Military Experience: Judge Advocate, USAF, 1970-1974, and Military Judge, 1972-1974.

Memberships: National Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association; Real Estate Section, El Paso County Bar Association; Litigation Section and Forum Committee on the Construction Industry, American Bar Association

Practice includes:

• Representation of property owners, lenders, appraisers, real estate brokers, and title insurance companies in real estate acquisitions, financing, development, management, sales, foreclosures, and workout matters.
• Organizing, advising, and representing business entities.
• Construction litigation and arbitration, representing general contractors, subcontractors, specialty contractors, owners, developers, lenders, architects, and engineers in public and private commercial, industrial, and residential projects.
• Complex estate planning and estate administration for high net-worth individuals.

Personal Information: Howie is a Brooklyn boy who chased his dreams on the other side of the East River after the Dodgers leftBrooklyn. He started his legal career as a file clerk and receptionist for his father’s law office inNew York. He was active in student government in high school, was regularly on the Honor Roll and played varsity baseball, basketball and tennis. He attended college on a New York Regents’ Scholarship and a USAF Financial Assistance Grant. AtColgateUniversity, he was an active participant with WRCU, the campus radio station, a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, the National Economics Honor Society and received the Chicago Tribune Award. He was regularly on the Dean’s List and was presented with the Wall Street Journal Student Achievement Award. He was a member of the USAF ROTC and was a varsity tennis player. He worked as a tennis instructor and securities broker. As an exchange student he worked as an intern for the Union of Postal Workers inGreat Britain. After spending a year at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and working with theUnion, he realized he was not a socialist. In law school atDukeUniversity, he became as close as aBrooklyn boy can be to a southern gentleman (don’t believe everything you read on the internet) and received the American Jurisprudence Award. While serving in the USAF as a judge advocate and military judge, Howie was elected and served as the President of the Ellsworth AFB Federal Credit Union, was awarded a Commendation Medal and was nominated as one of the “Outstanding Young Men of America.” After completing his military duties Howie moved toColorado Springs and joined the predecessor of the Firm where he has practiced for almost 40 years. He has been an active member and President of the High Noon Sertoma Club, a local service club, has lectured at Continuing Legal Education seminars concerning Real Estate Development and has presented programs for the Colorado Association of Real Estate Appraisers and a number of Real Estate Brokerage Companies. He organized and has ridden (over 20 times) in the “Spring to Aspen Classic”, a 160-mile bicycle ride fromColorado Springs toAspen. Howie has toured throughout the world on bicycle. He is listed in “Who’s Who of Real Estate”, “Who’s Who in American Law” and “Who’s Who inAmerica”. He is very proud of his daughter’s accomplishments & loves her deeply.

Publication and Instructorships: Contributing author, Commercial Litigation in Colorado, Law Practice Handbook; continuing legal education instructor: bankruptcy, real estate, and foreclosure law.

Memberships: El Paso County, Colorado and American Bar Associations; American Bankruptcy Institute; Bankruptcy and Insolvency Section of the Commercial Law League. Member of the Colorado Springs Choral Society Board of Trustees, 1991-present; Treasurer, 1992;Vice Chair 2002-2004 and 2010 – present; Chair, 1993, 1995, 2004-2006.

Practice Includes:
• Representation of debtors and creditors in bankruptcy liquidation and reorganization proceedings.
• Real property law and litigation, including foreclosures, quiet title, mechanics’ lien litigation; representation of title companies, real estate brokers, lenders, buyers, sellers, and contractors.
• Representation of non-profit corporations and 501(C)(3) organizations.
• Business law, commercial law, and business litigation;
• Formation and representation of business entities.
• Estate planning, probate, and estate administration.

Personal Information: Ken was born in South Dakota, and has resided in Colorado Springs since 1961, with time away to attend law school at DU. He has been active for many years as a participant in and board member and officer of several vocal music organizations, including the Colorado Springs Choral Society and the Colorado Opera Festival. His wife, Janet, is an instructor of history at the Colorado Springs campus of the University of Colorado. They have two sons, David and James.  David, an electrical engineer, lives in Colorado Springs and works for RT Logic.  His wife, Nikki, is the Director of the Academy for Advanced & Creative Learning, a school for gifted children in Colorado Springs.  James lives in Wellington, New Zealand, where he works for the Earthquake Commission as a team leader engaged in coordinating relief for victims of the Christchurch earthquake.  His wife, Jackie, a computer specialist, works as a IT contractor for various New Zealand government agencies.

