Business, Finance and Corporate Law

Bankruptcy
Business Litigation
Capital Formation and Corporate  Finance
Commercial Lending and Leasing
Commercial Transactions
Corporate Counseling
Corporate Structure and Organization
Employment Law and Compensation
Finance/Bond Transactions
Intellectual Property Law
International Law
Mergers and Acquisitions
Public/Private Partnership (P3)
Special Assets Restructuring
Taxation
Transportation

Construction Law

Construction Litigation

Eminent Domain / Condemnation

Condemnation Litigation
Eminent Domain
Inverse Condemnation Litigation

Employment Law

Employment Litigation
Employer’s Rights

Environmental Law

Insurance Litigation

Land Use and Zoning

Assisted Living Housing
Civil Rights Litigation (42 U.S.C. §1983)
Liquor Licensing
Land Use Litigation 

Litigation and Appeals

Antitrust and Competition Law
Appeals and Appellate Law 
Bankruptcy
Business Litigation
Civil Rights Litigation (42 U.S.C. §1983)
Class Actions
Construction Litigation
Eminent Domain
Employment Litigation
Insurance Litigation
Land Use Litigation
Probate Litigation
Real Estate Litigation
Water Rights

Municipal and Governmental Law

Elections and Election Disputes
Finance/Bond Transactions
TABOR

Public/Private Partnership (P3)

Probate and Estate Planning

Probate Litigation

Real Estate Law

Acquisition Sales and Leasing
Community and Homeowner Associations
Construction Law
Development
Eminent Domain
Finance
Land Use and Zoning
Land Use Litigation
Real Estate Litigation

Special Districts and Business Improvement Districts

District Management
District Organization
Special District Notices

Transportation

Water Law

• the unique legal process of the condemnation itself;
• the arrival at a fair market value for the property;
• the potential effect on the property after the condemned piece is carved out, in the form of damages to the remainder;
• the potential for a “taking” or “inverse condemnation” situation; 
• the effect of the condemnation on lease rights on the property;
• the potential for land swaps;
• various zoning issues; and
• potential implications regarding the property’s inclusion in a special taxing district.                                                 

Grimshaw & Harring has created the East Corridor Group, a carefully selected group of our attorneys who are uniquely qualified to quickly and thoroughly understand the myriad of issues that will face property owners who are subject to RTD’s condemnation efforts for the East Corridor project.  Our lawyers have decades of experience in the entire condemnation process, from a property owner’s initial receipt of notice, through immediate possession hearings, the appraisal process, trials and appeals. 

Grimshaw & Harring has represented hundreds of property owners whose property has been subjected to eminent domain by authorities such as RTD and the Colorado Department of Transportation.  On the other side, we have also represented dozens of condemning authorities, giving us unique insight and perspective from both sides of the proceeding.  We have seasoned real estate and zoning lawyers ready to work directly with our condemnation lawyers to handle issues related real estate and lease transactions, as well as any zoning related issues.  Because many properties are located within one or more special taxing districts, we finally include special district professionals.  Our firm currently represents over 100 special districts throughout the state, and is therefore uniquely qualified to advise and assist should issues arise that implicate or involve the condemned property’s inclusion within the boundaries of one or more special districts.

The East Corridor Group is made up of the following team members:

• Matt Dalton — Special Districts
• Gil McNeish — Zoning
• Wendy Harring – Real Estate
• Russ Dykstra — Special Districts / Public Private Partnerships
• Jamie Cotter — Condemnation / Litigation
• Tom George – Zoning

Contact Information

Thomas N. George was born and raised in Rifle, Colorado.  He attended the University of Colorado at Boulder as a Boettcher Scholar and a member of the Presidents Leadership Class, and received a B.A. in Economics in 2005. In May of 2009, Mr. George graduated from the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona, where he was a member of the Student Bar Association and an Editor of the Arizona Journal of International & Comparative Law.  Mr. George joined Grimshaw & Harring as an Associate in August of 2009, and in November, 2010, was additionally sworn in as a practicing member of the Wyoming Bar Association.

