Tina Van Bockern

Timothy M. Kratz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Timothy M., who practices law in Denver, Colorado, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Timothy M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Hester M. Parrot has specialized in public finance law over the last 20 years, emphasizing charter school facility financings. She has extensive experience coordinating multidisciplinary financing teams to secure funding for charter schools’ permanent facilities in Colorado and throughout the country. She also assists other 501(c)(3) organizations and government entities—ranging from small towns and special districts to large cities, counties, and state-level issuers—achieve...

Mike Sanchez practices employee benefits, tax, and healthcare law. He counsels his clients on planning and structuring employee benefits plans. Mike often serves as a legal advisor to professional services entities and coordinates with other Taft attorneys to address these clients’ diverse legal needs.

Munsey Ayers represents clients in real estate, land use and municipal law matters. Munsey has a well-established reputation working with private sector clients on annexation, zoning and subdivision, vested property rights and public finance matters, including negotiating development agreements, tax sharing agreements and public-private financing mechanisms such as public improvement fee (PIF) and tax increment financing (TIF) arrangements. In this regard, Munsey’s clients rely on his a...

For more than 25 years, Brian's practice has focused almost exclusively on helping water users find, secure and defend their water rights in Colorado and the Western U.S. His clients include municipalities, water and wastewater sanitation districts, mines, golf course developers, energy companies and various commercial facilities. Brian serves as a trusted advisor, providing strategic guidance on long-term water planning and water rights projects. In Colorado, his experience includes the adju...

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.

Monica L.C. Lester is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Monica L.C., 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 Monica L.C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephen Burg is a trial attorney at the law firm Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh Jardine, P.C. Mr. Burg’s practice is focused on representing victims of auto crashes, personal injury, trucking accidents, motorcycle collisions, product liability injuries, gas explosions, wrongful death, and harmful drug products. Mr. Burg has been recognized for his legal excellence both nationally and locally. He was named as a “Recommended Attorney” by the U.S. Legal 500. and has also been reco...

David St. John-Larkin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Information Technology Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property and Patent Law. David, who practices law in Denver, Colorado, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Montoya manages the litigation department and has over twenty five years' experience as a trial lawyer. He has participated in more than sixty trials and arbitrations. He has successfully defended numerous complex civil litigation matters, including high-exposure and class-action cases. He also has expertise in providing risk-management advice to corporations. In 2006, Mr. Montoya was elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates, an organization with a primary mission of preserving th...