Denver 80218 303-483-3161

LABOR/EMPLOYMENT: DEFENSE

Gillian Bidgood

POLSINELLI

1401 Lawrence St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-572-9300 polsinelli.com

Stacey Campbell

CAMPBELL LITIGATION 1410 N. High St. Denver 80218 303-536-1833 campbell-litigation.com

Kathleen E. Craigmile

HALL BOOTH SMITH 5619 DTC Parkway, Suite 1200 Greenwood Village 80111 303-773-3500 hallboothsmith.com

Todd Fredrickson

FISHER PHILLIPS 1125 17th St., Suite 2400 Denver 80202 303-218-3650 fisherphillips.com

Michelle Gomez

LITTLER MENDELSON 1900 16th St., Suite 800 Denver 80202 303-629-6200 littler.com

Laura J. Hazen

H&K LAW

3900 E. Mexico Ave., Suite 300 Denver 80210 303-749-0649 hklawllc.us

Susan P. Klopman

H&K LAW 3900 E. Mexico Ave., Suite 300 Denver 80210 303-749-0649 hklawllc.us

Vance Knapp

ARMSTRONG TEASDALE 4643 S. Ulster St., Suite 800 Denver 80237 720-200-0676 atllp.com

Meghan W. Martinez

MARTINEZ LAW GROUP

720 S. Colorado Blvd., South Tower, Suite 1020 Denver 80246 303-597-4000 mlgrouppc.com

Jon Olafson

LEWIS BRISBOIS BISGAARD & SMITH 1700 Lincoln St., Suite 4000 Denver 80203 303-861-7760 lewisbrisbois.com

Michele On-ja Choe

WHEELER TRIGG O’DONNELL 370 17th St., Suite 4500 Denver 80202 303-244-1800 wtotrial.com

Christine Samsel

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-233-1100 bhfs.com

Danielle Urban

FISHER PHILLIPS

1125 17th St., Suite 2400 Denver 80202 303-218-3650 fisherphillips.com

Martine T. Wells

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-233-1100 bhfs.com

LABOR/EMPLOYMENT: PLAINTIFF

Felipe Bohnet-Gomez

RATHOD MOHAMEDBHAI

2701 Lawrence St., Suite 100 Denver 80205 303-578-4400 rmlawyers.com

John Culver

BENEZRA & CULVER 633 17th St., Suite 1450 Denver 80202 303-716-0254 denveremploymentlawyer.com

Paula Greisen

KING & GREISEN 1670 York St. Denver 80206 303-298-9878 kinggreisen.com

Iris

Halpern

RATHOD MOHAMEDBHAI 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 100 Denver 80205 303-578-4400 rmlawyers.com

Darold Killmer

KILLMER, LANE & NEWMAN 1543 Champa St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-571-1000 kln-law.com

Diane

King

KING & GREISEN 1670 York St. Denver 80206 303-298-9878 kinggreisen.com

Mary Jo Lowrey

LOWREY PARADY LEBSACK

1490 N. Lafayette St., Suite 304 Denver 80218 303-593-2595 lowrey-parady.com

Qusair Mohamedbhai

RATHOD MOHAMEDBHAI 2701 Lawrence St., Suite 100 Denver 80205 303-578-4400 rmlawyers.com

Sarah

Parady

LOWREY PARADY LEBSACK

1490 N. Lafayette St., Suite 304 Denver 80218 303-593-2595 lowrey-parady.com

Jennifer Robinson

ROBINSON & ASSOCIATES 3300 S. Parker Road, Suite 300 Aurora 80014 303-872-3063

Clayton E. Wire

OGBORN MIHM 1700 Lincoln St., Suite 2700 Denver 80203 303-592-5900 omtrial.com

Deborah Yim

PRIMERA LAW GROUP 1240 S. Parker Road, Suite 103 Denver 80231 720-239-2567 primeralaw.com