Practice Areas

• Special Districts and Business Improvement Districts
• RTD Condemnation/Eminent Domain Group
• Municipal Law and Governmental Law
• Public/Private Partnership (P3)
• Transportation
• Land Use / Zoning
• Real Estate Development
• Water Law
• Litigation and Appeals

Education

• James E. Rogers College of Law/University of Arizona (J.D., 2009)
• University of Colorado at Boulder (B.A., 2005)

Memberships and Honors

• Denver, Colorado and American Bar Associations
• Boettcher Scholar, University of Colorado
• Wyoming Bar Association

December 16, 2008
Paul J. Hanley assisted a pharmacy benefit management client with the acquisition of the assets of an Atlanta based pharmacy management business in a transaction valued at approximately $10 million. The transaction involved a bifurcated closing due to regulatory issues, as well as a post-closing purchase price adjustment and an extensive earnout involving over 87% of the purchase price, determined over two measurement periods, and payable in three installments.

November 25, 2008
Richard L. Harring and Grimshaw & Harring has been a long time supporter of the Colorado Judicial Institute, and for the sixth year in a row a group attended the Annual Judicial Excellence Awards Dinner held November 18, 2008.  Among the attendees were Jody Harper Alderman, Jamie N. Cotter, and Leslie E. Miller.     

The Colorado Judicial Institute was formed as a nonprofit in 1979 by a group of community leaders, most of whom were not attorneys. The goal is to promote excellence in the Colorado judicial system by building trust through education about the legal system.

Grimshaw & Harring congratulates the Judge Alfred C. Harrell, Judge Robert H. Russell, II and Judge M. Jon Kolomitz, and Magistrate Jane E. Westbrook, and also thanks Tony Eitzel from Denver Panoramic for the photograph below.

October 27, 2008
Paul Hanley was lead attorney in the representation of a developer of a natural gas project in western Colorado. The purchase price for a 30% interest in the project was over $12 million, and the complex purchase/workout transaction involved clearing title to over 125 oil and gas leases and utilizing sales proceeds to reach simultaneous settlements with ten lien claimants and over thirty other creditors. It also required the settlement and release of a bridge loan in an amount over $6.1 million.

October 13, 2008
Matthew R. Dalton authored an article regarding new requirements specific to some special districts providing utility services in the October/November issue of the SDA Newsletter.  The requirement is for certain entities to take action preventing and mitigating identity theft, and November 1, 2008 is the date by which a plan must be implemented. 

In 2003 Congress passed the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (“FACT Act”).  In late 2007, certain entities became required to establish and implement written Identity Theft Prevention Programs by the November 1, 2008 deadline.  The rule leaves much discretion, and the programs need only to be of “appropriate size and complexity” relative to the utility and the nature and scope of a District’s activities, but certain Special Districts who provide utility services are definitely affected. 

In this instance, the rule applies specifically to utility companies which are creditors – those which maintain “covered accounts,” or those that include the provision of water and sewer service for payment after the fact via an account established with the District.  Basically any account for which there is a “reasonably foreseeable risk to customers . . . from identity theft, including financial, operational, compliance, reputation, or litigation risks.” 

Adoption of a resolution can suffice, however there are certain important requirements regarding for example “Red Flags” that need to be included in a Dsitrict’s plan and the implementation thereof.  Review the entire article below, including a sample resolution, and contact Matt Dalton if you have any questions or would like Grimshaw & Harring to assist with drafting and advising as to implimentation of a fully compliant plan.

September 22, 2008
Wayne B. Schroeder was again included in the 2009 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, recognized in the specialty practice area of Eminent Domain and Condemnation.  Highly regarded among law firms, large corporations, media and the public, Best Lawyers’ unique nomination process renders it an unbiased resource.  Selection is based on an exhaustive and rigorous peer-review survey comprising more than 2.5 million confidential evaluations by top attorneys in the country.  No fee or purchase is required, ensuring Best Lawyers remains the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.      

September 9, 2008
Wayne Schroeder was retained by Moreland Properties to file a section 1983 civil rights action against the City of Thornton for depriving Mr. Moreland of his procedural due process rights when Thornton took away the automobile dealership zoning on Mr. Moreland’s nine acre property at 144th Avenue and Interstate 25.  Chief Judge Nottingham ruled in favor of Mr. Moreland and, in a lengthy published opinion, found that Thornton’s failure to adequately apprise Mr. Moreland that an ordinance might deprive him of his protected property interest in the zoning classification of his land constituted a due process violation and established Thornton’s liability on Mr. Moreland’s section 1983 claim.  See Moreland Properties, LLC v. City of Thornton, 559 F.Supp.2d 1133 (D. Colo. 2008).

