the N - Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP

Evaluations & Feedback

A newsletter brought to you by the next generation of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, the N is designed to keep members of NextEffect, our young professionals network, up-to-date on who's N and what's N and to provide you with the latest iNfo.

who's N

A brief meeting at a cocktail reception developed into a friendship and working relationship for two of Denver’s rising stars. Meet Jordan Eisenberg, founder of UrgentRx and David Rontal, an associate at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.

David Rontal (left) and his client Jordan Eisenberg (right) at UrgentRx’s headquarters in downtown Denver.

A serial entrepreneur, Jordan Eisenberg’s current passion is devising a way to meet the medical needs of people while they are out living their lives — the mission behind the creation of UrgentRx.

Q. Tell us a little about UrgentRx and how you came up with the idea? A. UrgentRx produces a line of fast-acting portable medications to treat everyday medical emergencies — ranging from heart attacks and headaches to migraines and pain, and, coming soon, diarrhea, heartburn, severe allergies and diabetic hypoglycemia. The patent-pending “medicine cards” are designed to fit unobtrusively and discreetly in your wallet or purse credit card slot, so you always have important medicines on hand (as ailments rarely strike when you are standing in a pharmacy!). UrgentRx is formulated in a pleasant-tasting, flavored powder form that works 3x faster than traditional pills and tablets - meaning immediate relief - and can be taken without liquid. Our cornerstone product is heart attack first-aid which gives victims a 23% better chance of survival, and has already saved at least 2 lives.

I came up with the idea because I have severe food allergies and should carry Benadryl in the event I ever have a severe allergic reaction. Additionally, I have a father in his 60s who is healthy, but at the behest of his doctor, carries aspirin just in case he (or someone around him) has a heart attack. However, my father and I both experienced how annoying it is to carry a pill – they are bulky, are not designed for portability, are not particularly sanitary to carry, and require liquid to swallow (which can be a big issue if liquid is not present when an emergency strikes). Plus, you have to remember to carry your pills with you (a major challenge for many consumers).

Ailments do not happen while you’re standing in a pharmacy – and rarely even take place at home. Rather, they happen when you are out living your life (when important medication is often not on-hand). UrgentRx was created to solve this common issue by providing consumers with truly portable medication that is there when you need it, and that provides significantly faster relief than a traditional pill, tablet or caplet.

Our mission is to save lives and provide fast relief – anytime, anywhere!

Q. When did you first start working with David? A. Officially only a few months ago, but he has been a huge help for me in building my businesses for over a year. David introduced me to my lead investor and acquirer of my last company.

Q. To what would you compare your business relationship with David? A. It’s kind of like a marriage – sometimes he deals with me when I’m happy, sometimes he deals with me when I’m not, but he always knows how to handle me and keeps an even keel while providing superb counsel. Plus, he has become a good friend.

Q. Why would you recommend working with him? A. He is smart, knowledgeable and decisive. Also, he is willing to be creative and go beyond the textbook to help me solve problems. Exactly what I want in an attorney.

Q. What do you love about your job? A. Creating something out of nothing and positively impacting the lives of complete strangers is what drives me. Conversely, boredom is my enemy. As an entrepreneur, everyday is something different - the dynamic, constantly evolving nature of building a business ensures there is never a dull moment.

Q. What is your favorite place to travel in the US? A. Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA and Sag Harbor, NY

Q. What is your favorite restaurant in Denver? A. Osteria Marco

Q. What is the proudest moment in your career? A. Saving the life of a heart attack victim (and later having the opportunity to meet him and shake his hand).

Aspirin to go — a premier product from UrgentRx

David Rontal is an Associate at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. His practice focuses on mergers & acquisitions, private equity and capital formation. He also serves as outside general counsel to numerous venture-backed start-ups and lower middle-market companies.

Q. How did you meet Jordan and when did you start working with him? A. I met Jordan at an Allied Jewish Federation Event we hosted at Brownstein honoring Steve Farber. We immediately started communicating and I introduced Jordan to an angel investor who eventually purchased one of his companies and invested in UrgentRx.

Q. To what would you compare your business relationship with Jordan? A. There really is not much to compare it to. We work really well together and have an exceptionally collaborative relationship. Jordan is constantly pushing me and we often collaborate on ideas and methodologies to accomplish the company’s business objectives.

Q. Why would you recommend working with him? A. Because he is a 999/1000. He is exceptionally driven and hard working. He refuses to take “no” for an answer and is always thinking about how he can better his company and drive value to his shareholders. He has an exceptional vision and the matching drive to accomplish his goals.