MARIJUANA

Rachael Ardanuy

RZA LEGAL

3570 E. 12th Ave., Suite 200 Denver 80206 303-586-5020 rzalegal.com

Jennifer Benda

HOLLAND & HART

555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Marshall A. Custer

HUSCH BLACKWELL

1801 Wewatta St., Suite 1000 Denver 80202 303-749-7200 huschblackwell.com

Shawn Hauser

VICENTE SEDERBERG

455 Sherman St., Suite 390 Denver 80203 303-860-4501 vicentesederberg.com

Steve N. Levine

HUSCH BLACKWELL

1801 Wewatta St., Suite 1000 Denver 80202 303-749-7200 huschblackwell.com

Jerrico Perez

VICENTE SEDERBERG

455 Sherman St., Suite 390 Denver 80203 303-860-4501 vicentesederberg.com

Christian Sederberg

VICENTE SEDERBERG

455 Sherman St., Suite 390 Denver 80203 303-860-4501 vicentesederberg.com

Brian Vicente

VICENTE SEDERBERG

455 Sherman St., Suite 390 Denver 80203 303-860-4501 vicentesederberg.com

Yuefan Wang

HUSCH BLACKWELL

1801 Wewatta St., Suite 1000 Denver 80202 303-749-7200 huschblackwell.com

MEDIA/FIRST AMENDMENT

Marc D. Flink

BAKERHOSTETLER 1801 California St., Suite 4400 Denver 80202 303-764-4030 bakerlaw.com

Sean Gallagher POLSINELLI 1401 Lawrence St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-572-9300 polsinelli.com

Thomas B. Kelley

KILLMER, LANE & NEWMAN

1543 Champa St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-571-1000 kln-law.com

Ashley I. Kissinger

BALLARD SPAHR

1225 17th St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-292-2400 ballardspahr.com

Andy McNulty

KILLMER, LANE & NEWMAN 1543 Champa St., Suite 400 Denver 80202 303-571-1000 kln-law.com

Jessica Smith HOLLAND & HART

555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Steven D. Zansberg

LAW OFFICE OF STEVEN D. ZANSBERG 100 Fillmore St., Suite 500 Denver 80206 303-385-8698 zansberglaw.com

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: DEFENSE

Mark B. Collier

MESSNER REEVES

1430 Wynkoop St., Suite 300 Denver 80202 303-623-1800 messner.com

Christine A. Craigmile

HALL BOOTH SMITH 5619 DTC Parkway, Suite 1200 Greenwood Village 80111 303-773-3500 hallboothsmith.com

Chad K. Gillam

HALL & EVANS 1001 17th St., Suite 300 Denver 80202 303-628-3300 hallevans.com

Barbara H. Glogiewicz

CAPLAN AND EARNEST 3107 Iris Ave., Suite 100 Boulder 80301 303-443-8010 celaw.com

Michelle L. Harden MESSNER REEVES

1430 Wynkoop St., Suite 300 Denver 80202 303-623-1800 messner.com

Kari Hershey

HERSHEY DECKER DRAKE 10463 Park Meadows Drive, Suite 209 Lone Tree 80124 303-226-1669 hersheydecker.com

Kevin J. Kuhn WHEELER TRIGG O’DONNELL 370 17th St., Suite 4500 Denver 80202 303-244-1800 wtotrial.com

Lisa Leasure

FARACI LEASURE 4500 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 675 Denver 80246 303-630-0502 faracileasure.com

Steven A. Michalek

CHILDS MCCUNE 821 17th St., Suite 500 Denver 80202 303-296-7300 childsmccune.com

Bruce A. Montoya

MESSNER REEVES 1430 Wynkoop St., Suite 300 Denver 80202 303-623-1800 messner.com

Scott S. Nixon

HALL BOOTH SMITH 5619 DTC Parkway, Suite 1200 Greenwood Village 80111 303-773-3500 hallboothsmith.com

Katherine Otto

MESSNER REEVES

1430 Wynkoop St., Suite 300 Denver 80202 303-623-1800 messner.com

John M. Palmeri

GORDON REES SCULLY MANSUKHANI 555 17th St., Suite 3400 Denver 80202 303-534-5160 grsm.com

C. Gregory Tiemeier TIEMEIER & STICH 1000 E. 16th Ave. Denver 80218 303-531-0022 tslawpc.com

Douglas C. Wolanske

MESSNER REEVES 1430 Wynkoop St., Suite 300 Denver 80202 303-623-1800 messner.com

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: PLAINTIFF

Scott J. Eldredge

BURG SIMPSON ELDREDGE HERSH & JARDINE

40 Inverness Drive East Englewood 80112 303-792-5595 burgsimpson.com

Hollynd Hoskins

HOLLYND LAW

3200 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 720 Denver 80209 303-513-8881 hollyndlaw.com

Jennifer Keel

THOMAS KEEL & LAIRD

50 S. Steele St., Suite 450 Denver 80209 303-372-6130 thomaskeel.com

Chris Koupal

PARKER LIPMAN

3200 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 520 Denver 80209 720-638-9424 parkerlipman.com

