Currier Welcomes Baby Boy
It's been years since we here at Miller & Steiert have welcomed a baby, so we are thrilled to congratulate Shareholder Ben Currier and his wife Suzanne on the birth of their first child, Samuel Edward Currier. He arrived January 8 at a whopping 8 pounds, 12 ounces, and mom and baby are doing well! At a baby shower in December (above left), co-workers gave the parents-to-be kid-sized fishing rods, to Ben's delight. Ben reports that Sam (above right) has a strong grip and will be out-fishing his dad in no time. Congratulations Ben and Suzanne!
Pro Bono Legal Services For Veterans
Shareholder Ben Currier is leading an effort to get Colorado veterans and their families better access to legal services. Ben and other members of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations have implemented recommendations from the Colorado Commission on the Legal Profession to create "Colorado Lawyers for Colorado Veterans," a statewide pro bono program to help veterans and their families.
"I saw the need for pro bono services for veterans when I spoke with other Bar Association leaders, and when I saw how this type of project is spreading across the country, helping veterans and their families," Ben said. "This program provides a way for law students, young lawyers, and all Colorado attorneys to give a helping hand to our much-appreciated veterans." The first of many free clinics were held recently in Colorado Springs and Denver. More information is available at http://www.cobar.org/.
Firm Adds Business Consulting Services
Miller & Steiert has added Business Advising to its roster of services, with the addition of David W. Miller as Of Counsel. David helps clients solve complex business problems, capitalizing on his experience as both an attorney and business executive. He joins us from CH2M Hill, a global engineering, construction and operations company, where he worked for more than 25 years. Beginning as Corporate Counsel he held various business positions of increasing responsibility, including Chief of Staff to the CEO and Senior Vice President.
Currier Named Shareholder
Benjamin Currier, who began his legal practice as an associate with Miller & Steiert in 2004, has been named a Shareholder at the firm. Ben litigates criminal, family law, and general civil disputes.
Among his many accomplishments, Ben was invited by the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court to serve as the Liaison among the Colorado Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division and the Chief Justice’s Commission on the Legal Profession. In 2007, Ben was named Young Lawyer of the Year by the Arapahoe County Bar Association and in 2010, he completed the Colorado Bar Association's Leadership Training Program (COBALT). He is a 2011 Colorado Super Lawyer Rising Star.
“Ben’s hard work, litigation skills, and willingness to contribute his time to many professional and charitable organizations have been outstanding,” said Mike Miller, on behalf of the firm’s shareholders. “We recognized his talents and abilities right away, and we are pleased to welcome him as a shareholder.”
Super Lawyers Selected
Four of our attorneys have been named Colorado 2011 Super Lawyers! Michael P. Miller has been named for the second year, in the fields of Business/Corporate and Family Law. Walter Kelly has been named for the second consecutive year, in the fields of Estate Planning and Probate, as well as Estate and Trust Litigation. And Benjamin Currier has been named a 2011 Super Lawyer Rising Star.
In addition, Katy Miller now working through the associated firm of Littleton Alternative Dispute Resolution, has been named a Super Lawyer for the 6th consecutive year, in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution.
Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a rigorous, multiphase rating process, combining peer nominations and evaluations with third-party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement.
Clexton, Miller Volunteer
Attorneys Katy Miller and Gary Clexton, along with daughters Abby and Angie, volunteered in 2009 with the Special Olympics of Colorado at Copper Mountain. This is Clexton's 4th year, and Miller's 3rd year, helping out with the Winter Games, serving Colorado's children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
The two Miller & Steiert attorneys and their daughters volunteered on Saturdays for the eight weeks leading up to the Special Olympics Winter Games, as well as during the state-wide competition March 29-30. They assisted with skiing events by setting race courses, and helping to organize the multitude of volunteers at the Winter Games, while their daughters coached the participating athletes for the slalom and the giant slalom downhill racing events.
"We thoroughly enjoy participating," Clexton said. "It's fun for Angie and me to work with the athletes and other volunteers. We get so much out of helping, out of seeing the joy when the athletes finish a course. Participating with Special Olympics athletes both in training and competing transforms both the volunteers and athletes in so many ways."
Colorado Special Olympics Winter Games are held each year at Copper Mountain and top athletes may continue on to represent the United States at the Special Olympics World Winter Games, which were held in 2009 in Idaho.
"The Special Olympics offer a great opportunity for me and my daughter to work with a wonderful group of people who benefit so much from these organized sporting activities," Miller said. "The effort and desire to succeed reflected by the athletes is infectious. I think we learn more from them than they learn from us. We'll be back again next year."
For more information about Special Olympics Colorado, go to http://www.specialolympics.org/.
