Class Notes

Norm Brownstein '68, founder and chairman of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, was awarded the National Law Journalism Lifetime Achievement Award on Oct. 2, 2022.

Hon. Gary Jackson '70 was appointed by Gov. Jared Polis to the America 250 - Colorado 150 Commission. Housed within History Colorado, the commission is charged with developing programs and plan for the official observance in 2026 of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. and the 150th anniversary of Colorado statehood.

Larry Farin '73 is happily retired in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

Betty Arkell '75 was selected by Gov. Polis to sit on the state’s Venture Capital Authority Board. Arkell, a shareholder at Robinson Waters & O’Dorisio, P.C., has a corporate and private securities practice serving a wide range of clients with venture capital, private equity investments, debt financings, M&As, corporate restructurings, and corporate governance matters. On the eight-person Venture Capital Authority Board, which was created in 2004, Arkell will help Colorado entrepreneurs and startups access venture capital funding.

President Biden appointed Anne Castle '81 as the U.S. Commissioner to the Upper Colorado River Commission. Castle serves as a senior fellow at Colorado Law's Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment, focusing on western water issues, including Colorado River policy and management.

William Callison '82 joined Holland & Hart LLP as a partner on its real estate, finance, and development team. Callison focuses his practice on affordable housing and financing, navigating new markets tax credits, federal energy credits, and historic rehabilitation tax credit deals.

Stan Garnett '82, shareholder and co-chair of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck’s Government Investigations & White Collar Defense Group, was recognized with the firm’s inaugural Steve Farber Legacy Award. The award was created in memory and honor of Steve Farber '68, one of Brownstein’s founding partners, who was known for “making the impossible possible” on countless occasions throughout his career. Garnett was recognized for his exemplary client service, being all-in for his clients and the firm, being a tremendous advocate who isn’t afraid of taking on tough challenges, as well as his diligent and impactful representation of Dominion Voting Systems following the 2020 presidential election.

Patrice Kunesh '89 was sworn in as the commissioner of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Native Americans (ANA). The ANA was established to promote self-sufficiency and cultural preservation for Native Americans through training, technical assistance, and grant funding for economic development, cultural revitalization, and environmental protection.

Anne Kelly '89 was promoted to chief deputy at the New Mexico Attorney General's Office. Kelly has been at the New Mexico Attorney General's Office for 28 years and appreciates the opportunity to serve the citizens of New Mexico.

Ann Edelman '92 was promoted to chief legal officer and vice president of Compliance for Colorado Access and its subsidiaries and the Colorado Access Foundation. Edelman will assume strategic leadership of the company’s compliance department in addition to leading the legal department and serving as a member of the executive leadership team. Colorado Access is a nonprofit health maintenance organization whose mission is to partner with communities and empower people through access to quality, equitable, and affordable care.  Edelman serves on the Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors and on the Colorado Bar Association’s Leadership Selection Committee. She is a participating member of the United States Equestrian Federation, the United States Dressage Federation, and the Rocky Mountain Dressage Society and competes her horses in the sport of dressage.

Kristin Bronson '97 will start a new job as executive director of the Colorado Lawyers Committee (CLC) on May 1, 2023. Bronson will oversee all aspects of the Lawyers Committee, a nonpartisan consortium of 70 Colorado law firms dedicated to creating and increasing opportunities for children, the poor, and other disadvantaged communities through pro bono legal advocacy, negotiation, and litigation.

Dru Nielsen '97 become a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America. The induction ceremony took place in front of approximately 525 people during the College's spring meeting. Nielsen is a partner in the firm of Haddon, Morgan and Foreman, P.C. in Denver and has been practicing for 26 years. Nielsen is proud to join her current partners and retired members, Laura Menninger, Jeff Pagliuca, Hal Haddon, Saskia Jordan, Pamela Mackey, Lee Foreman, and Bryan Morgan '66 in this fellowship.

Christine (Barr) Mastin ‘98 joyfully announced her indefinite sabbatical from the practice of law last year and has become owner and operator of The Buna Coffee Company and farm in Holualoa, Hawai’i. She and her family live on the farm full-time but she maintains an online management presence at Mastin Bergstrom LLC, which she founded in 2003. In addition to managing the farm, she volunteers at her youngest daughter’s school and can also be found surfing in Kahalu’u.

Amy Parsons '99 was named the 16th president of Colorado State University. For the last 16 years, Parsons served in executive roles at CSU in Fort Collins – as legal counsel from 2004-2009, as vice president for university operations from 2009-2015, and as executive vice chancellor from 2015-2020.

Keri Arnold '99 joined Wilkinson Stekloff LLP as a partner. Arnold has over 20 years of experience defending companies in product liability, environmental, and complex commercial litigation.

Gov. Jared Polis appointed Sarah Wallace '99, a litigation partner in Ballard Spahr’s Denver office, to the Second Judicial District bench. At Ballard Spahr, Wallace handled litigation and arbitrations of all kinds including trade secret litigation, breach of contracts, employment litigation, and asset purchase disputes.

Jon Ploetz '01 joined Applied Industrial Technologies as vice president – general counsel  and secretary. In this role, Ploetz will lead the company’s global legal affairs, governance and compliance activities, ESG efforts, and corporate secretary duties.

A slew of Colorado Law alumni and faculty contributed to a new book, How to Be a Lawyer: The Path from Law School to Success, coauthored by longtime Colorado Law adjunct faculty member Jason Mendelson. Contributors to the book include Brad Bernthal '01, Stacy Carter '07, Tyrone Glover '09, Nicole Day '10, Ryan Day '10, Josh Fitch '17, Nicholas Troxel '17, and former dean Phil Weiser. With candid advice and mentorship about how to bridge the gaps between law school and the actual practice of law, the book has been hailed as a "must-read" for law students and new lawyers.

Craig Clark '03 was named staff judge advocate (equivalent to general counsel) for the 4th Marine Division. Clark is a lieutenant colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve.

Brittany Kauffman '03 was named chief executive officer of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System (IAALS) at the University of Denver. Kauffman has been with IAALS since 2012 and was appointed interim CEO in 2022.