BURNHAM LAW - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate Attorney - Domestic Relations Colorado Springs
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate - Domestic Relations Colorado Springs / Education
I can't say enough positive things about my experience with Burnham Law. I needed immediate answers towards the end of their business day, and was able to be connected to Todd who went above and beyond my expectations. A huge thank you to Karen, Todd, and Sara for being so immediately available and "on it". I would recommend Burnham Law to anyone searching for a Family Law attorney.
I am extremely grateful that I retained The Burnham Law Firm to assist me with my recent divorce. I am specifically grateful for my wonderful attorney, JP Prentiss who represented me throughout that arduous ordeal. JP is an excellent attorney who is knowledgeable, timely in communication, thorough, confident, and most importantly, ethical. He was in my corner every step of the way, fought to get me what I needed and to expose what needed to be exposed. I will always appreciate his efforts, sound advice and professionalism. I highly recommend this law firm and in particular, JP to anyone looking for that "notch above" attorney.
Job Titles:
- Associate Attorney - Domestic Relations Centennial
Annie, a Kansas native, graduated magna cum laude from Wichita State University in 2020. In August of 2023, she relocated to Colorado to begin an externship with Burnham Law during her third year of law school. Annie completed her final year online through Washburn University's innovative Third Year Anywhere program, which allowed her to gain invaluable hands-on experience at Burnham for a full year before officially starting practice.
During law school, Annie honed her legal skills in both the Family Law Clinic and the Civil Clinic, where she successfully represented low-income clients in state district court on guardianship, conservatorship and expungement cases. She was also a published member of the Washburn Law Review and a member of the Black Law Students Association. Outside of her legal career, Annie enjoys exploring Colorado's scenic hiking trails and thrifting home decor.
I hired Burnham Law to handle my divorce proceedings and ended up needing Leslie Shafer's services for a separate legal matter involving a restraining order. Leslie Shafer and her team were attentive, direct, knowledgeable, and it was very clear that she knows her way in and out of the courtroom. She was professional, kind, listened intently, asked the right questions, and was able to address the situations appropriately while providing the best legal care.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- of Counsel - Domestic Relations Centennial
Barry is Of Counsel in our domestic relations division, based in our Greenwood Village office. Before joining Burnham Law, Barry was an associate for a well-known family law firm in Denver and then was a sole practitioner for over 25 years. Altogether Barry has over 30 years of experience handling divorce, custody, parenting time, child support, maintenance, property division, and post decree modification cases.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner - Client Development Colorado Springs / Professional Associations and Memberships
Ben Brightwell is a Partner at Burnham Law, a Client Development Strategist, Renowned Litigator, Leadership Advisor, and Esteemed Mentor who is invested in guiding clients toward optimal outcomes in negotiation and trial.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney - Civil Litigation Centennial / Education
Brian Teed is an associate attorney based at our Centennial office. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Birmingham-Southern College and a Juris Doctor from Arizona State University. During his time in law school, Brian distinguished himself by interning for federal district judges and working for the United States Department of Justice in Washington, DC. He also served on the executive board of the Arizona State Law Journal and published two articles on constitutional issues.
After graduating, Brian acquired even deeper insight into judicial decision-making by clerking on the Arizona Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. He later honed his courtroom skills at a criminal defense firm. From this broad experience, Brian is uniquely positioned to help clients navigate the complexities and stress of civil litigation, including appeals.
In addition to his legal pursuits, Brian is an ultrarunner and long-distance cyclist. To power these endeavors, he makes a lot of Neapolitan-style pizzas at home with his wife and two rescue greyhounds.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner - Civil Litigation Centennial
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate - Domestic Relations Colorado Springs
Christopher Sutton grew up in Pottstown, PA. He is the oldest of three siblings. His parents wanted all of their children to be competent swimmers, so they joined the swim team as early as first grade. It stuck for Christopher, and he became a varsity swimmer and water polo player in high school and college. He was captain of the water polo team for both high school and college.
He graduated from Washington and Lee University in 2000 with a BA in Biology. He initially worked as an environmental scientist inspecting and researching commercial and residential properties in the Northeast to identify environmental liabilities like contamination, asbestos, and lead-based paint. Christopher particularly enjoyed working with an attorney representing an owner of a commercial property impacted by a Superfund site to help the client recover. That experience convinced him that pursuing law school would be a path he would enjoy.
Christopher attended the University of Denver (DU) and was admitted to the bar in May 2007. During law school, he focused on environmental law but had a secondary passion for criminal law, as he has friends and family who have been victims of serious crimes. He was president of the Criminal Law Association and played on an adult league for water polo based out of DU.
