Credentials
Education
Recognition
Chambers USA
Product Liability - Nationwide, 2015-2026
Commercial Litigation - Colorado, 2009-2026
The Best Lawyers in America
Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2005-2027
Commercial Litigation, 2005-2027
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2005-2027
Denver Product Liability Litigation Lawyer of the Year, 2012, 2013, 2019
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2005-2027
Denver Personal Injury Litigation Lawyer of the Year, 2015, 2018
Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, 2017-2027
Denver Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants Lawyer of the Year, 2021
Legal Malpractice Law, 2005-2027
Legal Malpractice Lawyer of the Year, 2025
Denver Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants Lawyer of the Year, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020
Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, 2017-2027
Benchmark Litigation
Litigation Star, 2020-2026
Commercial Litigation - Colorado, 2011-2018
Product Liability - Colorado, 2013-2018
Professional Liability - Colorado, 2013-2018
BTI Consulting
Client Service All-Star MVP, 2020
Client Service All-Star, 2019
The Legal 500
United States – Litigation: Product Liability and Mass Tort Defense, 2007, 2009-2011, 2013
Denver – Litigation: Commercial Disputes, Tier 1, 2026
Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
2022, 2023, 2025, 2026
Colorado Super Lawyers
Ranked #1 in Colorado, 2013-2022
Top 10, 2007, 2009-2026
Personal Injury Defense: Products, 2009-2026
Class Action/Mass Torts, 2006-2008
Law Week Colorado
Lawyer of the Year, 2016
"People's Choice" Best Overall Litigator, 2017
"People's Choice" Civil Litigator, 2016
"Barrister's Best" Best Commercial Litigator, 2024
"Barrister's Best" Best Overall Litigator, 2015, 2019
"People's Choice" Class Action Defense Lawyer, 2014, 2021
"Barrister's Best" Best Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Lawyer, 2012, 2021
Lawyers of the Decade, 2011
"Barrister's Best" Best Trial Lawyer, 2010
5280 Magazine Top Lawyer
Civil Litigation, 2015-2021, 2023-2024
Commercial Litigation, 2015-2021, 2023-2026
Personal Injury: Defense, 2017-2021, 2023-2024
ColoradoBiz
Business Litigation Power List, 2025-2026
The American Lawyer
Top Commercial Litigation Lawyers, 2006
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
Award for Competency, Ethics, and Professionalism, 2008
Best of the Bar, Denver Business Journal
Corporate LiveWire
2014 Lawyer of the Year - Litigation & Dispute Resolution (Denver)
Euromoney's Expert Guides - Litigation and Product Liability
Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rated
The International Who's Who/Lexology Index of Product Liability Defense Lawyers
2011, 2014-2017, 2019, 2024
The International Who's Who of Life Sciences Lawyers
2014, 2017
Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS)
Legal Memberships & Activities
American College of Trial Lawyers
Immediate Past President, 2022-2023
President, 2021-2022
President Elect, 2020-2021
Treasurer, 2019-2020
Secretary, 2018-2019
Regent, 2012-2016
ACTL Task Force on Discovery and Civil Justice, Member
2015 Rebuilding Justice Award
Regent Liaison for ACTL Task Force on
Discovery and Civil Justice, 2013-2015
Sandra Day O'Connor Award Committee, 2013-2015
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Committee, 2013-2015
Regent's Nominating Committee Chair, 2016
Special Problems in the Administration of Justice Committee, Vice Chairman, 2011-2012
Adjunct State Committee, 2011-2012
Colorado State Committee, Chairman, 2008-2010
Chairman-Elect, 2007-2008, Vice Chairman, 2006-2007
Code of Conduct Committee, 2007-2008
Complex Litigation Committee 2004-2005
Member, Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee for U. S. Senator Cory Gardner
Intern to the Honorable Sherman Finesilver, United States District Court for the District of Colorado
Trustee, United States Supreme Court Historical Society, 2024-2026
Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
American Board of Trial Advocates
Member
The Network of Trial Law Firms
Chairman, 2005-2006
Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
Member, Diversity Law Institute
Member, Trial Law Institute
International Association of Defense Counsel
Member