Matthew R. Laird

THOMAS KEEL & LAIRD 50 S. Steele St., Suite 450 Denver 80209 303-372-6130 thomaskeel.com

Dan Lipman

PARKER LIPMAN

3200 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 520 Denver 80209 720-638-9424 parkerlipman.com

Kevin S. Mahoney

MAHONEY LAW FIRM

4500 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 950 Denver 80246 303-481-0552 mahoneylaw.com

Angela McGraw

PARKER LIPMAN

3200 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 520 Denver 80209 720-638-9424 parkerlipman.com

Lorraine

Parker

PARKER LIPMAN

3200 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 520 Denver 80209 720-638-9424 parkerlipman.com

Isobel S. Thomas

THOMAS KEEL & LAIRD 50 S. Steele St., Suite 450 Denver 80209 303-372-6130 thomaskeel.com

David S. Woodruff

WAHLBERG, WOODRUFF, NIMMO & SLOANE 4601 DTC Blvd., Suite 950 Denver 80237 303-647-9990 denvertriallawyers.com

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

Damon O. Barry

BALLARD SPAHR

1225 17th St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-299-7319 ballardspahr.com

Nicki Cerasoli

HOLLAND & HART

555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Stan Doida

DOIDA CROW LEGAL 7979 E. Tufts Ave., Suite 1750 Denver 80237 720-306-1001 doidacrow.com

Nathaniel Ford

PERKINS COIE

1900 16th St., Suite 1400 Denver 80202 303-291-2300 perkinscoie.com

Chris Groll

HOLLAND & HART 555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Darren Hensley

POLSINELLI

1401 Lawrence St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-572-9300 polsinelli.com

Gino Maurelli

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

Beau Stark

GIBSON DUNN

1801 California St., Suite 4200 Denver 80202 303-298-5700 gibsondunn.com

Keith Trammell

WILMERHALE

1225 17th St., Suite 2600 Denver 80202 720-598-3428 wilmerhale.com

MILITARY/VETERANS

Ryan Coward

AVISO LAW 2590 Walnut St. Denver 80205 719-247-3111 avisolawllc.com

Timothy R. Franklin

LAW OFFICES OF SEAN KENDALL 2727 Pine St., Suite 6 Boulder 80302 303-449-4773 vetlawusa.com

Sean Kendall

LAW OFFICES OF SEAN KENDALL 2727 Pine St., Suite 6 Boulder 80302 303-449-4773 vetlawusa.com

Megan J.

Kondrachuk

LAW OFFICES OF SEAN KENDALL

2727 Pine St., Suite 6 Boulder 80302 303-449-4773 vetlawusa.com

Gregory Rada

AFTER SERVICE

P.O. Box 371680 #4545 Denver 80237 800-955-8596 afterservice.com

NATIVE AMERICAN

Frances Bassett

PATTERSON EARNHART REAL BIRD & WILSON 1900 Plaza Drive Louisville 80027 303-926-5292 nativelawgroup.com

Gregg H. DeBie

MEYER, WALKER & WALKER 1007 Pearl St., Suite 220 Boulder 80302 303-442-2021 mmwclaw.com

Alvina Earnhart

PATTERSON EARNHART REAL BIRD & WILSON 1900 Plaza Drive Louisville 80027 303-926-5292 nativelawgroup.com

John E. Echohawk

NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS FUND 1506 Broadway Boulder 80302 303-447-8760 narf.org

Troy A. Eid GREENBERG TRAURIG 1144 15th St., Suite 3300 Denver 80202 303-572-6500 gtlaw.com

Melody McCoy

NATIVE AMERICAN RIGHTS FUND 1506 Broadway Boulder 80302 303-447-8760 narf.org

Jeremy Patterson

PATTERSON EARNHART REAL BIRD & WILSON 1900 Plaza Drive Louisville 80027 303-926-5292 nativelawgroup.com

Thomasina Real Bird

PATTERSON EARNHART REAL BIRD & WILSON 1900 Plaza Drive Louisville 80027 303-926-5292 nativelawgroup.com

Connie Rogers

TERRA LAW GROUP 9956 W. Remington Place, Unit A10, Suite 304 Littleton 80218 303-868-7319 terralawgroup.com

Robert Thompson III

GREENBERG TRAURIG 1144 15th St., Suite 3300 Denver 80202 303-572-6500 gtlaw.com

Alice Walker

MEYER, WALKER & WALKER 1007 Pearl St., Suite 220 Boulder 80302 303-442-2021 mmwclaw.com

