Announcing the 2025 Mark F. Leonard Award Winner

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is honored to announce that Rikard Lundberg has been posthumously awarded the 2025 Mark F. Leonard Award. Introduced in 2016, the award annually honors one employee who embodies the firm’s core values—All In, Excellence, Respect and Giving Back—and inspires others to do the same.

Rikard joined Brownstein in 2005 and built a practice advising high-profile companies on securities law, stock exchange compliance and corporate governance. Based in the firm’s Denver office, he served as trusted counsel to private and public companies across diverse industries, guiding them through complex transactions including equity and debt offerings, mergers and acquisitions and EB-5 financings.

Beyond his respected legal expertise and dedication to his practice, Rikard was beloved throughout the firm for his sense of humor, thoughtfulness, genuine care for others and warm personality. He had a passion for death metal music, a talent for karaoke and a deep commitment to fostering Brownstein’s culture. His annual Swedish glögg party became a cherished firm tradition, bringing together colleagues from all departments and levels to share holiday cheer and strengthen connections. Rikard also gave generously to the broader community, serving on the board of Youth on Record for five years and providing pro bono legal services to numerous Denver-area nonprofit organizations.

Most importantly, he was a devoted husband to his wife, Melanie, and a loving father to his three children—Lars, Anders and Anna.

Diagnosed with cancer in June 2022, Rikard faced his illness with courage and grace before passing earlier this year. His legacy of excellence, kindness and camaraderie will continue to inspire us.

Colleagues and loved ones shared reflections on Rikard’s impact.

“He embodied the firm’s values before we even knew what those values were or had an opportunity to articulate them,” said Shareholder Adam Agron in a video about Rikard. “But he lived them every day, and he really did so in a very unassuming, humble way.”

“Rikard was conscientious, hardworking, brilliant and a true member of the Brownstein family,” said Melanie Lundberg, Rikard’s wife. “ He wasn’t content to have Brownstein be just a place to work and collect a paycheck. He was committed to making it feel like a community and doing whatever he could to build community here, to mentor young lawyers and to create an environment where everyone felt valued and honored.”

“Even though he is gone, he remains deeply woven into the fabric of this firm,” said Shareholder Avi Loewenstein. “His spirit, his kindness and his generosity are going to live on through all those who were lucky enough to know him. Every time we have a karaoke night or a glögg party or even mentor a junior associate with kindness and compassion, that’s Rikard’s spirit living on in the firm. We are lucky to have him continue on in that way.”

To see the video about Rikard’s lasting impact, watch below.