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.