Christopher worked as a District Attorney with El Paso County for almost ten years, spending three years working exclusively as a Special Victim's attorney (sex crimes and felony child abuse) and handling multiple homicides. He really enjoyed giving back to the community and helping crime victims find justice. He also met his wife, Allison, there and first experienced how much they both enjoyed supporting each other in their professional lives almost as much as in their personal lives. He continued to find himself drawn to the water, training children and adults how to swim and prepare for triathlons.
Christopher left the DA's office and worked a mix of criminal defense and family law for the Gasper Law Group, ultimately following Allison to Robinson and Henry and now Burnham Law. In his free time, Christopher enjoys hiking, skiing, and spending time relaxing with Allison and their two dogs watching horror movies.
Job Titles:
- Associate Attorney - Domestic Relations Colorado Springs
After graduating from the Pennsylvania State University cum laude, Cindy obtained her law degree at Penn State Law. During her time at Penn State Law, she practiced as a student attorney for the Penn State Family Law Clinic, where she represented her clients on various family law issues.
Throughout her legal career, Cindy honed her skills as a family law strategist and a zealous litigator. Cindy's experience in family law has given her a unique ability to advocate for her clients and help them navigate their complex matters. Cindy understands the emotional strain contentious family law disputes cause families and is dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of families during these tumultuous times. Cindy provides her clients with individualized representation and offers unique strategies to help them achieve their case objectives.
Cindy is passionate about giving back to the community and fostering diversity in the practice of law in Colorado. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Justice Center in El Paso County, where she supports the organization's goals to make legal services more accessible to members of the community. She is also a member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado and strives to collaborate with like-minded legal professionals to expand the presence and representation of Asian-Americans in the legal profession.
Outside the world of law, Cindy is an avid New York sports fan. She also enjoys playing video games and attending rock concerts
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney - Civil Litigation Centennial / Professional Associations & Memberships
Cody is an Associate Attorney at Burnham Law based out of the Centennial office. He has a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Maine and earned his J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. During law school, he was the Vice-President of the International Law Society and law clerked for a local firm.
Heidi Whitaker gave great advice and understood the law and exact implications better than a majority of lawyers. I had some specific time constraints that if were not adhered to would be quite expensive. Heidi understood (actually she informed me of them and was an expert on navigating them) and kept me informed the whole time. I wholeheartedly recommend her and Burnham law.
Job Titles:
- Partner - Civil Litigation Centennial
David is an experienced litigator and trial attorney based in our Centennial office. He has been representing individuals and businesses in commercial disputes, litigation, and arbitrations for over two and a half decades.
David grew up in Loveland, Colorado and attended the University of Denver on a Boettcher Foundation Scholarship, where he received a degree in Finance/Real Estate from the Daniels College of Business. After college he clerked for a year with a large national law firm in Minneapolis, assisting with preparation of claims by fishermen in Alaska related to the Exxon Valdez oil spill - the litigation that resulted in a $5 billion punitive damages jury award against Exxon (that was ultimately significantly reduced by the U.S. Supreme Court). David then attended and received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.
In lawschool he was a director of the competitive International Moot Court, and also a member of the prestigious Minnesota Law Review, which selected the Comment he wrote for publication. After law school, David began practicing in Kansas City with large national law firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon, where he focused on pharmaceutical products liability litigation. He made his way back to Colorado several years later and has practiced here continuously since then.
The majority of David's legal career has been focused on complex commercial litigation, and he has honed his skills practicing with international (Dorsey & Whitney, and Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani) and local (Messner & Reeves, and Cantafio & Song) law firms. He is a relentless advocate and seasoned trial attorney, with extensive first chair experience in civil trials, arbitrations, and appeals.
When he is not in a court room, David and his wife, Gail, spend as much time as they can enjoying Colorado, attending sporting events and concerts, and trying to keep up with their three adult children's adventures across the country. They have been long-time and enthusiastic celebrants of Groundhog Day, their second favorite holiday. David also tries to umpire as much youth/high school baseball as his schedule will allow, and he tries to bring the same intensity and focus to his strike zone that he does to his cross-examinations. He is also a die-hard Broncos, Avalanche and Nuggets fan, but he has disavowed the Rockies.
Job Titles:
- Associate Attorney - Probate Fort Collins
Faith is an experienced trial attorney and trust and estate planner based in our Fort Collins office. She has practiced law for over thirty years in the areas of civil litigation, family law. and probate law. She is licensed in Colorado, Wyoming, and Tennessee. Faith grew up in east Tennessee and earned her law degree from the University of Tennessee. While in law school, Faith participated in moot court competition. After law school, Faith served as a judicial clerk to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals and as a deputy county attorney.