Henderson Marks 25th Anniversary
Miller & Steiert has recognized Paralegal Linda Henderson for her 25 years of service at the firm. Linda was hired by Miller & Steiert founder Marty Miller in 1984, "because of my height," Linda joked at the firm luncheon in her honor. "Marty needed someone tall who could reach the top shelves."
Eventually, Linda started working with Mike Miller, focusing on family law, commercial litigation and criminal law. In a heartfelt speech at the luncheon, Mike praised Linda's hard work, and emphasized the care and attention she gives every client.
"When you consider the clients, and their families, whose lives Linda has touched, she has literally helped thousands of people over the years," Mike said. "We appreciate having Linda with the Miller & Steiert family."
A highlight of the luncheon was the surprise appearance by Linda's daughter, Kacie, who recently graduated from college, and who the firm flew in from South Carolina for the Friday luncheon and a long weekend with her family.
Kelly Honored
Walter Kelly was elected to serve as Secretary Treasury of the Trust & Estate Section Executive Council of the Colorado Bar Association for the 2008-2009 term.
Kelly also was selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2009 and 2010 edition of The Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of Trusts and Estates.
Kleger Contributes to Guide
Scott Kleger is a new Contributing Author for The Practitioner's Guide to Colorado Employment Law (CLE in Colo., Inc., 2008)
Steiert Supports Rotary Effort
Bob Steiert is very active in the Denver Tech Rotary Club, which has raised more than $100,000 over the past five years for food and education programs, vaccinations, and clean water. Its annual auction fundraiser, For the Love of Children, was featured in the Your Hub sections of the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News.
LADR Marks Milestone
Katy Miller shares a laugh with her LADR partners Gary Clexton, Bob Steiert and Mike Miller at a surprise celebration thrown by staff recently. The party marked the 200th matter for Littleton Alternative Dispute Resolution since the firm installed its new database several years ago. Founded in 1997, the LADR team has helped "many times 200" parties in dispute, Katy Miller said, and enjoys a mediation success rate of more than 90 percent. Currently, in addition to conducting mediations in class-action and individual cases, and performing a wide range of workplace fact-finding investigations, Katy also monitors class-action settlement agreements for two federal agencies. Photo by Sarah Peasley.
Millers Meet Ritter
Mike Miller (right), with his wife Laura Cuetara, and Katy Miller (second from left) with husband Greg Eurich chatted with Jean Ritter, wife of Colorado governor Bill Ritter, at an Arapahoe County Bar Foundation dinner. Photo courtesy of the Arapahoe County Bar Association.
Currier Named Outstanding Lawyer
Benjamin Currier is the Arapahoe County Bar Association's 2007 recipient of the Tommy D. Drinkwine Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year. Currier received the award at the Bar Association's annual meeting in June in recognition of his commitment to the improvement of our community, as well as enthusiastic service to clients, the public and the Bar Association, according to David J. Stevens, present of the Arapahoe County Bar Association.
"Ben represents a long line of attorneys who have served the bar and made a mark as a young lawyer," said Stevens.
The Award was established in 1976. It was posthumously named after 1983 recipient Tommy Drinkwine after he died in an accident within years of receiving the honor.
Currier's practice focuses on criminal law, family law and commercial law.
Kelly Elected
Walter Kelly has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. The Counsel is a national association that brings together lawyers who have made outstanding contributions to the field of trust and estate law. Its purpose is to maintain a high quality of trust and estate legal services, and to contribute to the improvement of the areas of law in which trusts and estates lawyers practice. Fellows are elected by their peers and invited to join this prestigious organization of 2,500 lawyers.
Miller & Steiert Attorneys Volunteer
Attorneys Benjamin Currier (left) and Michael Miller compare notes during the Arapahoe Regional High School Mock Trial Competition at the Arapahoe County Justice Center recently. Nearly 200 students from six schools participated in the challenging two-day competition. Ben and Mike were among nearly 85 volunteers - including 18 presiding judges - who make this event possible. Photos by Sarah Peasley
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Mollie Hawes, the newest associate at Miller & Steiert, learns about Mock Trial scoring and our firm's strong tradition of volunteer public service from Ben Currier. Mollie, a May 2006 graduate of the University Denver School of Law, interned at our firm during 2006 and joined as an associate in March 2007, after successfully passing the state Bar exam.
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Michael Miller, left, Benjamin Currier and Mollie Hawes tally scores from a round of judging at the competition, then match up teams for the next round. The three top teams at the end of two days were from Regis Jesuit High School, Kent Denver and Aurora Central High School. Those teams went on to represent Arapahoe County at the state competition in March, and the winner there advanced to the national competition.
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Mock trial presentations took place in courtrooms at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, giving students a taste of the nerves and excitement of arguing before a judge.