University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Dean's Advisory Board, 2022-2026
Outstanding Alumni Award, 2012
Co-Chair of Reunion Committee, 2004
Colorado Bar Foundation
Fellow
Denver Bar Association
Vice President, Board of Trustees
Colorado Bar Association
Member, Board of Governors
American Bar Association
Chairman, Issues Affecting the Legal Profession
Young Lawyers Section Liaison to Standing Committee on Professional Discipline
American Bar Foundation
Life Fellow
Judge William E. Doyle American Inn of Court,
Master
Denver Law Club
Faculty of Federal Advocates
Board of Directors, 2004-2005
Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
USDC Colorado Committee on Conduct, 2012
Who's Who in Law, Denver Business Journal
Colorado Judicial Institute
Board of Directors, 2004-present
Judicial Awards Committee, 2006-present
IAALS Law Firm Council
Founding member
National Center for State Courts
Lawyers Committee Member
Defense Research Institute
Member, Professional Liability Committee
University of Notre Dame Law School Council, 2019-2026
Bar and Admissions
Colorado
Wyoming
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
U.S. District Court, D. Colorado
U.S. District Court, C.D. Illinois
U.S. District Court, E.D. Michigan
U.S. District Court, N.D. Ohio
U.S. District Court, D. Wyoming
Community Activity
Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell Foundation
Founder and President, 2005-present
Archdiocese of Denver
Finance Council, 2008-2013
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Denver
Board Member, 2010-2020
Denver Police Foundation
Board of Directors, 2004-present
Walking for Kids
Founding Member, Board of Directors, 2009-present
Trial.com Foundation, Inc.
President, 2005-2006
The Catholic Foundation
Board of Directors, Advancement Committee, 2004-2005
American Heart Association of Colorado and Wyoming
Chairman of the Board
American Heart Association of Colorado
Denver Metro Division, Chairman of the Board
Denver Tennis Club
Board of Directors
The Village Club
President
Hundred Club of Denver
Member
Articles and Presentations
Co-Author, "Trial by Webcam: Tips From a Firsthand Experience," Law360.
Co-Author, "New Strategies for Defending Professional Liability and Malpractice Cases," Best Practices for Addressing Professional Liability Claims.
"Managing Product Liability in the Americas," quoted in Financier Worldwide.
"Witness Preparation Primer: Inviting a Witness to Provide Truthful and Favorable Testimony," Mastering the Art of Preparing Witnesses.
"Deconstructing the Key Liability Expert: Strategy and Secrets for Successful Cross-Examination," From the Trenches: Strategies and Tips From 21 of the Nation's Top Trial Lawyers.
Presenter, "Administrative Law," Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.
Panelist, "Professionalism and Civility in the U.S. District Court," Faculty of Federal Advocates Meeting.
Presenter, "What the Hail? Exposing Biased Insurance Appraisers," The 28th Annual ACIC General Counsel Seminar Survey.
Presenter, "Dealing with Collusion and Fraud in Property Loss Litigation, Litigation Management in a New York Minute - 2016 Edition," The Network of Trial Law Firms, New York, NY.
Presenter, "Dollars and $ense Negotiating the Pay Raise - Practical Advice from the Decision-Makers," The Association of Corporate Counsel Colorado Chapter CLE and reception.
"Association of Corporate Counsel: Negotiating the Pay Raise."
Presenter, "Settling Strategies for MDLs: Getting Started, Setting Values, and Overcoming Obstacles," The Mass Torts Judicial Forum in New York City.
Presenter, "The Defense Perspective: How Loss Prevention and Firm Management Practices Can Impact Malpractice Claims," Ethics CLE at Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell.
Presenter, "Managing a Large Casualty Claim," The Advisen Casualty Insights Conference in New York City.
Presenter, "Avoiding Missteps in Handling Litigation and Other Disputes," Association of Corporate Counsel Colorado Chapter.
Presenter, "The Trial of a Legal Malpractice Case," The Aon Law Firm Symposium.
Presenter, "Unique Issues in Mass Torts," University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Presenter, "Negotiation," MBA students at McGill University.
"The Nuts and Bolts of Successor Liability," presented to CAN.
"Ethics CLE: Avoiding Malpractice," University of Denver Alumni Weekend.