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Public Offices: Manitou Springs City Council, 1982-1990. Mayor, City of Manitou Springs, 1986-1990. Commissioner, Colorado Transportation Commission, 1995— 2003.

Memberships: El Paso County and Colorado Bar Associations; Family Law Section of the American Bar Association; Pikes Peak Collaborative Law Association.

Practice Areas:

* Family Law, Divorce, Parenting Issues, Marital Agreements.
* Mediation of Disputes
* Municipal Government
* Estate Planning, Probate, and Estate Administration.

Personal Information: Dan joined our firm in 1979. He has been an active member of the community, having served on the Manitou Springs City Council, with two terms as mayor, and on the Colorado Transportation Commission with a term as chairman. Dan has also chaired the Pikes Peak Clean Air Campaign, The Mineral Springs Foundation, the Business of Arts Center, and the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Board. He has chaired successful campaigns for a School District 14 bond issue, for a Manitou Springs downtown improvement project, and for the formation of the Pikes Peak Regional Transportation Authority . Dan is married and has three children. Dan has climbed all 54 of Colorado’s 14ers, and he hikes with the AdAmAn Club to the summit of Pikes Peak each New Year’s Eve.

Memberships: Colorado Bar Association, El Paso County Bar Association, Wyoming State Bar, Real Estate Section, Natural Resources and Environment Section, Business Law Section

Practice Areas: Renewable energy advocacy and regulation, commercial real estate purchase and sales, leasing and financing; formation, purchase and sales of business interests, medical practice management and transactions, and non-profit entity formation and management.

Professional History: Practice of law for 25 years in Colorado and Wyoming, in several firms and as a solo practitioner.  Lisa now prefers and appreciates the collegial support and shared expertise from the members at Alpern Myers Stuart LLC since joining the firm in 2000.

Representative Clients:

–   Trade associations, including non-profit renewable energy business advocacy organizations; appearances and advocacy before national and state regulators, including the Colorado Public Utility Commission and Wyoming Public Service Commission; consultation with clients related to impact and strategies of regulations on their business interests, general advocacy for renewable energy and sound energy regulation;

–   Commercial real estate owners, investors, developers, lenders; consultation and transactions, purchase and sale agreements, complex financing and leasing transactions;

– Business owners, related to formation, purchase and sale of commercial interests, lending and leasing transactions;

– Nonprofit organizations, related to formation and operation.

– Multi-family apartment complex owners and operators, related to purchase and sale agreements, complex financing and leasing transactions;

–   Medical practices related to their real estate and business transactions and interests;

–   Government organizations related to real estate and business transactions; and

Clients also include real estate and business owners and investors from around the country, and local, state, and national governments.   She has formed and represents non-profit entities to promote their various charitable, educational, cultural and environmental goals.   Lisa enjoys working closely with clients over a period of years, to become well acquainted with their organizational strategies and opportunities.

Personal Information:

Lisa has lived in Colorado Springs for over thirty years, after growing up in a large closely-knit family in Chicago and a small town in Wisconsin.   Lisa moved to Colorado Springs to attend Colorado College, graduating in 1981 with a degree in Economics.  After receiving her Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado in 1985, she began her law practice in Wyoming before returning to Colorado Springs in 1987.  Her legal studies, commencing in law school and continuing throughout her career have included emphasis on natural resources, real property, business and energy law.  Throughout her career Lisa has advocated for environmental and natural resources – related public interest groups.    She enjoys volunteering for land use and conservation causes, as well as to promote the arts and music culture within Colorado Springs.   She and her husband owned and operated an art gallery featuring local artists for over ten years.  Lisa served on the board of trustees for the Palmer Land Trust from 2002 through 2008, including a term as President.  She served on the board of directors for the Trails and Open Space Coalition for several years.

“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.” — Anatole France

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Memberships: El Paso County and Colorado Bar Associations; National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Colorado Criminal Defense Bar; Alternate Defense Counsel; Wendelken Inns of Court.