After the liability ruling, Thornton agreed to purchase Mr. Moreland’s nine acre property at 144th Avenue and Interstate 25 and pay additional damages to Mr. Moreland for a sum total settlement of $5.725M.

 August 18, 2008
Jamie N. Cotter joined the Grimshaw & Harring family in August as a new associate.  Ms. Cotter will focus her practice in the areas of civil, commercial and real estate litigation.  Jamie was born in Vermont, and moved to Colorado in 2002 to attend Colorado College and The Sturm College of Law at The University of Denver.

August 15, 2008
After many months of planning and hard work, the Grimshaw & Harring redux is complete!  We have taken over the entire 38th floor of the Wells Fargo Center, designed a new logo, and completely redesigned our website.   We hope this site is easy to navigate, and that you can easily reach the information you need quickly. 

Thank you for visiting.  We would love to hear your comments on the new design and remain committed to helping you with your legal issues, so please feel free to contact us, either with your feedback or just to say Hello.

August 4, 2008
This Wisconsin case settled on the eve of trial.  Involving starkly different approaches to valuing damages in a contract dispute, the judge stressed the importance of independent verification and objective data.

Plaintiff’s expert used raw data to prepare five different models of damages projections based on sales quotas, and in motions in limine the court allowed testimony on all five calculations, saying they would assist the jury in assessing damages.

Alternatively, the defendant’s expert prepared two sets of projections: one weighted and one unweighted. Both sets were derived from the plaintiff’s “alleged sales,” and the numbers were obtained from one document provided to the expert by Defendant’s counsel. Taking into account Plaintiff’s decreased sales performance, the defense expert’s original regression resulted in a “negative sloping trendline.” Because Plaintiff’s sales varied widely from month-to-month, the expert weighted the data to obtain a positive trendline for years five through 10 of the agreement.

The court focused not only on the source of the defendant’s expert’s data, but what he failed to do with it. Contrasted with Plaintiff’s expert’s independent valuation of raw data, the court said “the bottom line is that [the defense expert] never talked to anyone to verify the accuracy of the information in any of the documents he reviewed.” Finding the basis for his projections unreliable, the court excluded the projection testimony. The case settled on the eve of trial.

 June 19, 2008
Paul Hanley assisted a majority owner of an interest in a hotel/casino in selling to a minority owner in a sale and redemption transaction valued at $59 million. Consideration in the leveraged buyout transaction included approximately $55 million in cash, approximately $4 million in auction rate bonds, a lifetime employment agreement, and a lifetime lease of a suite in the hotel/casino.

June 13, 2008
Tom Grimshaw is one of seven lawyers in Colorado ranked as #1 Real Estate Individuals in Zoning and Land Use. In September 2007, 40 full-time researchers employed by UK based Chambers & Partners collected information and compiled a 2008 guide to the top law firms and lawyers in the United States. The resulting publication was reprinted in a June Law Week Colorado.

May 15, 2008
Wendy Harring and Paul Hanley assisted the developer of a mixed-use resort development in buying out two minority interest owners. The transaction involved redemption and sale of ownership interests in a corporation and three limited liability companies as well as the acquisition of several parcels of real estate forming a part of the development.

May 9, 2008
Richard Harring, Paul Hanley, Ron Fano, and Todd Seelman represented the firm at the 18th Annual Meeting of Meritas in Chicago, Illlinois. Meritas is one of the world’s largest and most respected legal resources – an integrated, non-profit alliance of more than 170 independent commercial law firms located in over 60 countries.

March 19, 2008
Intersol 2008, Paris France – William J. Brady
Bill Brady delivered a white paper and presentation on aspects of the 2007 European Union Environmental Directive and “Assurances Environnementaux” at Intersol 2008, Paris, France.  Le Comité Scientifique d’Intersol selected him to address the conference attendees, all of whom were from EU Member States.  The white paper, also published in “Environmental Regulation of Colorado Real Property,” Bradford Publishing, 2007, was also distributed to the conferees.   Held annually in Paris, Intersol is a prestigious international congress which this year focused upon the remediation of contaminated soils and groundwater, the transfer of associated risk and the conveyance of “brownfields” sites within the EU.  Bill addressed the various insurance coverages available for both retroactive and prospective liabilities.  In addition to Grimshaw & Harring, Bill appeared on behalf of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and Meritas, our international affiliation of law firms of which Grimshaw and Harring was a founder.   For additional information, visit Intersol 2008.