"Settlement Negotiation Strategies," Continuing Legal Education Seminar.
"Strategic Management," University of Colorado at Denver MBA Program.
Presenter, "Deposition Strategy 101," Colorado Defense Lawyers Association CLE Seminar.
"Leadership," University of Colorado at Denver MBA Program.
Presenter, "Leadership and Strategic Management," University of Colorado MBA Students.
Presenter, "Preventing Legal Malpractice, Potential Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them," Colorado Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Seminar.
Presenter, "Alternative Dispute Resolution," CAN.
Presenter, "Appellate Update on Colorado Law," Colorado State Court Trial and Appellate Judges.
Presenter, "What In-House Counsel Want and How to Give It to Them," The Network of Trial Law Firms.
Presenter, "Selecting Outside Trial Counsel," Association of Corporate Counsel Colorado Chapter.
Presenter, "Selection of Outside Counsel," The Network of Trial Law Firms.
Presenter, "Pharmaceutical Torts Cases in Colorado," Colorado Bar Association and Denver Bar Association CLE Ethical Consideration for Practitioners.
Presenter, "Punitive Damages," The Network of Trial Law Firms.
Presenter, "Punitive Damages," 27th Annual Conference of Colorado Defense Lawyers Association.
Presenter, "Campbell v. State Farm," The Network of Trial Law Firms' Meeting.
Presenter, "Colorado Civil Justice League Legislative Panel," In conjunction with the American Tort Reform Association Annual Legislative Conference for State Coalition Leaders and Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse.
Presenter, "Non-Liability to Non-Participants: A Manufacturer's Duty Should End at the Playing Field, and Not Extend to Criminal Acts," Mealey's Prod. Liab. & Risk.
Presenter, "Behold the Future: Emerging Areas Including Mold, Cellular Phones, MTBE, Chromium 6, and More," The Future of Mass Tort Litigation in America.
Presenter, "Ethics and Professionalism in Client Relations," University of Denver Law School.
.
Presenter, "Challenging the Admissibility of Medical Causation Opinion Derived From 'Differential Diagnosis - Application of Daubert and Amended FRE 702', The Network of Trial Law Firms.
Presenter, "Winning by Disqualifying Plaintiff's Experts," The Network of Trial Law Firms.
Presenter, "Preventing Legal Malpractice," Colorado Bar Association CLE Seminar and Torts Update.
Presenter, "Colorado Legal Malpractice," The Colorado Bar Association Tort Law Update.
Presenter, "Winning the Battle of the Experts," Professional Education Systems Inc.
Presenter, "Discovery," Colorado Defense Lawyers Association.
Presenter, "Depositions: Strategies, Tactics and Mechanics," Professional Education Systems Inc.
Teaching Positions
BAR-BRI Course on Professional Responsibility
National Institute for Trial Advocacy
University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Guest Lecturer
University of Colorado at Denver, MBA Program
Guest Lecturer
Numerous CLE Presentations
Michael O'Donnell has taken more than 85 trials to verdict and appeared as lead defense counsel in 48 states for class and mass actions, product liability, professional liability, and complex commercial matters for many of the nation's leading companies. Alongside his tremendous trial record, Mike is nationally recognized for his strength in trying and settling complex litigation. Mike is a past president of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is nationally ranked in Chambers USA, and his colleagues and peers have voted him the #1 lawyer in Colorado Super Lawyers an unprecedented 10 times.
Mike has served as national trial and resolution counsel for numerous highly visible companies, including General Electric, Michelin North America, Advanced Bionics, McKesson, Boston Scientific, Guidant, Skyjack, and Pfizer. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mike is a former chairman of The Network of Trial Law Firms, a 5,000-member lawyer organization that offers continuing legal education programs on litigation topics. In 2021, a case that Mike tried (Nash v. Michelin) was selected as one of the Top Ten Defense Verdicts in the U.S. by Courtroom View Network.