Professional Biography: Programs Director, El Paso County Bar Association, 2010—2013; Pupilage Group Leader, Wendelken Inns of Court, 2005-2006; Participant, Trial Practice Institute at the National Criminal Defense College, July 2003. Chair, El Paso County Bar Association’s Speaker’s Bureau, 2000—2008. New Lawyer’s President, El Paso County Bar Association, 2000-2001. Recipient: Legal Aid Award, 1996—1997; Jessup International Law Moot Court, 1997.

Practice Areas:

* Defense of Persons Accused of Serious Felonies, Domestic Violence and DUI.
* School Expulsion and Discipline Defense.
* Complex Civil Litigation.

Personal Information: Matt’s family moved to Colorado Springs when he was two years old. He graduated from Wasson High School. He likes to boast that he is completely Colorado public school educated. He has two children with his wife, Renee. He likes to ski and mountain bike. He enjoys amatuer theater productions. Matt remains active in the community through a number of political activities and by taking appointed criminal defense cases.

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Memberships & Professional Biography: El Paso County and Colorado Bar Associations; El Paso County Bar Association (EPCBA) Board of Trustees (Trustee); EPCBA 2010 Strategic Planning Force Committee (Member); EPCBA Lawyer Referral Services (Member); EPCBA New Members/Swearing-In (Chair); EPC Bar Foundation (Board of Directors Member); Ben S. Wendelken American Inn of Court (Executive Committee Member & Pupilage Groups Leader); EPCBA New Lawyers Section (Chair 2006-2010); American Bar Association State Membership Chair Program (2009, Participant on behalf of the EPCBA New Lawyers Section); Legal Aid Foundation Committee (Committee Member 2005 – 2008). Law School Activities: Denver Journal of International Law and Policy (2003-2005); International Human Rights Advocacy Center (2003-2005); Asylum Project (2003-2005); University of Denver Clinical Programs, Advanced Criminal Law Clinic (2005).

Community Activities: The Chamber Rising Professionals (Member 2010-current, Mentorship Committee); Genny’s Hope Foundation (Board of Directors Member 2012 – current); Commercial Women’s Network (Member); Participate as a volunteer in community Law Day Activities; Christmas in February (post-holiday Holiday Party for unprivileged children organized and hosted by the CBA-YLD in Colorado Springs); Support non-profit Bulgarian organizations which provide homeless children with food, medicine, clothes, shoes, and school supplies through coordination with the Government Center for Social Integration and the Red Cross.

Nominations: The Ben S. Wendelken Inn of the American Inns of Court outstanding contribution award (2009) ; One of the Gray’s Pupilage Wendelken S. Inn of Court nominees (Headed by Judge David L. Shakes) awarded the 2008 American Inns of Court Best Program – Justice in Baghdad, Culture, Conflict, and Challenges (2008); Nominated and Awarded the 2008 Rising Stars Award (April 24, 2008); Nominated and Awarded the Bryan S. Gardner Outstanding Young Lawyer Award (Oct. 16, 2007); Nominated for the University of Denver Outstanding Student Award (2005).

Practice Includes:

Corporate Formation and Organization, including but not limited to:
• Establishment of corporations, limited liability companies (LLC), partnerships and trusts
• Chapter S (also referred to as S corp.), EIN and 501(c)(3) election
• Non-profit and tax-exempt organizations
• Trade names, trademarks and service marks
• Business planning and joint ventures
• Directors’ and officers’ liability
• Non-compete and non-disclosure agreements
• Franchising and distribution contracts
• Purchase and sale of business and business succession
• Shareholder agreements
• Board Minutes and By Laws

Business and Commercial Law, including but not limited to:
• Buy-sell agreements
• Commercial litigation
• Secured transactions
• Collections and debtor-creditor work

Contract Law, including but not limited to:
• Drafting and review of contracts
• Mechanic liens

Real Estate Law, including but not limited to:
• Purchase and sale of residential and commercial property
• Residential and commercial leasing
• Real estate litigation
• Conveyancing
• Land use issues

Estate Planning and Probate, including but not limited to:
• Wills
• Trusts
• Living wills
• Power of attorney and appointment
• Probate and estate administration
• Business succession planning and tax planning

