Inn Members and Guests Enjoy an Evening of Sports Law

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October 22, 2015 – The Casebolt/Goldberg Group presented “Hot Topics in Sports Law” for the October presentation.  The speaker was Jack Mills, former  assistant athletic director at the University of Colorado, and practitioner of sports law for more than 30 years.   Jack’s practice primarily emphasizes football, but he has also represented clients in hockey, basketball, baseball, golf, skiing, and wrestling.  Jack teaches a course in Sports Law at the University of Colorado Law School.  In 1993, the National Sports Law Institute presented Jack with the Joseph E. O’Neill award, in recognition of his significant contribution to the development of sports law, ethics, and integrity.

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Jack presented a step-by-step analysis of the process and legalities of the “Deflategate” controversy between the NFL and the Players Association, then addressed other current legal issues in the sports world that members raised.  From the beginning of Jack’s talk, members asked countless questions and the Inn engaged in a lively discussion on this topic which has never been presented before at the Doyle Inn.

 

The Doyle Inn Announces First Training Session of 2015

 2015 First Training Session

The first in a series of informal trainings sponsored by the Doyle Inn will take place on October 21, 2015.  The Inn is applying for 2 CLEs for each session.  There is no charge for attendees and members of all area Inns of Courts are welcome.

Our first session will be entitled Writing for the Reader.  Our presenter will be Bob Russel, Appellate Chief of the United States Attorney’s Office.  The session will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 PM on Wednesday October 21, 2015 at the downtown office of Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP, Republic Plaza, 370 17th Street, 45th Floor, Denver, CO 80203.

Materials will be distributed ahead of time so participants will have examples for future use.  We hope this will be an interactive process with participants feeling free to ask questions and contribute experiences.

Please let Randy Bramer know if any of your Inn members, young lawyers or law clerks may be interested in attending.   RSVP to randy.bramer@ogc.usda.gov.

 

April Meeting – A Provocative Evening With Attorney General John Suthers

For the April Meeting, Judge Gorsuch’s Group presented the program “THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S DUTY TO DEFEND THE LAW” featuring guest speaker former Colorado Attorney General, John Suthers.

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Former Colorado Attorney General and candidate for Mayor of Colorado Springs John Suthers.

 

Mr. Suthers, currently a candidate for Mayor of Colorado Springs, interacted with Inn Members during the cocktail hour and talked about the transition from being the Attorney General of Colorado to a candidate in a mayoral election.

Former Attorney General John Suthers presenting a very interesting and sophisticated talk on issues including federalism and constitutional law.
Former Attorney General John Suthers presenting a very interesting and sophisticated talk on issues including federalism and constitutional law.

During his speech, Mr. Suthers explained to the Inn members his view of the office of Attorney General and what he believed were consitutional and appropriate actions to take.  He emphasized that as Attorney General, his role was not to take positions based on his personal views or public policy, but was duty bound to defend state laws regardless.  This included, for example, his defending Colorado’s gun control laws despite the fact that members of his own party greatly opposed them.  Mr. Suthers also guided the members through his reasoning for his actions during the controversy over gay marriage laws in Colorado.   Mr. Suthers opposed attorneys general from utilizing what he has coined a “litigation veto,” which is failing to defend a state law because that A.G. believes the law to be unjust or bad policy.  When challenged by Inn Members, Mr. Suthers also defended his decision to join the states’ lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act.

 

Read an OP/ED by Mr. Suthers on these topics here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-veto-attorneys-general-shouldnt-wield/2014/02/02/64082fc8-887e-11e3-a5bd-844629433ba3_story.html

 

 April Private Practice Training Great Success

The latest Doyle Inn training, open to members of all Colorado Inns, entitled “How to Navigate Private Practice-What You Need to Know” was held April 15, 2015 with a great turn-out.  The two-hour CLE included a panel discussion on what lawyers need to know before entering into private practice. The topics included: the importance of finding a mentor, partner’s expectations-what the new attorney should know, finding the right Firm-fit, work/life balance, mistakes to avoid as a new attorney at a firm, transitioning to partner, and solo/small firm practice.

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Elizabeth Howard (at lectern) moderates as (from left to right) John Watson, Doyle Inn President Craig May, and Nancy Rogers participate on the panel.