Chambers USA ranks Mike nationwide for product liability and mass torts defense. Colorado Super Lawyers has ranked Mike the number-one lawyer in Colorado for nine years in a row (2013-2021) based on independent research and a survey of his peers--a feat no other Colorado lawyer has accomplished--and he has been named to its top 10 list every year since 2009. Best Lawyers lists Mike in seven litigation practice areas and named him "Denver Legal Malpractice Lawyer of the Year" for 2017 and 2011, and "Denver Product Liability Litigation Lawyer of the Year" for 2013 and 2012. In 2011, Law Week Colorado selected Mike as one of 10 "Lawyers of the Decade" and "Lawyer of the Year" in Colorado. In a survey conducted by Law Week Colorado in 2010, Mike was selected by his peers as the "Best Trial Lawyer" in Colorado.
In 2012, Mike was honored with the University of Denver Law Outstanding Alumni Award which is presented each year to one DU Law graduate who has demonstrated professional achievement and humanitarian service to the community. In 2008, he became only the seventh defense lawyer to receive an award from the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association for the highest standards of competency, ethics, and professionalism.
Mike's personal interests include spending time with family, golf, reading, and travel.
"Tremendous trial and negotiation skills" and "a presence that commands respect."
— Client comments to Chambers USA
Cases
Trials & Oral Arguments
Trials & Oral Arguments
Represented a Fortune 500 company as national trial counsel for hundreds of product liability claims and lawsuits involving a Class III medical device used to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Major Settlements
Represented Denver International Airport against the Regional Transportation District in a dispute over cost-sharing agreements involving a new rail line serving the airport.
Represented a food distributor in allegations of listeria contamination resulting in 33 deaths and 146 confirmed cases in one of the largest and deadliest food-borne illness outbreaks in the United States.
Represent a Fortune 50 company as national resolution counsel in hundreds of cases involving a medical imaging contrast agent alleged to induce a rare disease.
Represented NBCUniversal and Universal Studios in a negligence and breach of contract action brought by Universal Music Group following a 2008 fire at Universal Studios. The dispute involved nuanced, complex issues including insurance subrogation and collateral source rule questions.
Obtained partial summary judgment in federal court for a large national law firm that had been sued for malpractice, aiding and abetting, conspiracy, and violations of RICO. The ruling reduced the damage claim from over $150 million to less than $2 million and paved the way for a favorable settlement of the case.
Other
Representing multiple public utility companies in contentious commercial litigation against an energy association with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake.
Selected as liaison counsel to all distributor defendants in federal multidistrict litigation in California involving vaping products.
Won a landmark federal case in Illinois defining the obligations of lead and liaison counsel in multidistrict litigation.
Representing Skyjack as national trial counsel in product liability cases involving aerial lift and boom equipment.
Helped secure a $142 million settlement as liaison counsel to the lead plaintiff in a securities class action against a pharmaceutical company.
Defended AT&T Wireless in a nationwide class action in Colorado state court involving the billing of wireless air time.
Won three critical summary judgment and Daubert rulings for a major law firm and three lawyers in a legal malpractice case, precluding damages claims in excess of $10 million from proceeding to trial and materially lowering the clients' risk going forward.
Serve as national coordinating and trial counsel to a cochlear implant manufacturer for the defense of product liability lawsuits involving a Class III medical device.
Obtained a Rule 12(b) dismissal of a malpractice case against five lawyers. The opposing party appealed the dismissal and, while the appeal was pending, the case settled with no payments being made by our clients.
Obtained summary judgment for a law firm client and an award of attorneys' fees in a legal malpractice case in which the plaintiff sought $7 million in damages. The plaintiff appealed the award of attorneys' fees, and the parties settled the appeal with payments being made to the client.
Awarded complete summary judgment in a legal malpractice case one week before a multi-week trial was scheduled to begin. The plaintiff had sought over $5 million in damages.
Successfully defended the Vancouver Canucks NHL organization in a lawsuit brought by Colorado Avalanche player Steven Moore as a result of severe injuries he sustained during a hockey game. Obtained dismissal of the lawsuit on the grounds of lack of personal jurisdiction and forum non conveniens, and also obtained a six-figure award of attorney's fees and costs in favor of the Canucks organization and against Mr. Moore.
Represent General Electric as national counsel in personal injury matters involving trucks that move oversized loads, including wind turbines.
