---
title: Brownstein Attorneys Recognized as Denver’s Top Lawyers 2026 by 5280 Magazine
description: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announces 46 attorneys recognized as Denver’s Top Lawyers 2026 by 5280 Magazine across 50 legal specialties.
---

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# [Brownstein Attorneys Recognized as Denver’s Top Lawyers 2026 by 5280 Magazine](https://www.cloudcommunications.com/news/brownstein-attorneys-recognized-as-denvers-top-lawyers-2026-by-5280-magazine)

 Written by [Amy Ralls](https://www.cloudcommunications.com/news/author/amy) | Jan 9, 2026 9:11:04 PM

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](https://directory.5280.com/lawyers/).

[View full post](https://www.cloudcommunications.com/news/brownstein-attorneys-recognized-as-denvers-top-lawyers-2026-by-5280-magazine)

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