March 7, 2008
Award Ceremony for Northwest Parkway Project
Russ Dykstra attended the ProjectFinance magazine North American project awards ceremony in New York, NY as part of the project team for the Northwest Parkway public private partnership (P3) concession.  The project received the 2007 Project Finance “North American Transport Deal of the Year” award at the ceremony.  Mr. Dykstra and Grimshaw & Harring, P.C. served as local counsel for the transaction in conjunction with national counsel, Chadbourne & Parke, LLP, representing the Northwest Parkway LLC. See 2007 Firm News for more project information.

The Northwest Parkway Project was also among six projects nominated for the International Financial Law Review (IFLR) America Award.  IFLR is a worldwide industry magazine that aims to reward innovation in the key practice areas in debt and equity capital markets, M&A, project finance, securitization and restructuring, and we are honored for the recognition.

January 1, 2008
After 30 years, Larry Berkowitz has stepped down from his City Attorney post to return to private practice.  Mr. Berkowitz has had a part-time presence at Grimshaw & Harring since 1995, and we welcome his knowledge and expertise full-time.  Larry will continue to specialize in the following areas:

•  Municipal and Governmental Law 
• Land Use / Zoning 
• Business / Finance 
• Finance / Bond Transactions 
• Liquor Licensing 
• Assisted Living Housing 

January 1, 2008
Todd R. Seelman and Russell W. Dykstra – Director/Shareholders
Effective the first of the year, Grimshaw & Harring, P.C. welcomes Mr. Seelman and Mr. Dykstra as its newest Director/Shareholders.  Mr. Seelman will continue his practice in the areas of complex civil litigation, especially involving antitrust and unfair trade practices, class actions, non-compete/solicitation agreements, trade secrets, fraud, negligence, partnership and shareholder disputes, employment, commercial contract disputes, and appeals. Mr. Dykstra will continue to represent public/private partnership projects, project finance, land use, transportation, special districts and real estate development.

  Contact Information

Ms. Cotter practices generally in the areas of civil, commercial and real estate litigation, focusing mainly on eminent domain and condemnation. Ms. Cotter has  litigated cases in various Colorado state courts, the Colorado Court of Appeals, the Colorado Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, and the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, and she has also offered argument in the Colorado Court of Appeals.

Ms. Cotter’s eminent domain and condemnation experience includes representing both landowners and condemning authorities. She has litigated on issues including acquisition of access rights, the impact of blight on property values, remainder valuation and remainder damages, easement versus fee taking, easement valuation, and inverse condemnation. Ms. Cotter also has experience litigating cases involving real property and easements, contracts, various municipal law issues, and antitrust.

Ms. Cotter is admitted to practice in both Colorado and the state of Wyoming. She was born in Vermont, and moved to Colorado to attend Colorado College. In her spare time, Ms. Cotter enjoys competing in triathlons, skiing, running, and spending time with her husband, son and two dogs.

Practice Areas

• Litigation and Appeals
• Real Estate Litigation
• Land Use Litigation

Education

• University of Denver (J.D., 2008)
• Student Attorney, Environmental Law Clinic
• Teaching Assistant, Contracts & Property
• Co-President, Legal Association of Women
• Co-Chair, DU Law Partnership with Community Day
• Hogan & Hartson CU/DU Cup Moot Court Competition
• Student Trial Lawyers Association Intramural Trial Competition
• Rothgerber, Johnson & Lyons Negotiations Competition
• Colorado College (B.A., 2004)
• Equestrian Team
• Order of Omega Greek Honor Society
• Student Conduct Committee
• American University Justice Semester (2002)

Memberships and Community Service

• Denver, Colorado and American Bar Associations
• Colorado Women’s Bar Association
• Member, Judge William E. Doyle American Inn of Court    
• Committee Member, Access to Justice, Public Information Committee
• Wyoming Bar Association

Articles and Publications

• Due Process Takings - A Different Constitutional Approach to Different Constitutional Damages (254), Co-Author, Colorado Eminent Domain, CLE International Seminar 2010