Jennifer H. Weddle

GREENBERG TRAURIG

1144 15th St., Suite 3300 Denver 80202 303-572-6500 gtlaw.com

NATURAL RESOURCES

Scot Anderson

HOGAN LOVELLS

1601 Wewatta St., Suite 900 Denver 80202 303-899-7300 hoganlovells.com

Gregory R. Danielson

DAVIS GRAHAM & STUBBS 1550 17th St., Suite 500 Denver 80202 303-892-9400 dgslaw.com

Jamie Jost

JOST ENERGY LAW 3511 Ringsby Court, Unit 103 Denver 80216 720-446-5620 jostenergylaw.com

Lamont C. Larsen

DAVIS GRAHAM & STUBBS 1550 17th St., Suite 500 Denver 80202 303-892-9400 dgslaw.com

Mark Mathews

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

Connie Rogers

TERRA LAW GROUP 9956 W. Remington Place, Unit A10, Suite 304 Littleton 80218 303-868-7319 terralawgroup.com

Carlos R. Romo

WILLIAMS WEESE PEPPLE & FERGUSON 1801 California St., Suite 3400 Denver 80202 303-861-2828 williamsweese.com

Kathleen C. Schroder

DAVIS GRAHAM & STUBBS 1550 17th St., Suite 500 Denver 80202 303-892-9400 dgslaw.com

Amy Seneshen

WELBORN SULLIVAN MECK & TOOLEY 1401 Lawrence St., Suite 1800 Denver 80202 303-830-2500 wsmtlaw.com

Elizabeth Titus

HOLLAND & HART 555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Rebecca Watson

WELBORN SULLIVAN MECK & TOOLEY 1401 Lawrence St., Suite 1800 Denver 80202 303-830-2500 wsmtlaw.com

Ezekiel “Zeke” J. Williams

WILLIAMS WEESE PEPPLE & FERGUSON 1801 California St., Suite 3400 Denver 80202 303-861-2828 williamsweese.com

PERSONAL INJURY: DEFENSE

Lee Mickus

EVANS FEARS & SCHUTTERT 3900 E. Mexico Ave., Suite 1300 Denver 80210 303-656-2199 efstriallaw.com

Michael L. O’Donnell

WHEELER TRIGG O’DONNELL 370 17th St., Suite 4500 Denver 80202 303-244-1800 wtotrial.com

Gary L. Palumbo

BAYER & CAREY 1660 N. Downing St. Denver 80218 303-830-8911 bayerlaw.com

Franklin D. Patterson

PATTERSON RIPPLINGER

5613 DTC Parkway, Suite 400 Greenwood Village 80111 303-741-4539 prpclegal.com

Edward C. Stewart

WHEELER TRIGG O’DONNELL 370 17th St., Suite 4500 Denver 80202 303-244-1800 wtotrial.com

Mary A. Wells

WELLS, ANDERSON & RACE

1700 Broadway, Suite 900 Denver 80290 303-812-1243 warllc.com

PERSONAL INJURY: PLAINTIFF

Alana M. Anzalone

ANZALONE LAW OFFICES

2727 Bryant St., Suite 540 Denver 80211 877-256-6933 anzalonelawcolorado.com

Evan Banker

CHALAT HATTEN & BANKER

1600 Broadway, Suite 1920 Denver 80202 303-861-1042 chalatlaw.com

Jerry Bowman

BOWMAN LAW

2727 Bryant St., Suite 102 Denver 80211 720-863-6904 coloradopersonalinjuryhelp.com

Natalie Brown

FRANKLIN D. AZAR & ASSOCIATES 14426 E. Evans Ave. Aurora 80014 303-757-3300 fdazar.com

Michael S. Burg

BURG SIMPSON ELDREDGE HERSH & JARDINE

40 Inverness Drive East Englewood 80112 303-792-5595 burgsimpson.com

Daniel J. Caplis

DAN CAPLIS LAW

6400 S. Fiddlers Green Circle, Suite 2200 Greenwood Village 80111 303-770-5551 dancaplislaw.com

James Chalat

CHALAT HATTEN & BANKER

1600 Broadway, Suite 1920 Denver 80202 303-861-1042 chalatlaw.com

Jennifer Donaldson

DONALDSON LAW

3200 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 520 Denver 80209 303-458-5000 donaldsonlaw.com

Danny S. Foster FOSTER GRAHAM MILSTEIN & CALISHER 360 S. Garfield St., Sixth Floor Denver 80209 303-333-9810 fostergraham.com

