Hillary A. Hammond Cook

Katherine Ellis is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Family Law, Family Law Mediation and Juvenile Practice. Katherine practices law in Denver, Colorado Best Lawyers has recognized Katherine Ellis since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Katherine Ellis is held by other lawyers.

Strategic thinker skilled in navigating complex environmental, land, and water issues. Known by clients for insightful solutions and negotiating skills. Mike Smith helps clients untangle increasingly complex regulatory regimes and resolve disputes. Clients turn to Mike for help navigating a range of challenging natural resources matters, often involving water rights, water quality, solid and hazardous waste, protected species, land use, floodplains, and oil and gas royalty disputes. His diver...

Denise A. Cook is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Family Law. Denise A. practices law in Denver, Colorado Best Lawyers has recognized Denise A. Cook since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Denise A. Cook is held by other lawyers.

Bryan focuses his practice on advising privately-held business and their owners with respect to mergers and acquisitions, entity formation and operation, sales, purchases and leasing of real estate, commercial real estate, private placements of securities, and wills, trusts and business succession planning. Bryan is a past member of the Board of Governors of the Colorado Bar Association.

John Combs represents employers in matters relating to their international workforce. His practice focuses on employment based U.S. inbound immigration solutions including temporary worker petitions and permanent residency (“green card”), applications, and related tax and export control issues.

Colorado trial attorney SEAN MCDERMOTT is a founding partner of the criminal defense and civil litigation practice, McDermott Stuart & Ward. His practice focuses on representation of those who have been charged with crimes as well as those who have experienced civil wrongs. At the heart of his practice is a strong belief that everyone charged with a crime or involved in a personal injury matter should have an attorney who is dedicated to the case and who will protect their interests both ...

Richard Tegtmeier is an experienced and accomplished trial lawyer in Taft's Compliance, Investigations, and White Collar Defense group. He specializes in complex criminal and civil litigation and has tried more than 200 cases before juries. He is respected throughout the country for his unique ability to navigate the courtroom and the complex process of a jury trial—he has the confidence required to think and act outside the box and produce the type of results that can only come from de...

Melissa Cizmorris focuses her practice on employment litigation and counseling. Melissa has litigated in state and federal courts throughout Colorado, Kansas, New York, and New Jersey and represents employers in a variety of labor and employment matters involving Title VII discrimination and harassment claims, FLSA and other wage actions, claims brought under the ADA and FMLA, and non-compete and trade secret enforcement. Melissa also advises human capital and human resources outsourcing comp...

Twenty years’ experience in real estate law. Broad expertise managing complicated industry transactions. Knowledge informed by in-house counsel roles for a national cooperative bank and public university. Amy Diaz provides strategic counsel for both developers and investors on acquisitions and dispositions for commercial development and large-scale commercial leasing. She also represents commercial borrowers in connection with senior, mezzanine, construction and permanent loans secured ...