Michael O'Donnell has taken more than 85 trials to verdict and appeared as lead defense counsel in 48 states for class and mass actions, product liability, professional liability, and complex commercial matters for many of the nation's leading companies. Alongside his tremendous trial record, Mike is nationally recognized for his strength in trying and settling complex litigation. Mike is a past president of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is nationally ranked in Chambers USA, and his colleagues and peers have voted him the #1 lawyer in Colorado Super Lawyers an unprecedented 10 times.
Mike has served as national trial and resolution counsel for numerous highly visible companies, including General Electric, Michelin North America, Advanced Bionics, McKesson, Boston Scientific, Guidant, Skyjack, and Pfizer. He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mike is a former chairman of The Network of Trial Law Firms, a 5,000-member lawyer organization that offers continuing legal education programs on litigation topics. In 2021, a case that Mike tried (Nash v. Michelin) was selected as one of the Top Ten Defense Verdicts in the U.S. by Courtroom View Network.
Chambers USA ranks Mike nationwide for product liability and mass torts defense. Colorado Super Lawyers has ranked Mike the number-one lawyer in Colorado for nine years in a row (2013-2021) based on independent research and a survey of his peers--a feat no other Colorado lawyer has accomplished--and he has been named to its top 10 list every year since 2009. Best Lawyers lists Mike in seven litigation practice areas and named him "Denver Legal Malpractice Lawyer of the Year" for 2017 and 2011, and "Denver Product Liability Litigation Lawyer of the Year" for 2013 and 2012. In 2011, Law Week Colorado selected Mike as one of 10 "Lawyers of the Decade" and "Lawyer of the Year" in Colorado. In a survey conducted by Law Week Colorado in 2010, Mike was selected by his peers as the "Best Trial Lawyer" in Colorado.
In 2012, Mike was honored with the University of Denver Law Outstanding Alumni Award which is presented each year to one DU Law graduate who has demonstrated professional achievement and humanitarian service to the community. In 2008, he became only the seventh defense lawyer to receive an award from the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association for the highest standards of competency, ethics, and professionalism.
Mike's personal interests include spending time with family, golf, reading, and travel.
"Tremendous trial and negotiation skills" and "a presence that commands respect."
— Client comments to Chambers USA
Credentials
Education
Recognition
Chambers USA
Product Liability - Nationwide, 2015-2026
Commercial Litigation - Colorado, 2009-2026
The Best Lawyers in America
Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2005-2027
Commercial Litigation, 2005-2027
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2005-2027
Denver Product Liability Litigation Lawyer of the Year, 2012, 2013, 2019
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2005-2027
Denver Personal Injury Litigation Lawyer of the Year, 2015, 2018
Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants, 2017-2027
Denver Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants Lawyer of the Year, 2021
Legal Malpractice Law, 2005-2027
Legal Malpractice Lawyer of the Year, 2025
Denver Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants Lawyer of the Year, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020
Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, 2017-2027
Benchmark Litigation
Litigation Star, 2020-2026
Commercial Litigation - Colorado, 2011-2018
Product Liability - Colorado, 2013-2018
Professional Liability - Colorado, 2013-2018
BTI Consulting
Client Service All-Star MVP, 2020
Client Service All-Star, 2019
The Legal 500
United States – Litigation: Product Liability and Mass Tort Defense, 2007, 2009-2011, 2013
Denver – Litigation: Commercial Disputes, Tier 1, 2026
Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America
2022, 2023, 2025, 2026
Colorado Super Lawyers
Ranked #1 in Colorado, 2013-2022
Top 10, 2007, 2009-2026
Personal Injury Defense: Products, 2009-2026
Class Action/Mass Torts, 2006-2008
Law Week Colorado
Lawyer of the Year, 2016
"People's Choice" Best Overall Litigator, 2017
"People's Choice" Civil Litigator, 2016
"Barrister's Best" Best Commercial Litigator, 2024
"Barrister's Best" Best Overall Litigator, 2015, 2019
"People's Choice" Class Action Defense Lawyer, 2014, 2021