Amanda Francis Owen

FRANCIS OWEN

3200 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 520 Denver 80209 303-228-1010 francisowen.law

Tim Garvey

DORMER HARPRING

3457 Ringsby Court, Unit 110 Denver 80216 303-747-4404 denvertrial.com

Marc Harden

ZANER HARDEN LAW 1610 Wynkoop St., Suite 120 Denver 80202 303-563-5354 zanerhardenlaw.com

Mike Keating

KEATING WAGNER POLIDORI FREE 1290 Broadway, Suite 600 Denver 80203 303-534-0401 keatingwagner.com

DezaRae LaCrue

FRANKLIN D. AZAR & ASSOCIATES 14426 E. Evans Ave. Aurora 80014 303-757-3300 fdazar.com

Dan Lipman

PARKER LIPMAN 3200 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 520 Denver 80209 720-638-9424 parkerlipman.com

Sommer D. Luther ANDRUS WAGSTAFF 7171 W. Alaska Drive Lakewood 80226 303-376-6360 andruswagstaff.com

Tara Mager

MAGER LAW GROUP 1290 Broadway, Suite 600 Denver 80203 303-569-4200 magerlaw.com

George McLaughlin

MCLAUGHLIN LAW FIRM 1890 Gaylord St. Denver 80206 720-420-9800 mcllf.com

Jennifer O’Connell

QUEENER LAW

3200 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 520 Denver 80209 720-696-9088 queenerlaw.com/colorado

Deirdre Ostrowski

KEATING WAGNER POLIDORI FREE 1290 Broadway, Suite 600 Denver 80203 303-534-0401 keatingwagner.com

Lorraine Parker

PARKER LIPMAN 3200 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 520 Denver 80209 720-638-9424 parkerlipman.com

Lauren Varner

VARNER FADDIS ELITE LEGAL 6025 S. Quebec St., Suite 100 Centennial 80111 720-770-8335 varnerfaddis.com

Stephen W. Wahlberg

WAHLBERG, WOODRUFF, NIMMO & SLOANE 4601 DTC Blvd., Suite 950 Denver 80237 303-647-9990 denvertriallawyers.com

Kurt Zaner

ZANER HARDEN LAW 1610 Wynkoop St., Suite 120 Denver 80202 303-563-5354 zanerhardenlaw.com

Ross Ziev

LAW OFFICES OF ROSS ZIEV 6795 E. Tennessee Ave., Suite 210 Denver 80224 303-351-2567 helpincolorado.com

PROBATE LITIGATION

Marco D. Chayet

CHAYET & DANZO

650 S. Cherry St., Suite 710 Denver 80246 303-355-8500 coloradoelderlaw.com

Todd E. Kastetter

TODD E. KASTETTER 4500 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 625 Denver 80246 303-567-7905 probatetrials.com

Keith Lapuyade

EVANS CASE 1660 S. Albion St., Suite 1100 Denver 80222 303-757-8300 evanscase.com

Letitia M. Maxfield

WADE ASH

4500 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 600 Denver 80246 303-322-8943 wadeash.com

Marcie McMinimee

SCHWARTZ, MCMINIMEE & ANDREW 3773 Cherry Creek North Drive, Suite 775 Denver 80209 303-534-5100 schwartzattorneys.com

Jody Pilmer

WADE ASH

4500 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 600 Denver 80246 303-322-8943 wadeash.com

Thomas A. Rodriguez

LATHROP GPM 675 15th St., Suite 2650 Denver 80202 720-931-3200 lathropgpm.com

Herbert E. Tucker IV

WADE ASH

4500 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 600 Denver 80246 303-322-8943 wadeash.com

Morgan M. Wiener

WILLIAMS WEESE PEPPLE & FERGUSON 1801 California St., Suite 3400 Denver 80202 303-861-2828 williamsweese.com

Alison Zinn

LATHROP GPM 675 15th St., Suite 2650 Denver 80202 720-931-3200 lathropgpm.com

REAL ESTATE

Nicole Ament

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

Tal Diamant

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK 410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