 

The Training was organized and moderated by Elizabeth J.M. Howard of Childs McCune.  The instructors on the panel included John Tatlock, Special Counsel at Harris Family Law, Craig May, Partner at Wheeler, Trigg and O’Donnell, Nancy Rodgers, Partner at Kissinger & Fellman, John Watson, Partner Bernbaum Weinshienk, P.C., and Wadi Muhaisen, Partner Muhaisen & Muhaisen, LLC.

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John Tatlock shares his advice to the attendees based on his decades of private legal practice experience.

 

 

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The Doyle Inn once again thanks Holland & Hart, LLP for hosting the training at their Downtown Denver office.

Trainings Open to Members of all Denver Inns – Cross Examination & Navigating Private Practice

 The Doyle Inn is pleased to invite you to the two  informal trainings focusing on basic practical skills in civil litigation.   We are applying for 2 CLE’s for each of our sessions.  There is no charge for attendees.

Cross Examination – What You Need to Know

This first session will focus on the successful cross examination of witnesses at trial in civil cases. It is entitled “Cross Examination – What You Need to Know”.  The purpose of this session is to provide young lawyers with practical advice on cross examining a witness at trial.  It will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 PM on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at the downtown office of Wheeler, Trigg, O’Donnell at 370 Seventeenth Street, Suite 4500 Denver, Colorado 80202-5647.Our instructors will include Kevin Traskos, Civil Chief, Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado and Craig May from Wheeler, Trigg and O’Donnell.

 How to Navigate Private Practice-What You Need to Know

 Our second session will be held on April 15, 2015.  It is entitled “How to Navigate Private Practice-What You Need to Know.” This two-hour CLE will include a panel discussion on what lawyers need to know before entering into private practice. The topics will include:

The importance of finding a mentor

  • Partner’s expectations-what the new attorney should know
  • Finding the right firm for you (focusing on the differences in size of firm, culture, and type of work)
  • The billable hour-how to manage this
  • Work life balance-is there such a thing
  • Private practice is not the end of your public service identity-ways to incorporate public service into your practice
  • Mistakes to avoid as a young lawyer at a new firm
  • What law school doesn’t teach you
  • Transitioning from associate to partner
  • Solo Practice

It will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 PM on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at the downtown office of Holland & Hart, LLP, 555 17th Street, Suite 3200 Denver, CO 80202.

Our instructors will include John Tatlock, Special Counsel at Harris Family Law, Craig May, Partner at Wheeler, Trigg and O’Donnell, Nancy Rodgers, Partner at Kissinger & Fellman, John Watson, Partner Bernbaum Weinshienk, P.C., and Wadi Muhaisen, Partner Muhaisen & Muhaisen, LLC.

Materials will be distributed ahead of time so participants will have examples for future use.

Please RSVP to randy.bramer@ogc.usda.gov

 

Inn Members Brave Blizzard to Enjoy February Meeting

“THE (LEGAL) FUTURE IS ALREADY HERE – IT’S JUST NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED.”

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February 25, 2015 – Despite a sudden and severe snow storm,  Judge Wheeler’s Group came through with a fascinating presentation, which explored how Colorado can help bring together academia, the bench/bar, and clients to help law evolve in a time of rapid technological change.  The Inn had a surprisingly good turnout considering the inclement weather conditions.

The world is changing and fast; can law adjust and evolve to keep up with it?  Our guest speaker was Paul Lippe, who is the founder and CEO of the Legal OnRamp, www.legalonramp.com, spoke about this at the meeting.  Legal OnRamp is a Silicon Valley-based initiative founded in cooperation with Cisco Systems to improve legal quality and efficiency through collaboration, automation and process re-engineering.  Lippe formerly was an executive at the electronic design automation company Synopsys and later was CEO of Stanford SKOLAR, a medical digital library and e-learning company sponsored by Stanford Medical School.  OnRamp Systems Inc.,  offers products and services to businesses to help their legal departments deliver results more efficiently with higher quality and lower cost. OnRamp Systems Inc. sponsors and hosts Legal OnRamp.

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Mr. Lippe gave an overview of several concepts underpinning technological change and how it impacts industry and business practices.  An analogy: while paper driving maps were necessary and used exclusively before, sociey has shifted to GPS and Google Maps, and the old maps are gone.   With this revolutionary shift in mind, Paul asks “what if we had a Google Maps for law?”  Navigating the intricacies of a complex legal undertaking is very complex. And though traditional legal project management methodologies offer some guidance,  Paul aruges that the “map” they provide is quite analogous to the old Rand McNallys: “flat, broad, basic, and though helpful, only so in a rudimentary way.”  Many issues were presented and discussed relating to how and if the law can adjust in the face of inevitable societal and technological change.