"Barrister's Best" Best Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Lawyer, 2012, 2021
Lawyers of the Decade, 2011
"Barrister's Best" Best Trial Lawyer, 2010
5280 Magazine Top Lawyer
Civil Litigation, 2015-2021, 2023-2024
Commercial Litigation, 2015-2021, 2023-2026
Personal Injury: Defense, 2017-2021, 2023-2024
ColoradoBiz
Business Litigation Power List, 2025-2026
The American Lawyer
Top Commercial Litigation Lawyers, 2006
Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
Award for Competency, Ethics, and Professionalism, 2008
Best of the Bar, Denver Business Journal
Corporate LiveWire
2014 Lawyer of the Year - Litigation & Dispute Resolution (Denver)
Euromoney's Expert Guides - Litigation and Product Liability
Martindale-Hubbell AV® Peer Review Rated
The International Who's Who/Lexology Index of Product Liability Defense Lawyers
2011, 2014-2017, 2019, 2024
The International Who's Who of Life Sciences Lawyers
2014, 2017
Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS)
Legal Memberships & Activities
American College of Trial Lawyers
Immediate Past President, 2022-2023
President, 2021-2022
President Elect, 2020-2021
Treasurer, 2019-2020
Secretary, 2018-2019
Regent, 2012-2016
ACTL Task Force on Discovery and Civil Justice, Member
2015 Rebuilding Justice Award
Regent Liaison for ACTL Task Force on
Discovery and Civil Justice, 2013-2015
Sandra Day O'Connor Award Committee, 2013-2015
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Committee, 2013-2015
Regent's Nominating Committee Chair, 2016
Special Problems in the Administration of Justice Committee, Vice Chairman, 2011-2012
Adjunct State Committee, 2011-2012
Colorado State Committee, Chairman, 2008-2010
Chairman-Elect, 2007-2008, Vice Chairman, 2006-2007
Code of Conduct Committee, 2007-2008
Complex Litigation Committee 2004-2005
Member, Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee for U. S. Senator Cory Gardner
Intern to the Honorable Sherman Finesilver, United States District Court for the District of Colorado
Trustee, United States Supreme Court Historical Society, 2024-2026
Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
American Board of Trial Advocates
Member
The Network of Trial Law Firms
Chairman, 2005-2006
Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society
Member, Diversity Law Institute
Member, Trial Law Institute
International Association of Defense Counsel
Member
University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Dean's Advisory Board, 2022-2026
Outstanding Alumni Award, 2012
Co-Chair of Reunion Committee, 2004
Colorado Bar Foundation
Fellow
Denver Bar Association
Vice President, Board of Trustees
Colorado Bar Association
Member, Board of Governors
American Bar Association
Chairman, Issues Affecting the Legal Profession
Young Lawyers Section Liaison to Standing Committee on Professional Discipline
American Bar Foundation
Life Fellow
Judge William E. Doyle American Inn of Court,
Master
Denver Law Club
Faculty of Federal Advocates
Board of Directors, 2004-2005
Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
USDC Colorado Committee on Conduct, 2012
Who's Who in Law, Denver Business Journal
Colorado Judicial Institute
Board of Directors, 2004-present
Judicial Awards Committee, 2006-present
IAALS Law Firm Council
Founding member
National Center for State Courts
Lawyers Committee Member
Defense Research Institute
Member, Professional Liability Committee
University of Notre Dame Law School Council, 2019-2026
Bar and Admissions
Colorado
Wyoming
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit
U.S. District Court, D. Colorado
U.S. District Court, C.D. Illinois
U.S. District Court, E.D. Michigan
U.S. District Court, N.D. Ohio
U.S. District Court, D. Wyoming
Community Activity
Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell Foundation
Founder and President, 2005-present
Archdiocese of Denver
Finance Council, 2008-2013
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Denver
Board Member, 2010-2020
Denver Police Foundation
Board of Directors, 2004-present
Walking for Kids
Founding Member, Board of Directors, 2009-present
Trial.com Foundation, Inc.
President, 2005-2006
The Catholic Foundation
Board of Directors, Advancement Committee, 2004-2005
American Heart Association of Colorado and Wyoming
Chairman of the Board
American Heart Association of Colorado
Denver Metro Division, Chairman of the Board
Denver Tennis Club
Board of Directors
The Village Club
President
Hundred Club of Denver
Member
Articles and Presentations
Co-Author, "Trial by Webcam: Tips From a Firsthand Experience," Law360.
