Published: Oct. 29, 2014

The University of Colorado Law School announced the seven award recipients for the 34th Annual Colorado Law Alumni Awards Banquet to be held on March 11, 2015, at the Seawell Grand Ballroom at the Denver Center for Performing Arts. Each year, Colorado Law honors outstanding individuals for their contributions to the legal profession and dedication to Colorado Law. The 2015 honorees are:

  • Betty Carter Arkell ('75), Partner, Holland & Hart LLP, for the William Lee Knous Award, Colorado Law's highest alumni honor
  • William R. Buck ('83), General Counsel-Upstream Companies, ExxonMobil, for Distinguished Achievement in Corporate Counsel
  • Michael L. Connor ('93), Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of the Interior, for Distinguished Achievement in the Public Sector
  • David G. Palmer ('70), Denver Managing Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, and Brian L. Duffy ('91), Shareholder & Co-President, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, for Distinguished Achievement in Private Practice

In addition, Dean Phil Weiser will present two Dean's Choice awards, recognizing individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Colorado Law:

  • Roxanne Jensen ('85), Managing Director, Catapult Growth Partners, for the Dean Edward C. King “Pay it Forward” Award
  • R. Stanton Dodge, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, & Secretary, DISH Network, for the Richard Schaden “Adopted Alumnus” Award

Betty Carter Arkell will be honored with the William Lee Knous Award, Colorado Law's highest alumni honor. Awarded annually since 1960, the William Lee Knous Award recognizes an individual’s outstanding achievement and sustained service to Colorado Law. Arkell, who earned her law degree from Colorado Law in 1975, has an impressive career spanning more than 35 years as a corporate and securities lawyer. Arkell is a partner at Holland & Hart LLP, where she specializes in venture capital and private equity investments, mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, acquisition finance, corporate restructurings, and general corporate counseling. Arkell won Colorado Law’s Distinguished Achievement in Private Practice Award in 1991.

Colorado Law will also honor four alumni with Distinguished Achievement Awards at the banquet. Distinguished Achievement Awards recognize Colorado Law alumni that demonstrate excellence in their professions.

William R. Buck will be honored with the Distinguished Achievement Corporate Counsel Award. Buck, who earned his law degree from Colorado Law in 1983, has spent his career with Mobil Corporation and Exxon Mobil Corporation, where he has held multiple legal, business, and management positions. Buck is General Counsel-Upstream Companies for ExxonMobil Corporation, where he manages legal support for ExxonMobil's world-wide Upstream Operations.

Deputy Secretary Michael L. Connor will be honored with the Distinguished Achievement in the Public Sector Award. Connor, who earned his law degree from Colorado Law in 1993, has more than two decades of public service, having served as the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation from 2009 to 2014 and Counsel to the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee from 2001 to 2009. Connor serves as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the second-highest ranking official at the Interior Department. As Deputy Secretary, Connor serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Interior Department and is instrumental in implementing the Administration's land and water policies.

In presenting the Distinguished Achievement in Private Practice Award to two individuals—David G. Palmer and Brian L. Duffy—Colorado Law recognizes the importance of mentoring in professional development and the long-standing bond between these two Greenberg Traurig, LLP shareholders.

Palmer, who earned his law degree from Colorado Law in 1970, has over 30 years of trial and appellate experience defending corporations and their officers in federal and state trials throughout the United States. Palmer is the Denver Managing Shareholder for Greenberg Traurig, where he practices antitrust law, securities, white collar crime, and environmental law.  

Duffy, who earned his law degree from Colorado Law in 1991, focuses on trial and appellate work in the class action, employment, energy, commercial contract, and product liability areas. Duffy is a president of Greenberg Traurig and previously served as Chair of the firm's 600-member Global Litigation Department.  

Dean Phil Weiser will also present two Dean's Choice Awards at the banquet, recognizing individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Colorado Law.

Roxanne Jensen will be honored with the Dean Edward C. King “Pay it Forward” Award. Jensen, who earned her law degree from Colorado Law in 1985, has been a lawyer and consultant for both law firms and law partners for over 25 years. Jensen is a member of the Colorado Law Dean's Advisory Council, a group of business and legal leaders who provide strategic advice and input to Dean Weiser. Jensen is Managing Director for Catapult Growth Partners, where she works with firms across the country to set and execute business strategy, grow and manage talent, and refine internal systems that firms must have to achieve their objectives.

R. Stanton Dodge will be honored with the Richard Schaden “Adopted Alumnus” Award. Dodge received his law degree from Suffolk University Law School in 1995. In 2013, Dodge was selected for the inaugural The Legal 500 -- Corporate Counsel 100: United States, recognizing the 100 most influential in-house lawyers in the United States. Dodge is Executive Vice President, General Counsel, & Secretary for DISH Network L.L.C., where he is responsible for all legal and government affairs for DISH and its subsidiaries.

For banquet sponsorship information or ticket sales, please visit www.regonline.com/lab2015.