2 "Lawyers of the Year" Among WTO "Best Lawyers" Recognition

The votes are in, and Carolyn Fairless and Luke Ritchie have received Denver “Lawyer of the Year” recognition from Best Lawyers. Honors go to one lawyer per practice area in each region. Carolyn was recognized in the malpractice defense category, and Luke in securities litigation. 

One-fourth of our lawyers made a Best Lawyers list for their work in areas ranging from bet-the-company litigation to class actions to product liability. 

Best Lawyers rankings are purely peer review. The guide surveys lawyers to determine their lists.

Our 2026 Best Lawyers rankings:

Lawyers of the Year – Denver 
This award is presented to only one individual in a given geographical region and practice area each edition.

• Carolyn J. Fairless – Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Lucas T. Ritchie – Litigation – Securities

Best Lawyers - Denver (parentheses indicate first year listed) 

• Anthony C. Barbe (2021): Commercial Litigation; Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Scott S. Barker (2006): Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Environmental; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
• Galen D. Bellamy (2021): Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Clarissa M. Collier (2026): Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Bryan D. Cross (2019): Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
• Carolyn J. Fairless (2012): Commercial Litigation; Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants; Litigation - Intellectual Property; Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
• Joseph A. Farchione (2017): Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants
• Hugh Q. Gottschalk (2008): Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Intellectual Property; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Margot A. Heflick (2022): Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
• Peter W. Herzog III (2016): Commercial Litigation; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Eric R. Holway (2022): Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• LaMar F. Jost (2022): Commercial Litigation
• Kevin J. Kuhn (2007): Commercial Litigation; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Cecilie M. Loidolt (2010): Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Raymond W. Martin (2008): Employment Law – Management; Litigation - Labor and Employment
• Craig R. May (2013): Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Insurance; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Andrew H. Myers (2021): Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Joel S. Neckers (2021): Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Michael L. O'Donnell (2005): Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
• Stephen E. Oertle (2018): Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Juan Ramirez (2025): Commercial Litigation 
• Kathryn A. Reilly (2018): Bet-the-Company Litigation; Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Antitrust; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Lucas T. Ritchie (2020): Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Insurance; Litigation – Labor and Employment, Litigation – Real Estate, Litigation – Securities
• Kara J. Rosenthal (2021):  Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
• Jessica Goneau Scott (2024): Litigation – Labor and Employment
• John R. Trigg (2008): Commercial Litigation; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Andrew M. Unthank (2021): Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
• Malcolm E. Wheeler (2003): Commercial Litigation; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Michael T. Williams (2011): Commercial Litigation; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
• Frederick R. Yarger (2020): Appellate Practice

Ones to Watch - Denver (parentheses indicate first year listed)

• Daniel J. DeLay (2025): Commercial Litigation; Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants 
• Jacob A. Rey (2022): Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation 
• William Sowers (2024): Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law

Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell lawyers have taken more than 1,100 trials and arbitrations to verdict or award and 300 appeals to opinion all across the nation, with exceptional results for our clients. 

Established in 1998, WTO today numbers more than 110 trial lawyers and litigators. The firm represents sophisticated clients in high-stakes civil trials, appeals, and related litigation ranging from complex commercial to class actions to catastrophic torts.