Practice Areas
Industries
Education
Government Service
Bar and Court Admissions
Biography
Cases
- Defended to the Colorado Supreme Court a fast-paced appeal regarding Colorado's new congressional map. The appeal raised complicated, novel questions of constitutional law, and was the first time the court applied Colorado's new laws governing congressional redistricting. Over a dozen parties filed briefs, and argument was held less than two weeks after the Commission adopted the map. Decision pending.
- Won before the Colorado Supreme Court in a fast-moving original jurisdiction case for the Colorado Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission. The decision sets critical precedent affirming the Commission's constitutional independence to draw boundaries for Colorado's eight congressional districts before the 2022 election. WTO prevailed for the Commission against Colorado's legislature, governor, attorney general, and secretary of state.
- Serve as national coordinating counsel to a major transportation company in collective, class, and individual wage and hour claims.
- Defeated an attempt by plaintiffs to convert an FLSA collective action into a hybrid collective/class action through the late addition of state-law class claims.
- Following WTO's successful opposition to class certification for an appliance manufacturer, drafted a comprehensive summary judgment motion in a 10-plaintiff, 7-state case that triggered a favorable non-class settlement.
- Represented a temporary staffing agency at certiorari-level review in the appeal of the largest individual personal injury judgment in Colorado history.
- Suranyi v. Watermark Harvard Square - Drafted and filed an amicus brief with the Colorado Supreme Court for the International Association of Defense Counsel that addressed a Colorado trial court's obligation to consider the proportionality of discovery requests under the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure, 2015 amendments.
- In re MDL 2700 Genetech Herceptin (Trastuzumab) Marketing and Sales Practices Litig. (10th Cir. 2019) - Authored amicus brief for the Product Liability Advisory Council urging affirmance of holding that state law consumer fraud claims against drug manufacturer were preempted under the Supreme Court's impossibility preemption principles.
- Served as lead counsel in 11 appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Presented oral arguments in five of these.
- Led the legal team defending the Social Security Administration against litigation arising from one of the largest disability fraud schemes in U.S. history, including claims brought under the due process clause of the U.S. Constitution and the Administrative Procedures Act, with litigation reaching the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
- Defended against employee actions, including arbitrations and actions before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Merit Systems Protection Board.
- Participated in three jury trials, conducting witness direct and cross examination, and arguing directed verdict motions.
Other Experience
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, Associate
Kirkland & Ellis, Associate
Legal Memberships, Activities, and Honors
Cornell Law School
Mary Kennedy Brown Society Leadership Committee
Colorado Bar Association
Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
Social Security Administration
2018 General Counsel’s Excellence-in-Service Award
American Bar Association
Colorado Women's Bar Association
Denver Bar Association
Community Memberships, Activities, and Honors
Paddington Station Preschool, Board of Trustees