Brownstein Attorneys Recognized as Denver’s Top Lawyers 2026 by 5280 Magazine
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck is pleased to announce that 46 of its attorneys were selected by 5280 for its list of Denver’s Top Lawyers 2026. 5280 publishes its annual list—now in its 12th year—with selections based on votes from fellow attorneys in the seven-county Denver metro area across 50 legal specialties.
The following attorneys from Brownstein were chosen based on survey responses and follow-up research from the magazine:
- Steven E. Abelman (Bankruptcy)
- Adam J. Agron (Mergers & Acquisitions)
- Nicole R. Ament (Real Estate
- Matthew C. Arentsen (Commercial)
- Sarah Auchterlonie (Banking)
- Richard B. Benenson (Antitrust)
- Gregory W. Berger (Tax: Corporate)
- Melissa Kuipers Blake (Government Relations/Contracts/Lobbying)
- Norman Brownstein (Government Relations/Contracts/Lobbying)
- Justin L. Cohen (Commercial)
- Katherine J. Duncan (Natural Resources)
- Andrew C. Elliott (Tax: Corporate)
- Craig M. Finger (Commercial)
- Andrew J. Freyer (Intellectual Property: Patent)
- Douglas J. Friednash (Government Relations/Contracts/Lobbying)
- Luke L. Glisan (Labor/Employment: Defense)
- Dulcinea Z. Hanuschak (Water)
- Claire N.L. Havelda (Real Estate)
- S. Craig Hemenway (Intellectual Property: Patent)
- Aaron M. Hyatt (Real Estate)
- Bruce A. James (Real Estate)
- Carrie E. Johnson (Commercial)
- Rob Kaufmann (Real Estate)
- Blair E. Lichtenfels (Real Estate)
- Kristin Macdonald (Mergers & Acquisitions)
- Mark J. Mathews (Natural Resources)
- Gino A. Maurelli (Mergers & Acquisitions)
- Sarah M. Mercer (Government Relations/Contracts/Lobbying)
- Alexandra Fidler Metzl (Mergers & Acquisitions)
- Matthew R. Nyberg (Mergers & Acquisitions)
- J. Tenley Oldak (Tax: Corporate)
- Michael J. Pankow (Bankruptcy)
- Elizabeth D. Paulsen (Mergers & Acquisitions)
- Charlotte S. Phelps (Mergers & Acquisitions)
- Jonathan G. Pray (Construction)
- Caitlin Quander (Real Estate)
- Julia E. Rhine (Natural Resources)
- Airina L. Rodrigues (Intellectual Property: Trademark)
- Christine A. Samsel (Labor/Employment: Defense)
- Amalia Sax-Bolder (Bankruptcy)
- Lauren E. Schwartz (Banking)
- Steven O. Sims (Water)
- Polly S. Swartzfager (Mergers & Acquisitions)
- Kevin P. Walsh (Construction)
- Carolynne C. White (Real Estate)
- Michael C. Zehner (Construction)
To view 5280’s complete 2026 Top Lawyers list, click here.
CONTRIBUTORS:
-
Steven Abelman,
Shareholder -
Adam Agron,
Shareholder -
Nicole Ament,
Shareholder -
Matthew Arentsen,
Shareholder -
Sarah Auchterlonie,
Shareholder -
Richard Benenson,
Managing Partner -
Gregory Berger,
Shareholder -
Melissa Kuipers Blake,
Shareholder -
Norman Brownstein,
Founder and Chairman -
Justin Cohen,
Shareholder -
Katherine Duncan,
Attorney -
Andrew Elliott,
Shareholder -
Craig Finger,
Shareholder -
Andrew Freyer,
Shareholder -
Douglas Friednash,
Shareholder -
Luke Glisan,
Shareholder -
Dulcinea Hanuschak,
Shareholder -
Claire Havelda,
Shareholder -
S. Craig Hemenway,
Shareholder -
Aaron Hyatt,
Shareholder -
Bruce James,
Shareholder -
Carrie Johnson,
Shareholder -
Robert Kaufmann,
Shareholder -
Blair Lichtenfels,
Shareholder -
Kristin Macdonald,
Shareholder -
Mark Mathews,
Shareholder -
Gino Maurelli,
Shareholder -
Sarah Mercer,
Shareholder -
Alexandra Metzl,
Shareholder -
Matthew Nyberg,
Shareholder -
J. Tenley Oldak,
Shareholder -
Michael Pankow,
Shareholder -
Elizabeth Paulsen,
Shareholder -
Charlotte Phelps,
Shareholder -
Jonathan Pray,
Shareholder -
Caitlin Quander,
Shareholder -
Julia Rhine,
Shareholder -
Airina Rodrigues,
Shareholder -
Christine Samsel,
Shareholder -
Lauren Schwartz,
Shareholder -
Steven Sims,
Shareholder -
Polly Swartzfager,
Shareholder -
Kevin Walsh,
Shareholder -
Carolynne White,
Shareholder -
Michael Zehner,
Shareholder
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