General Practice

Personal Information: Jina grew up in a third world country, brought up with the myth of the United States being a dream world, a world of freedom, success, and opportunities. She grew up being taught at school that this was a dream she could not have, an unreachable life she could not ever be part of. Contrary to the myth, and with the support of her parents, at the age of eighteen, Jina was the first person in her high school to be accepted at several colleges in the United States. She packed a suitcase and headed towards the dream with little money and no family or friends to join her in her adventure. Jina never forgot where she came from. Not only does she visit her family in Bulgaria every year, but she also stays very active in supporting non-profit Bulgarian organizations which provide homeless children with food, medicine, clothes, shoes, and school supplies through coordination with the Government Center for Social Integration and the Red Cross. Jina speaks fluent Bulgarian and Russian; she has rudimentary skills in French and Spanish. She loves to travel and try different food. She enjoys biking, skiing, swimming, hiking, hunting and she loves animals, especially her two dogs. She is currently taking golf lessons, and expects nothing but perfection and challenge in her future golf game.

“I love living life the smart way! As much as patience may be a virtue in all of life, it is even more so in trying to be at least a step ahead.” ~ VVK

Favorite Quote: “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the Really Great make you feel that you, too, can become Great!” – Mark Twain

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University: Jacksonville University, B.A., summa cum laude, 1992

Law School: Syracuse University, J.D., 1996

Admitted: 1996, Virginia; 1997, Colorado

Memberships: El Paso County (President, New Lawyers Section, 1998-1999), Colorado and Virginia Bar Associations.

Born: Greeley, Colorado, May 20, 1971

Memberships: El PasoCounty andColorado Bar Associations; Ben S. Wendelken Inn of Court

Professional Biography:             Greg joined the firm on May 1, 2012.  Greg practices in the areas of civil and commercial litigation, arbitration, and appeals. He has represented individuals, financial institutions, and commercial enterprises in a variety of commercial, construction, landlord-tenant, employment, financial, insurance, and real estate disputes in state and federal trial courts.  Prior to joining Alpern Myers Stuart LLC, Greg worked for Mulliken Weiner Berg & Jolivet, P.C. where he specialized in commercial litigation.  In 2011, Greg helped three different clients obtain jury verdicts that led to judgments of over $1 million.

Personal Information: Greg has served on the Board of Directors for the SET Family Medical Clinics since 1997 and is currently serving his second term as Chairmen of the Board.  Greg enjoys hiking with his children, playing softball, and following his favorite sports teams – the Colorado Rockies and Nebraska Cornhuskers.

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Memberships: El Paso County and Colorado Bar Associations.

Publications: “Annexation Highlights,” Colorado Municipal League 2005; “Update on Regulation of Adult Businesses: the Colorado Springs Experience,” Colorado Municipal League, 1995; “Overview of Annexation in Colorado,” Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc. 1994.

Practice Areas:

* Municipal Law
* Local Government Law

Personal Information: Al joined our firm of counsel in 2003 after retiring as an Assistant City Attorney with the City of Colorado Springs. He was recognized as “Outstanding Assistant City Attorney for the Year 2000” by the Metro City Attorneys Association. He currently serves as President of the Kiwanis Club of the Rampart Range, a community service organization. He is married and has a son and daughter.

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Memberships: El Paso County and Colorado Bar Associations.

Professional Biography: Colorado Springs Oil & Gas Committee (2012–Present); Organic Seed Alliance Board of Directors (2008–Present); Palmer Land Trust Board of Trustees (2005-2008); Visiting Faculty, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (2005); Colorado Farm & Art Market Cooperative Board of Directors (2003-2006); Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Advisory Board (1999-2005); Managing Partner, Merrill, Anderson, King & Harris LLC (1998-2008); Visiting Faculty, Colorado College (1998–Present); Colorado Springs Trails, Open Space & Parks Working Committee (1997-1999); Colorado Springs Open Space Master Plan Committee (1996-1997); Associate, James L. Merrill, Attorneys at Law (1993-1998).

Practice Areas:

* Environmental Law.
* Real Estate, Land Use, Zoning & Construction.

* Oil & Gas Leasing.

* Government Accountability Law.
* Complex Civil Litigation.

Personal Information: Steve moved to Colorado Springs from North Carolina following his graduation from law school.  He has worked with most of the federal and Colorado environmental laws and devoted substantial time to public service activities.  Steve is also the host of The Grass Roots Revival, a weekly radio program on NPR station KRCC, and Director of the MeadowGrass Music Festival, which takes placed over Memorial Day weekend at the beautiful La Foret Conference & Retreat Center in Black Forest.   He enjoys hiking with his wife Michele and his two Corgis, Hops and Barley.

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