Read articles from Paul Lippe here:  http://www.abajournal.com/authors/4767

February Doyle Inn Training: “So You Are Going to Be Witness –Now What?”

I would like to invite you to the fourth in a series of informal trainings focusing on basic practical skills in civil litigation sponsored by the Doyle Inn. We are applying for 2 CLE’s for each of our sessions. There is no charge for attendees.

This session will focus on the successful preparation of witnesses to testify at deposition and trial in civil cases. It is entitled “So You Are Going to Be Witness –Now What?”

It will be held from 4:00 – 6:00 PM on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at the downtown office of Holland & Hart LLP, 555 17th Street, Suite 3200 Denver, CO 80202.

Materials will be distributed ahead of time so participants will have examples for future use. I hope this will be an interactive process with participants feeling free to ask questions and contribute experiences. We also invite experienced practitioners to share experiences as well as sample pleadings and outlines.

Please let me know if any of your Inn members, young lawyers or law clerks may be interested in attending. Also please have them RSVP to randy.bramer@ogc.usda.gov. I hope these talks will help further the Inns’ purpose of educating and mentoring young lawyers.

Randy Bramer
Senior Counsel

February Meeting: THE (LEGAL) FUTURE IS ALREADY HERE – IT’S JUST NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED

Judge Wheeler’s Group Presents

 “THE (LEGAL) FUTURE IS ALREADY HERE – IT’S JUST NOT EVENLY DISTRIBUTED”

How Colorado Can Help Bring Together The Academy, Bench Bar and Clients to Help Law Advance in a Time of Technological Change

Guest Speaker: Paul Lippe, CEO, Legal OnRamp.com (Formerly with Davis Graham & Stubbs)

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

The University Club 1673 Sherman Street

Cocktails 6:00 p.m.

Dinner 7:00 p.m.

**You are encouraged to bring young associates to our dinners**

 

Please call or e-mail Kari Elizalde at kari.elizalde@judicial.state.co.us or (720)865-8611 by NOON on Friday, November 20, 2015:

 

  • You will or will not be attending
  • You will be sending a guest in your place
  • You are an emeritus or honorary member and will be attending
  • You will be bringing a guest. Please remit $35 (payable to Doyle’s Inn) at the door
  • You require a vegetarian meal

Doyle Inn Members Deliberate as Jurors During January 2015 Meeting

January 29, 2015 –  Doyle Inn members were summoned for jury duty for the January 2015 Meeting.  Judge Ann B. Frick’s group presented a jury trial in a sexual harrasment/hostile environment case, complete with testimony and witness examinations.  Groups at the tables then engaged in spirited deliberations while trying to reach verdicts based on the instructions and verdict forms provided.

The Inn’s special guest was Lisa L. DeCaro.  Lisa and her partner Leonard Matheo are the founders of Courtroom Performance, Inc., a trial consulting firm dedicated to improving oral advocacy, and authors of the book, The Lawyer’s Winning Edge: Exceptional Courtroom Performance http://goo.gl/JOo06P. Lisa and Courtroom Performance have helped thousands of attorneys and their witnesses prepare for deposition and trial, and provides jury consulting to attorneys across the country.

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Guest Speaker Lisa DeCaro of Courtroom Performance, Inc. http://www.courtroomperformance.com

 

Lisa led the night’s very interesting discussion before and after the trial and deliberations.  She then explained the mechanics of jury deliberations to the members, and shed light on what the research demonstrates about jury dynamics and how juries reach their conclusions.

Judge Wheeler, President -elect of the Doyle Inn greets members and guests.
Judge Wheeler, President -elect of the Doyle Inn greets members and guests.

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Lisa DeCaro

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JANUARY 2015 MEETING – Members are Summoned for Jury Duty

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You are hereby Summoned for trial juror service in Denver District Court, for the Doyle Inn of Court.

 Appearance Date:  Thursday, January 29, 2015

 Time: 6:30 pm

 Location: University Club, 1673 Sherman St.

 Jury Commissioner: Kari Elizalde

If you are unable to appear and fulfill your juror service obligation, please inform the Jury Commissioner by January 23, by email to: kari.elizalde@judicial.state.co.us.