Keely Downs

MOYE WHITE

1400 16th St., Sixth Floor Denver 80202 303-292-2900 moyewhite.com

Tom List

MOYE WHITE

1400 16th St., Sixth Floor Denver 80202 303-292-2900 moyewhite.com

David Reeves

MESSNER REEVES

1430 Wynkoop St., Suite 300 Denver 80202 303-623-1800 messner.com

Amy Ruhl

MOYE WHITE

1400 16th St., Sixth Floor Denver 80202 303-292-2900 moyewhite.com

Wade Warthen

MESSNER REEVES

1430 Wynkoop St., Suite 300 Denver 80202 303-623-1800 messner.com

James G. Benjamin

IRELAND STAPLETON PRYOR & PASCOE 717 17th St., Suite 2800 Denver 80202 303-628-3644 irelandstapleton.com

Charles Calvin

CALVIN LAW FIRM

1600 Broadway, Suite 1600 Denver 80202 720-791-3245 (no website)

Rebecca Dow

HOLLAND & HART 555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Rebecca Anderson Fischer

SHERMAN & HOWARD 675 15th St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-297-2900 shermanhoward.com

Amy Kiefer Hansen

POLSINELLI

1401 Lawrence St., Suite 2300 Denver 80202 303-572-9300 polsinelli.com

Aaron M. Hyatt

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

Bruce James

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK 410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

Jay Kamlet KAMLET

3900 E. Mexico Ave., Suite 300 Denver 80210 303-749-0660 kamletlaw.com

Rob Kaufmann

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

Blair Lichtenfels

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

REAL ESTATE: LANDLORD/TENANT

Kristi Bunge

SPRINGMAN, BRADEN, WILSON, & PONTIUS

4175 Harlan St., Suite 200 Wheat Ridge 80033 303-685-4633 sbwp-law.com

Tal Diamant

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

April L. Jones

COLORADO AFFORDABLE LEGAL SERVICES

1410 Grant St., Suite B105 Denver 80203 303-996-0010 coloradoaffordablelegal.com

Pat Mellen

PAT MELLEN LAW

3900 E. Mexico Ave., Suite 300 Denver 80210 720-593-3593 patmellenlaw.com

Michael Milstein

FOSTER GRAHAM MILSTEIN & CALISHER 360 S. Garfield St., Sixth Floor Denver 80209 303-333-9810 fostergraham.com

Carolin Topelson

CAROLIN TOPELSON LAW

3900 E. Mexico Ave., Suite 300 Denver 80210 720-305-9903 topelsonlaw.com

Deborah L. Wilson

SPRINGMAN, BRADEN, WILSON, & PONTIUS

4175 Harlan St., Suite 200 Wheat Ridge 80033 303-685-4633 sbwp-law.com

SECURITIES

Elizabeth Espinosa Krupa

LAW OFFICE OF ELIZABETH ESPINOSA KRUPA

1001 Bannock St., Suite 465 Denver 80204 303-748-4185 denverfelonies.com

Reid Godbolt

JONES & KELLER 1675 Broadway, Suite 264 Denver 80202 303-573-1600 joneskeller.com

Brian Hoffman

HOLLAND & HART 555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Garth Jensen

SHERMAN & HOWARD 633 17th St., Suite 3000 Denver 80202 303-297-2900 shermanhoward.com

Valeri Pappas

DAVIS & CERIANI

1600 Stout St., Suite 1710 Denver 80202 303-534-9000 davisandceriani.com

Luke Ritchie MOYE WHITE

1400 16th St., Sixth Floor Denver 80202 303-292-2900 moyewhite.com

Zaki Robbins MOYE WHITE

1400 16th St., Sixth Floor Denver 80202 303-292-2900 moyewhite.com

Lucy Stark

HOLLAND & HART

555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Robyn Zolman

GIBSON DUNN

1801 California St., Suite 4200 Denver 80202 303-298-5700 gibsondunn.com

TAX: CORPORATE

Douglas J. Becker

BECKER

730 17th St., Suite 695 Denver 80202 303-638-6778 becker-pc.com

Gregory Berger

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK

410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

Adam M. Cohen

HOLLAND & HART 555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Laurence E. Nemirow

DAVIS GRAHAM & STUBBS 1550 17th St., Suite 500 Denver 80202 303-892-9400 dgslaw.com

Peter Perla

HOLLAND & HART

555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Neil I. Pomerantz

SILVERSTEIN & POMERANTZ 100 Fillmore St., Suite 435 Denver 80206 303-991-2500 sptaxlaw.com

James Walker

LEWIS ROCA 1601 19th St., Suite 1000 Denver 80202 303-623-9000 lewisroca.com

John Wilson

HOLLAND & HART 555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

TAX: PERSONAL

Douglas J. Becker BECKER

730 17th St., Suite 695 Denver 80202 303-638-6778 becker-pc.com

Nancy R. Crow

HUTCHINS & ASSOCIATES 1999 Broadway, Suite 1400 Denver 80202 303-893-6500 hutchinslaw.com

