Colorado Super Lawyers & Rising Stars

WELBORN SULLIVAN MECK & TOOLEY is a pre-eminent Rocky Mountain law firm combining global experience with personal attention. The firm is an established leader in natural resources, litigation and business transactions.

This year, four of its attorneys have been recognized in Colorado Super Lawyers® and two in Rising Stars.

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Sarah Clark Elected to Edgewater City Council

Congratulations to Sarah Clark who was elected to a four-year term on the Edgewater City Council. Sarah will continue to serve on the Edgewater Charter Review and Compliance Commission until her swearing in as a council person later this month.

Congratulations to the four attorneys recognized in Colorado Super Lawyers and one in Rising Stars

Kendor Jones is a recognized expert in oil and gas matters and for the past 10 years has served as adjunct professor of oil and gas law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Keith Tooley is a trial lawyer with experience in a wide range of complex litigation areas, including natural resources. Brian Tooley also specializes in complex and natural resources litigation and arbitration. William Rapson serves as an arbitrator and also represents plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of trial-related matters, including securities, insurance and commercial and business disputes. Amy Seneshen, who has been recognized on the Rising Stars list, has substantial expertise in corporate matters as well as domestic and international business transactions, especially as they relate to oil and gas and real estate. 

Jeff Welborn Offering Mediation and Arbitration Services

Effective November 1, 2008, founding member John (“Jeff”) Welborn will focus his legal practice on mediation and arbitration.  Jeff will be serving as a mediator and arbitrator in disputes involving oil and gas, mining, and other natural resources issues.  He has extensive experience in domestic oil and gas law, in domestic and international mining law, in natural resources regulatory matters, and in negotiating and drafting natural resource development agreements, financing arrangements, and conveyance documents.  Jeff’s experience includes a variety of relevant legal and industry positions as:  senior management in an international mining company; Commissioner and also Chair of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission; Chair of the Mineral Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association; Adjunct Professor in oil and gas, natural resources, and water law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law; and, instructor on natural resources matters for continuing education seminars.  Jeff is a graduate of Dartmouth (1968) and the University of Colorado School of Law (1972).

Sarah M. Clark joins Firm October 20, 2008

Sarah M. Clark joins Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley, P.C.

We are pleased to announce that Sarah Mercer Clark joined the Firm as an Associate on October 20, 2008. Ms Clark is a 2004 graduate of Harvard and a 2007 graduate of the University of Colorado where she was Editor-in-Chief of the University of Colorado Law Review.  After law school, Ms. Clark held a one-year clerkship with Colorado Supreme Court Justice Michael L. Bender.  Her academic and scholarship achievements aside, Ms Clark is also a six-time Boston Marathon finisher and a two-time Ironman finisher (including Ironman Hawaii which she qualified for and completed in 2008).  Her practice will involve civil litigation in the oil and gas and natural resources areas.

Edward J. Blieszner joins Firm October 1, 2008

We are pleased to announce that Edward J. Blieszner will join the Firm October 1. Ed is a 1978 and 1981 graduate of Notre Dame.  He has been practicing law in Colorado since 1981, handling a broad range of matters in both trial and appellate courts.  In his construction law practice, he represents architects, engineers, contractors, developers and public and private owners in all aspects of their projects from initial planning and contracting through final close out, including eminent domain.  He also pursues claim resolution through mediation or arbitration as well as state and federal trials and appeals.  Ed is a frequent lecturer on mechanic’s liens, construction contracting and related matters.  He is the author of the Local Government Contracting chapter of Colorado Construction Law published by CLE in Colorado, Inc.  Ed will be working in the Firm’s Denver office.

Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley Opens Wyoming Office
In October, Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley officially opened its branch office in Casper, Wyoming. This expansion provides convenience and augments the Firm's representation capabilities with respect to its Wyoming clients. Many of the Firm's attorneys are members of the Wyoming Bar, and three are Casper natives: Stephen J. Sullivan, Blake M. Pickett, and Jennifer L. McDowell.  The Firm's Casper office is located at 123 West 1st Street, Suite 710, Casper, Wyoming 82601 (307-234-6907).

Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley Welcomes Attorneys in 2008
Earlier this year, two other attorneys joined the Firm's Denver office: Lisa Ludwig and Ryan Ahrens.  Both Lisa and Ryan arrive in Colorado via Texas, and both are members of the Texas Bar.  Lisa's areas of practice include estate planning, taxation, and oil and gas law.  Ryan's areas of practice include corporate transactions, financing, and oil and gas matters.

Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley Welcomes Two New Attorneys
Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley welcomes Jeffrey J. Peterson and Jennifer L. McDowell to the firm. Prior to joining the firm, Jeffrey Peterson was a shareholder at Berenbaum, Weinshienk & Eason in Denver. He practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, organizational planning, succession planning, corporate law, financing, securities, tax and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining the firm, Jennifer McDowell was an associate with Oreck, Bradley, Crighton, Adams & Chase in Boulder, Colorado and practices in the areas of state and local tax litigation, business tax planning, corporate law, business transactions and oil and gas law.

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Two Firm Attorneys Recognized as Leading Colorado Lawyers in their Fields

Ken Jones and Keith Tooley were recently recognized in the Super Lawyers edition of 5280 Magazine as being among the top 5% of lawyers practicing in the state of Colorado in 2007. Ken, whose practice focuses on energy and natural resources issues in the corporate context, was recognized the field of Oil and Gas Law.  Ken received the same recognition by Super Lawyers in 2006 and has also been recognized in the Best Lawyers in America - Oil and Gas Law and Who's Who in America.  Keith was recognized in the practice area of Business Litigation. Keith's practice involves complex litigation matters, regulatory proceedings, and natural resources issues throughout the Rocky Mountain region.

Steve Bain Completes Environmental Treatise
Steve Bain is the general editor and a contributing author of Environmental Regulation of Colorado Real Property, which is expected to be published by Bradford Publishing Company in July, 2007. Steve has lectured in numerous continuing legal education seminars, including “Environmental Concerns in the Sale and Redevelopment of Property in Colorado: Considerations for the Lender,” Lorman Seminar 2004; “Environmental Issues in Property Development,” NBI Seminar 2004; “Legal Aspects of Exporting,” Rocky Mountain World Trade Center Institute; and “Current Issues in Stormwater Regulation in Colorado,” Lorman Seminars 2005 and 2006.

Kathryn Haight contributes to Commercial Treatise
Kathryn Haight is a contributor to “Standby and Commercial Letters of Credit” published by Aspen Publishers.

Amy Seneshen named to Natural Resources and Energy Law Section Council
Amy Seneshen was recently selected to the Natural Resources and Energy Law Section Council of the Colorado Bar Association. Amy recently published “Wyoming Disallows Deductions for Transportation Between Wellhead and Market Pipeline: Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. v. Followill,” National Association of Division Order Analysts, Vol. MMVI, No. 1 at 20.

Sheryl Howe Presents at Pooling and Unitization Special Institute
Sheryl Howe recently lectured at the Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Pooling & Unitization Special Institute sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. Her lecture and paper was entitled “Plans of Development and Unit Expansions.” Sheryl is Past Chair of the Natural Resources and Energy Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association.

John Meck designated Super Lawyer and Who’s Who
John Meck was designated by 5280 Magazine as a 2006 Colorado Super Lawyer in the area of Business/Corporate Law. John Meck was also recognized by Who’s Who Legal® as being among the world’s premier lawyers in mining law. Who’s Who Legal® is the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers published in cooperation with the International Bar Association. In the 2006 edition of its publication, John Meck is recognized for his transactional representation of multinational mining and resource companies throughout North America, South America, the UK, the EU, and the former Soviet Union.