Three WTO Lawyers Nominated for Best of the Bar; Trigg Wins Lifetime Achievement Award

DENVER - Three of Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell’s shareholders were finalists for the Denver Business Journal’s inaugural Best of the Bar awards, with John R. "Jack" Trigg winning the paper’s Lifetime Achievement award.

Nominated, as one of three finalists for legal malpractice, was Michael L. O’Donnell.  John M. Vaught was one of three finalists for business litigation.

"The Lifetime Achievement award is given to a single lawyer who has had a exemplary career and is widely respected by the legal community," said Neil Westergaard, editor of the Denver Business Journal.  The weekly business newspaper solicited ballots from more than 5,000 Denver area lawyers.  Awards were presented at a breakfast reception attended by more than 300 members of the bar at the Denver Marriott City Center.

One of the ballots for the Lifetime Achievement Award said, "Trigg has an unparalleled record of success at trial."  Another said, "Despite trying cases that are often emotionally charged he is the consummate professional, setting a standard of collegiality and courtesy that we should all follow."

Trigg’s reputation extends far beyond Colorado.  He is active in several national legal organizations serving in leadership position at the Defense Research Institute with Lawyers for Civil Justice and Federation in Defense and Corporate Counsel, the latter of which he is past president.

O’Donnell, president of Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell, has represented lawyers in legal malpractice cases for 20 years.  He also has a national litigation practice focused on product liability, toxic tort and commercial disputes.  Acting as national and regional counsel for a number of Fortune 500 companies, he has appeared in federal courts in 25 states.  He was elected a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Vaught is best known for securities fraud, insurance class actions and litigation involving corporate governance, director and officer liability, and anti-trust matters.  He has been practicing for over 20 years.