Fred J. Diss

ROBINSON, DISS & CLOWDUS 3200 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 340 Denver 80209 303-861-4154 lektax.com

Tamara Kotzker

HOLLAND & HART

555 17th St., Suite 3200 Denver 80202 303-295-8000 hollandhart.com

Justin L. Mills

ROBINSON, DISS & CLOWDUS 3200 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 340 Denver 80209 303-861-4154 lektax.com

TRANSPORTATION

Jonathan M. Abramson

KISSINGER & FELLMAN

3773 Cherry Creek North Drive, Suite 900 Denver 80209 303-320-6100 kandf.com

Lance G. Eberhart

HALL & EVANS

1001 17th St., Suite 300 Denver 80202 303-628-3300 hallevans.com

Tamara Seaver

ICENOGLE SEAVER POGUE 4725 S. Monaco St., Suite 360 Denver 80237 303-292-9100 isp-law.com

Paul T. Yarbrough

HALL & EVANS 1001 17th St., Suite 300 Denver 80202 303-628-3300 hallevans.com

WATER

David F. Bower

JOHNSON & REPUCCI

850 W. South Boulder Road, Suite 100 Louisville 80027 303-442-1900 j-rlaw.com

Carolyn Burr

WELBORN SULLIVAN MECK & TOOLEY

1401 Lawrence St., Suite 1800 Denver 80202 303-830-2500 wsmtlaw.com

Cynthia F. Covell

ALPERSTEIN & COVELL

1391 Speer Blvd., Suite 730 Denver 80204 303-894-8191 alpersteincovell.com

Bradley C. Grasmick

LAWRENCE CUSTER GRASMICK JONES & DONOVAN 5245 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Suite 1 Johnstown 80534 970-622-8181 lcwaterlaw.com

Lee H. Johnson

CARLSON, HAMMOND & PADDOCK 1900 N. Grant St., Suite 1200 Denver 80203 303-861-9000 chp-law.com

Sarah A. Klahn

SOMACH SIMMONS & DUNN 1155 Canyon Blvd., Suite 110 Boulder 80302 303-449-2834 somachlaw.com

Ramsey L. Kropf

SOMACH SIMMONS & DUNN 1155 Canyon Blvd., Suite 110 Boulder 80302 303-449-2834 somachlaw.com

Steve Leonhardt

BURNS, FIGA & WILL 6400 S. Fiddlers Green Circle, Suite 1000 Greenwood Village 80111 303-796-2626 bfwlaw.com

Peggy E. Montaño

TROUT RALEY

1120 Lincoln St., Suite 1600 Denver 80203 303-861-1963 troutlaw.com

Kristin H. Moseley

SOMACH SIMMONS & DUNN 1155 Canyon Blvd., Suite 110 Boulder 80302 303-449-2834 somachlaw.com

Brian Nazarenus

NAZARENUS STACK & WOMBACHER 5299 DTC Blvd., Suite 610 Greenwood Village 80111 720-647-5661 nswlaw.com

Bennett W. Raley

TROUT RALEY

1120 Lincoln St., Suite 1600 Denver 80203 303-861-1963 troutlaw.com

David Robbins

HILL & ROBBINS 1660 Lincoln St., Suite 2720 Denver 80264 303-296-8100 hillandrobbins.com

Steven O. Sims

BROWNSTEIN HYATT FARBER SCHRECK 410 17th St., Suite 2200 Denver 80202 303-223-1100 bhfs.com

Sheela Stack

NAZARENUS STACK & WOMBACHER 5299 DTC Blvd., Suite 610 Greenwood Village 80111 720-647-5661 nswlaw.com

Chris Thorne

GREENBERG TRAURIG 1144 15th St., Suite 3300 Denver 80202 303-572-6500 gtlaw.com

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: CLAIMANT

Erika Alverson

ALVERSON & O’BRIEN

1888 Sherman St., Suite 403 Denver 80203 720-575-1321 alversonobrien.com

Mark Elliott

ELLIOTT LAW OFFICES 7884 Ralston Road Arvada 80002 303-424-5319 elliottlawoffices.com

Nick D. Fogel

BURG SIMPSON ELDREDGE HERSH & JARDINE 40 Inverness Drive East Englewood 80112 303-792-5595 burgsimpson.com