Land Use Litigation

• Jamie N. Cotter

Related Areas of Law

• Assisted Living Housing
• Eminent Domain/Condemnation
• Land Use and Zoning
• Liquor Licensing
• Real Estate Litigation

Grimshaw & Harring provides a wide range of transportation project services including project finance, design-build contracts, condemnation representation for governmental entities and operator/contractor ongoing representation. The experience and expertise of Grimshaw & Harring throughout the infrastructure finance and construction process provides a unique problem solving approach to complex multi-jurisdictional issues and private sector concerns and relationships. Grimshaw & Harring serves as legal-advisor to governmental entities on many transportation projects throughout the state and also as counsel to transportation industry operators and contractors providing us with the insight and perspective to efficiently provide solutions to our clients.

Attorneys serving Transportation

• Dykstra, Russell W.

The range of services provided includes matters such as property acquisition, annexation, land use and zoning, and other development related entitlements, development agreements and vested rights, water rights, subdivision platting and site plan approval, intergovernmental agreements, conservation easements, environmental contamination abatement and liability, condemnation and compensation matters, and special district formation and planning and financing of public infrastructure. We provide these services, as appropriate, for new development of vacant property and redevelopment and adaptive reuse of developed properties.

We regularly represent our development clients before governmental and quasi-governmental entities associated with permit approval and the entitlement process.  We also assist clients in the planning and structuring of various vehicles for investing in and developing real estate, such as partnerships, joint ventures, corporations, and limited liability companies. Our corporate attorneys assist developers with raising capital through the issuance of equity securities in private placements.  Our firm represents developers and property owners in a broad range of real estate financing transactions, from acquisition, construction, bridge and permanent loans to more complex financing arrangements, such as sale-leasebacks and development bonds.

Because of our broad experience base, we are able to work closely with other practice groups in our firm, such as corporate, finance, special districts, water, and environmental, to offer efficient and cost-effective legal services relevant to the unique needs of each real estate development project.

Real Estate Related Areas

• Acquisitions, Sales, and Leasing
• Community and Homeowners Associations
• Construction Law
• Development
• Eminent Domain
• Finance
• Land Use / Zoning
• Land Use Litigation
• Real Estate Litigation

As counsel to special districts, our firm has been involved in developments ranging from approximately 5 acres to developments in excess of 25,000 acres.  Our bond attorneys have been responsible for hundreds of securities transactions connected with the formation and/or financing of counties, municipalities, special districts, and other political subdivisions. In these transactions, the firm has represented issuers, underwriters, developers, letter of credit providers, investors, and others.

Our representation of special districts also includes litigation of matters such as annexations, elections, land use appeals, tax protests, condemnation, utility rates, employment issues, construction and contract disputes, licensing, environmental insurance, and public financing disputes.

Special districts and municipalities require special expertise. Let us put our knowledge and experience to work for you.

Attorneys serving Special Districts and Business Improvement Districts

• Grimshaw, Thomas T. (of counsel)
• Dalton, Matthew R.
• Kaplan, Arnold R.
• Kron, Norman F.
• Hunsaker, James M.
• Dykstra, Russell W.
• Edstrom, David A.
• Berkowitz, Larry W.

Municipal and Governmental Law Related Areas

• Finance/Bond Transactions
• TABOR
• Special District Organization
• Special District Management
• Special Assets Restructuring
• Special Districts Restructuring

Our real estate litigation practice encompasses all litigation matters arising out of real estate ownership, development, construction, and failed transactions.  Our attorneys have handled a wide variety of real estate related litigation such as eminent domain, takings claims, land use litigation, inverse condemnation, quiet title actions, Rule 105 proceedings, Rule 106 appeals of land use decisions, construction litigation and mechanics’ lien matters, boundary disputes, landlord/tenant disputes, insurance coverage disputes, Fair Housing Act claims, homeowner association collections, public trustee and judicial foreclosures, land use claims including 42 U.S.C. §1983, environmental matters, water rights litigation, and numerous types of failed transactions.

 Litigation and Appeals Related Areas

• Antitrust and Competition Law
• Appeals
• Business Litigation
• Class Actions
• Construction Litigation
• Eminent Domain
• Employment Litigation
• Insurance Litigation
• Land Use Litigation
• Real Estate Litigation