Co-Author, "New Strategies for Defending Professional Liability and Malpractice Cases," Best Practices for Addressing Professional Liability Claims.
"Managing Product Liability in the Americas," quoted in Financier Worldwide.
"Witness Preparation Primer: Inviting a Witness to Provide Truthful and Favorable Testimony," Mastering the Art of Preparing Witnesses.
"Deconstructing the Key Liability Expert: Strategy and Secrets for Successful Cross-Examination," From the Trenches: Strategies and Tips From 21 of the Nation's Top Trial Lawyers.
Presenter, "Administrative Law," Supreme Court of the United Kingdom.
Panelist, "Professionalism and Civility in the U.S. District Court," Faculty of Federal Advocates Meeting.
Presenter, "What the Hail? Exposing Biased Insurance Appraisers," The 28th Annual ACIC General Counsel Seminar Survey.
Presenter, "Dealing with Collusion and Fraud in Property Loss Litigation, Litigation Management in a New York Minute - 2016 Edition," The Network of Trial Law Firms, New York, NY.
Presenter, "Dollars and $ense Negotiating the Pay Raise - Practical Advice from the Decision-Makers," The Association of Corporate Counsel Colorado Chapter CLE and reception.
"Association of Corporate Counsel: Negotiating the Pay Raise."
Presenter, "Settling Strategies for MDLs: Getting Started, Setting Values, and Overcoming Obstacles," The Mass Torts Judicial Forum in New York City.
Presenter, "The Defense Perspective: How Loss Prevention and Firm Management Practices Can Impact Malpractice Claims," Ethics CLE at Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell.
Presenter, "Managing a Large Casualty Claim," The Advisen Casualty Insights Conference in New York City.
Presenter, "Avoiding Missteps in Handling Litigation and Other Disputes," Association of Corporate Counsel Colorado Chapter.
Presenter, "The Trial of a Legal Malpractice Case," The Aon Law Firm Symposium.
Presenter, "Unique Issues in Mass Torts," University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Presenter, "Negotiation," MBA students at McGill University.
"The Nuts and Bolts of Successor Liability," presented to CAN.
"Ethics CLE: Avoiding Malpractice," University of Denver Alumni Weekend.
"Settlement Negotiation Strategies," Continuing Legal Education Seminar.
"Strategic Management," University of Colorado at Denver MBA Program.
Presenter, "Deposition Strategy 101," Colorado Defense Lawyers Association CLE Seminar.
"Leadership," University of Colorado at Denver MBA Program.
Presenter, "Leadership and Strategic Management," University of Colorado MBA Students.
Presenter, "Preventing Legal Malpractice, Potential Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them," Colorado Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Seminar.
Presenter, "Alternative Dispute Resolution," CAN.
Presenter, "Appellate Update on Colorado Law," Colorado State Court Trial and Appellate Judges.
Presenter, "What In-House Counsel Want and How to Give It to Them," The Network of Trial Law Firms.
Presenter, "Selecting Outside Trial Counsel," Association of Corporate Counsel Colorado Chapter.
Presenter, "Selection of Outside Counsel," The Network of Trial Law Firms.
Presenter, "Pharmaceutical Torts Cases in Colorado," Colorado Bar Association and Denver Bar Association CLE Ethical Consideration for Practitioners.
Presenter, "Punitive Damages," The Network of Trial Law Firms.
Presenter, "Punitive Damages," 27th Annual Conference of Colorado Defense Lawyers Association.
Presenter, "Campbell v. State Farm," The Network of Trial Law Firms' Meeting.
Presenter, "Colorado Civil Justice League Legislative Panel," In conjunction with the American Tort Reform Association Annual Legislative Conference for State Coalition Leaders and Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse.
Presenter, "Non-Liability to Non-Participants: A Manufacturer's Duty Should End at the Playing Field, and Not Extend to Criminal Acts," Mealey's Prod. Liab. & Risk.
Presenter, "Behold the Future: Emerging Areas Including Mold, Cellular Phones, MTBE, Chromium 6, and More," The Future of Mass Tort Litigation in America.
