Patrick J. "Pat" Burke

Patrick J. "Pat" Burke


Ridley, McGreevy & Winocur P.C.

Recognized since 1995

Denver, Colorado

Practice Areas

Bet-the-Company Litigation

Criminal Defense: General Practice

Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Criminal Defense: General Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2011 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar
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During 40+ years of practicing law, Pat has handled almost every conceivable type of civil, criminal or administrative matter. He has been involved in government investigations, grand jury matters, malpractice cases (legal and medical), securities fraud and anti-trust cases.

Pat served as the Assistant City Attorney in Lakewood, Colorado from 1973-1974, the Assistant Attorney General for the State of Colorado from 1975-1978 and an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the District of Colorado from 1979-1981.

Pat has a history of taking on the toughest cases as a result of court appointments. Pat began doing death penalty work in 1988 when he was appointed to represent a death-sentenced inmate in Texas. Pat has been actively involved in death penalty litigation since then. In 1988, Pat was awarded the Denver Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyer of the Year as a result of his representation of Richard Scutari, who was one of the defendants in the federal criminal trial arising out of the murder of talk show host Alan Berg. Pat was appointed to represent Richard Scutari by Judge Richard Matsch. Scutari was acquitted at trial.

20 years later, in 2008, Pat was the recipient of the Jonathan Olom Award, which is the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar’s highest honor. The general criterion for the award is “remarkable personal sacrifice made without regard to personal gain in the defense of the accused.” Factors considered by the nominating committee include a willingness to defend an accused without regard to public sentiment or personal advancement, as well as professional excellence displayed in the face of adversity.

Pat served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar from 1985-1988 and was the President of the Criminal Defense Bar in 1987-1988. Pat has been a member of the U.S. District Court, Criminal Justice Act Panel since 1983. He served on the CJA Standing Committee in 1998-2000. He was Chairman of the CJA Standing Committee from 1999-2000. Pat was reappointed to the CJA Standing Committee in 2010 and is still serving on the CJA Standing Committee.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 303 Sixteenth Street, Suite 200
    Denver, CO 80202
Education
  • University of Denver, J.D., graduated 1973

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2019 - Criminal Defense: General Practice Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2011 - Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice, Denver (2019)
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Denver (2011)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 for work in:
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Criminal Defense: General Practice
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Special Focus:
  • White-Collar Criminal Defense
Awards:
    • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers (1999-2023)

  • Olom Award (2008)

  • Chambers & Partners, Chambers USA: Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations, 2012-2013

  • 5280 Magazine Top Lawyer (2015-2018)

  • Super Lawyers: Top 50 Lawyers in Colorado (2006,2007,2009)

  • Colorado Super Lawyers: Criminal Defense 2018-2023

Publications

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