Q. What do you love about your job? A. I love being the trusted advisor. Any attorney can deliver a drafted document to a client. What I love is when my clients call me for strategic and business advice. It really makes me feel like I am involved and part of the team, and helps me drive value to them when negotiating and drafting.

Q. What is your favorite place to travel in the US? A. With my wife, New York City. With my friends, either a hut trip in the mountains or the desert of Western Colorado.

Q. What is your favorite restaurant in Denver? A. Tough call. I always love Cherry Creek Grill. Root Down, Izakaya Den and Sushi Sasa are also regular favorites.

Q. What is the proudest moment in your career? A. Everyday that I walk into the office and see the Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck logo on the elevator bank. It makes me exceptionally proud to think that I am part of something bigger, a game changer.

what's N

LIVING COMMUNITY AT BROWNSTEIN: WHAT DOES BOARD SERVICE REALLY MEAN?
By Jonathan Pray

Talk to anyone who works at Brownstein and you’ll learn that one of the cornerstones of the firm’s culture is community involvement and activism. Ask Norm Brownstein or Steve Farber and they’ll tell you that it’s been that way since they started the firm in 1968. One of the ways that this manifests itself is a widespread commitment by attorneys at the firm to service on the boards of local nonprofits and foundations.

For me, this commitment to nonprofit board service is one of the things that sets Brownstein apart from other law firms in town, and it was one of the reasons why I was attracted to the firm in the first place. As a new associate, however, I had some misconceptions about board service. I was concerned that volunteering to become a board member meant signing up for endless fundraising with no real opportunity to contribute to the success of an organization. And I wasn’t convinced that, as a relatively young attorney, I had any tangible skills that would be useful to a nonprofit.

Over the last six years, I’ve discovered that both of my initial concerns were misplaced. Since joining Brownstein in 2005, I’ve been fortunate to serve on the boards of two different nonprofits – a small museum and Historic Denver, Inc., an organization dedicated to the preservation of Denver’s historically significant architecture and neighborhoods. Through my work with these organizations, I’ve learned that there are numerous benefits to nonprofit board service:

Community stewardship. Above all, giving back to your community by helping a nonprofit is the right thing to do. Nonprofits need the time and resources of energetic board members, and young professionals bring perspectives to boards that might not otherwise be heard. This can be particularly true for well-established nonprofits in need of generational diversity on their boards.
Personal. Being involved in an organization that you care about is uniquely rewarding. It can also be a satisfying change of pace from the day-to-day responsibilities of your job.
Professional. Nonprofit board service is a great way to build your network and meet other professionals with similar interests. It’s also a great way to develop professional skills that you might not otherwise have the opportunity to work on – including high-level strategic planning, budget management, and issue advocacy.

I’ve realized each of these benefits through my work with Historic Denver. First and foremost, I hope that my work has brought a fresh perspective to the organization and has helped to get a younger demographic involved in Denver’s preservation community. In addition, as someone who cares immensely about protecting the character of Denver’s historic structures and neighborhoods, serving on Historic Denver’s Board of Trustees has been personally rewarding because it has allowed me to contribute to this cause in a tangible way. As an added bonus, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and network with other professionals who share an interest in preservation issues.

Through my work with nonprofits, I’ve learned that following three basic strategies can make board service more rewarding.

Find a nonprofit or foundation that you care about. You’re much more likely to find personal and professional satisfaction through work with a nonprofit to which you have a special connection or commitment. It’s the difference between merely being involved in a good cause and finding a passion.
Find a niche on the board. Key decisions are made and important strategies are developed at the committee level. Committees are the forum where you have the opportunity to have the most influence and make the biggest impact on the organization.
Get to know your fellow board members. Lunch or a cup of coffee are easy ways to build new relationships that will be beneficial to both you and the organization.

Keep these strategic considerations in mind, and you’ll be on your way to dispelling your own misconceptions about nonprofit board involvement and realizing the tremendous benefits of board service, both personally and professionally. The young professionals at Brownstein are learning this every day.

Brownstein and Community Service

Firmwide, over 150 attorneys serve on 300 nonprofit boards. But Brownstein’s commitment to the community goes beyond service on nonprofit boards.

Last year, the firm participated in more than 30 “Karma” events, such as volunteering at soup kitchens and collecting school supplies and clothing for low income children.

In addition, the firm hosted more than 15 “Lunch and Learn” programs, where charities and other nonprofits are invited to make informal presentations to firm employees about their work.