Presenter, "Ethics and Professionalism in Client Relations," University of Denver Law School.
.
Presenter, "Challenging the Admissibility of Medical Causation Opinion Derived From 'Differential Diagnosis - Application of Daubert and Amended FRE 702', The Network of Trial Law Firms.
Presenter, "Winning by Disqualifying Plaintiff's Experts," The Network of Trial Law Firms.
Presenter, "Preventing Legal Malpractice," Colorado Bar Association CLE Seminar and Torts Update.
Presenter, "Colorado Legal Malpractice," The Colorado Bar Association Tort Law Update.
Presenter, "Winning the Battle of the Experts," Professional Education Systems Inc.
Presenter, "Discovery," Colorado Defense Lawyers Association.
Presenter, "Depositions: Strategies, Tactics and Mechanics," Professional Education Systems Inc.
Teaching Positions
BAR-BRI Course on Professional Responsibility
National Institute for Trial Advocacy
University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Guest Lecturer
University of Colorado at Denver, MBA Program
Guest Lecturer
Numerous CLE Presentations
Cases
Trials & Oral Arguments
Trials & Oral Arguments
Represented a Fortune 500 company as national trial counsel for hundreds of product liability claims and lawsuits involving a Class III medical device used to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Major Settlements
Represented Denver International Airport against the Regional Transportation District in a dispute over cost-sharing agreements involving a new rail line serving the airport.
Represented a food distributor in allegations of listeria contamination resulting in 33 deaths and 146 confirmed cases in one of the largest and deadliest food-borne illness outbreaks in the United States.
Represent a Fortune 50 company as national resolution counsel in hundreds of cases involving a medical imaging contrast agent alleged to induce a rare disease.
Represented NBCUniversal and Universal Studios in a negligence and breach of contract action brought by Universal Music Group following a 2008 fire at Universal Studios. The dispute involved nuanced, complex issues including insurance subrogation and collateral source rule questions.
Obtained partial summary judgment in federal court for a large national law firm that had been sued for malpractice, aiding and abetting, conspiracy, and violations of RICO. The ruling reduced the damage claim from over $150 million to less than $2 million and paved the way for a favorable settlement of the case.
Other
Representing multiple public utility companies in contentious commercial litigation against an energy association with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake.
Selected as liaison counsel to all distributor defendants in federal multidistrict litigation in California involving vaping products.
Won a landmark federal case in Illinois defining the obligations of lead and liaison counsel in multidistrict litigation.
Representing Skyjack as national trial counsel in product liability cases involving aerial lift and boom equipment.
Helped secure a $142 million settlement as liaison counsel to the lead plaintiff in a securities class action against a pharmaceutical company.
Defended AT&T Wireless in a nationwide class action in Colorado state court involving the billing of wireless air time.
Won three critical summary judgment and Daubert rulings for a major law firm and three lawyers in a legal malpractice case, precluding damages claims in excess of $10 million from proceeding to trial and materially lowering the clients' risk going forward.
Serve as national coordinating and trial counsel to a cochlear implant manufacturer for the defense of product liability lawsuits involving a Class III medical device.
Obtained a Rule 12(b) dismissal of a malpractice case against five lawyers. The opposing party appealed the dismissal and, while the appeal was pending, the case settled with no payments being made by our clients.
Obtained summary judgment for a law firm client and an award of attorneys' fees in a legal malpractice case in which the plaintiff sought $7 million in damages. The plaintiff appealed the award of attorneys' fees, and the parties settled the appeal with payments being made to the client.
Awarded complete summary judgment in a legal malpractice case one week before a multi-week trial was scheduled to begin. The plaintiff had sought over $5 million in damages.
Successfully defended the Vancouver Canucks NHL organization in a lawsuit brought by Colorado Avalanche player Steven Moore as a result of severe injuries he sustained during a hockey game. Obtained dismissal of the lawsuit on the grounds of lack of personal jurisdiction and forum non conveniens, and also obtained a six-figure award of attorney's fees and costs in favor of the Canucks organization and against Mr. Moore.
Represent General Electric as national counsel in personal injury matters involving trucks that move oversized loads, including wind turbines.