Larry Free

KEATING WAGNER POLIDORI FREE 1290 Broadway, Suite 600 Denver 80203 303-534-0401 keatingwagner.com

Janet Frickey

FRICKEY LAW FIRM 940 Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 400 Lakewood 80214 303-237-7373 frickey.com

Stephan J. Marsh

BURG SIMPSON ELDREDGE HERSH & JARDINE 40 Inverness Drive East Englewood 80112 303-792-5595 burgsimpson.com

Katie McClure

SAWAYA LAW FIRM 1600 Ogden St. Denver 80218 303-839-1659 sawayalaw.com

John Sbarbaro

LAW OFFICE OF O’TOOLE & SBARBARO 226 W. 12th Ave. Denver 80204 303-595-4777 otoole-sbarbaro.com

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: RESPONDENT

Kristin Caruso

RITSEMA LAW

999 18th St., Suite 1800 Denver 80202 303-293-3100 ritsemalaw.com

Paul Krueger

RITSEMA LAW 999 18th St., Suite 1800 Denver 80202 303-293-3100 ritsemalaw.com

Kate Mackey

RUEGSEGGER SIMONS & STERN

1700 Lincoln St., Suite 4500 Denver 80203 303-623-1131 rs3legal.com

Mimi Metzger

RITSEMA LAW 999 18th St., Suite 1800 Denver 80202 303-293-3100 ritsemalaw.com

Eric Pollart POLLART MILLER 5700 S. Quebec St., Suite 200 Greenwood Village 80111 720-488-9586 pollartmiller.com

Vito Racanelli

RUEGSEGGER SIMONS & STERN 1700 Lincoln St., Suite 4500 Denver 80203 303-623-1131 rs3legal.com

Matthew W. Tills

WHITE AND STEELE 600 17th St., Suite 600N Denver 80202 303-296-2828 whiteandsteele.com m

Featuring COLORADO HOMES

Situated against Flagstaff Mountain, with 360-degree views, this 5br/7ba property is an architectural triumph that redefines luxury living. Conveniently located near Pearl Street.

Karen Bernardi 303.402.6000

COLORADO SPRINGS

Remodeled

Corby Williams 719.330.5703

LONGMONT | Price Upon Request

Stunning 7br/9ba 34-acre property in Longmont offers views, barn, greenhouse, gardens & pond. Featuring a wraparound porch, great room with floor to ceiling fireplace & finished basement.

Karen Bernardi 303.402.6000

DENVER | $799,000

2br/2.5ba condo in the Watermark building w/custom upgrades and mountain views. Gourmet kitchen w/granite island and stainless appliances. Complete w/a rooftop pool and fitness

ENGLEWOOD | $850,000

4br/4ba townhome in the heart of the city! Gourmet kit w/stainless appliances. Owner's suite w/5-piece bath, walk-in closet & balcony. Complete w/basement, backyard & 2-car det garage.

Christy Hepp 303.910.5393

BACKSTORY

JOY RIDES

When automakers want to move vehicles, they tap the Centennial State for marketing material. The Kia Telluride, the Dodge Durango, and the completely redesigned 2023 Chevy Colorado all exude a rugged individualism that seems to turn browsers into buyers. Although three models may seem like a lot, if anything, we think our state is underutilized when it comes to four-wheeled branding. After all, there are plenty of Colorado locales with auto-ready auras that go far beyond the frontier spirit. —SPENCER

CAMPBELL

THE CENTRAL PARK

When traffic’s your jam.

killing I-70/I-270 bottleneck—embodies the suburban experience, so it’s only fitting that the self-driving Central Park takes that car-centric lifestyle and drives with it. While you’re enjoying amenities such as a flat-screen TV, claw-foot tub, and onboard Peloton, traffic is no longer a stressor. It’s a sanctuary.

THE ASPEN Take flight without

leaving the ground.

THE SIMLA

Push the limits.

U.S. 24, is the top Colorado city on speedtrap.org. Translation: The cops there want you to go fast so they can ticket you and raise more revenue. It’s a small fine to pay for tacit permission to unleash all 12 cylinders of the Simla.

The Aspen offers all the luxury expected by the jet set, including a highly trained crew to meet their every whim, but at an elevation that enables others to bask in their greatness.

THE COMMERCE CITY

Let someone else worry about “climate change.”

over the town, this six-miles-per-gallon (highway), emissions-spewing behemoth encourages you to embrace the moment—and then run it over—because the future is going to be a hellscape anyway.