Brandy K. M. Toelupe

Melisa Panagakos is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Melisa, who practices law in Denver, Colorado, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Melisa is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Fleishman’s practice emphasizes creative, aggressive representation of firm clients in the areas of divorce, pre and post nuptial agreements, commercial, construction, personal injury, professional liability, employment law, bad faith, and insurance litigation. His expertise in the creation of medical and legal risk management programs and procedures for clients, as well as drafting and analysis of insurance contracts, is well recognized. Mr. Fleishman was selected multiple times fo...

Mark T. Clouatre is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Mark T., who practices law in Denver, Colorado, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brian L. Duffy is a president of the firm and previously served as Chair of the firm’s 600-member Global Litigation Department from 2009-2013. He focuses his practice on trial and appellate work in the class action, employment, energy, commercial contract and product liability areas, serving as national, regional and local counsel in high-profile cases. Brian represents public and privately-held entities and their principals in complex business-related disputes arising from both interna...

Joseph W. Gren, a founding Partner of Brown Gren Abraham & McCracken, received a B.A. in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After graduation, he earned a Masters of Resources Law, with concentrations in environmental and energy law and policy, and received his J.D from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2009. During law school, Mr. Gren was a member of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law Transportation Law Journal, a recipient of the Berr...

Stephen L. Waters attended Georgetown University prior to entering the University of Kansas School of Business, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. After graduating from the University of Missouri School of Law, he served as a Deputy District Attorney in Denver until he accepted a position in the 9th Judicial District as the Chief Trial Deputy and Assistant District Attorney. In this capacity Mr. Waters tried every felony in the district and was the Depu...

Cory Rutz represents property owners and developers in the acquisition and entitlement of commercial, residential and industrial projects. Cory’s practice includes assisting clients with local government approval of annexations, subdivisions, rezonings and development agreements. Her recent work includes advising clients on incorporating various types of short-term rental uses into their properties. With joint degrees in law and urban planning, Cory is also a certified member of the Ame...

Accomplished lawyer providing legal guidance across numerous state and federal environmental, public lands and natural resource issues. Known for finding pragmatic solutions to complex problems. Has a deep understanding of clients’ businesses and operations. A widely respected environmental lawyer, Eric Waeckerlin employs a thoughtful, solution-oriented approach in resolving all stages of complex environmental permitting, enforcement, policy and regulatory matters. He represents clients...

Nick Fogel is the practice group leader of Burg Simpson’s workers’ compensation department, which has achieved Tier 1 status by US News and World Report (the highest-ranking available). His practice is devoted to those who have been injured while working on the job and in the line of duty. In this capacity, Nick has extensive courtroom experience handling a wide variety of matters. Nick’s practice focuses on the representation of law enforcement, firefighters, and first resp...

Jeffrey A. Springer, a managing partner of Springer and Steinberg, P.C., in Denver, Colorado, specializes in criminal law, white collar criminal defense, commercial litigation, personal injury and product liability law, professional negligence law, family law and appellate law. He is admitted to the bar in Colorado, the U.S. District Court, District of Colorado; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 18th Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.A practici...