Faith's practice is focused on estate and trust planning, probate and trust administration, and probate litigation, including conservatorships, guardianships, and cases involving the responsibilities of personal representatives and trustees. Whether planning, administering, or litigating, Faith is committed to clients' empowerment through informed choices.
Faith lives in Loveland, Colorado, and enjoys hiking and Colorado Eagles hockey with her family. She volunteers for wildlife rehabilitation and animal welfare causes.
Heidi is a winner! We contacted Burnham Law 4 days before our hearing. They assigned Heidi S. Whitaker for our case. She won the case and my child was returned to me right away. She is brilliant, smart and good, professionally and humanly. I recommend Burnham Law to all who need help for family legal issues in Colorado!
Heidi Whitaker is an amazing lawyer. I went to two other lawyers before her and did not get the help I needed for my difficult situation. Heidi is a strong, intelligent woman that understands the law as well as how people work. I would recommend Heidi with the highest confidence.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate - Domestic Relations & Criminal Defense Centennial
Ishtiaque Hossain is a dual-qualified attorney, holding bar admissions in both Colorado, USA and in England & Wales as a Barrister-at-law. He earned his Juris Doctorate (JD) from the University of Arizona and an L.L.M. in U.S. Law from George Mason University. Additionally, Ishtiaque completed his Bachelor of Laws, L.L.B. and Post Graduate Diploma in Law (PgDIL) at the Bristol Institute of Legal Practice, UK. Ishtiaque's diverse legal experience includes serving as a Deputy District Attorney in Montrose, Colorado, where he has proven his efficiency in handling a wide range of cases.
Furthermore, his journey has been enriched by invaluable law clerkships in family law, both in a judicial capacity and with a distinguished private law firm. Ishtiaque's commitment to public service is exemplified by his support for pro bono matters related to housing, family, and consumer law. Additionally, he is qualified as an Accredited Civil & Commercial Mediator in the UK. His linguistic abilities are a valuable asset in his practice, as he is fluent in both English and Bengali, with a working knowledge of Hindi and Urdu. Outside the courtroom, Ishtiaque finds joy in diverse pursuits, including Mixed Martial Arts, quality time with his family, and the continuous exploration of new culinary recipes.
Job Titles:
- Associate Attorney - Probate Centennial
I'd give five stars for responsiveness, knowledgeable and dedicated to their clients best interest. If you're in for a fight, these are the people you want in your corner.
Job Titles:
- Partner - Domestic Relations Westminster
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate - Domestic Relations and Criminal Defense Colorado Springs
Jeremy Wooten is a trial attorney at Burnham Law, specializing in criminal defense and family law. Jeremy's legal journey reached new heights post-law school as he dedicated five years to refining his trial expertise at the Colorado State Public Defenders' Office. Ascending to Senior Deputy Public Defender, he navigated diverse cases-first-degree homicide, drug distribution, and economic crimes-with an unwavering commitment to client advocacy and strict legal bounds. Expanding his legal prowess beyond criminal defense, Jeremy tackled complex family law cases in the Roaring Fork Valley, seamlessly combining expertise in both realms.
Nicholas Family Law Eric is a pro. A true pro. He has worked with our family on one case and consulted and helped through another. The team at Burnham is the best in the business and Eric is a leader in that team. Eric has a very professional way of clearly articulating conflict resolution while advocating for his clients. He doesn't waste his clients money arguing with opposing counsel, and he just "lays down the law". Eric has been great at advising when to fight for certain causes, or when to not exacerbate a disputed. My family has been very pleased with Erics representation, and we will not go anywhere else with our family law matters. Jessica Family Law Danielle was such a blessing for me in regards to my child support dispute with my daughter's father. From the very first time we spoke regarding my case, she put me at complete ease and made me feel very comfortable communicating with her. It was certainly one of the most stressful periods of my life, but the confidence and acumen she displayed throughout the whole process assured me that all our work together would end in am good results. I was so impressed the morning of our day in court. She was so well prepared, explaining to me different strategies she could employ if things went this way or that. Although I was so nervous before entering court, I felt ever so confident knowing how well prepared she was, which gave me confidence as well. In the end we were given the results that we were asking for. What more can I say? I would not have imagined having anyone better on my side fighting for me! Christian Bundy Civil Litigation Aaron is an absolutely outstanding, first-rate attorney. Insightful, strong, articulate, with deep integrity. He has great heart, warmth, and magnetism. Brilliant writer. Top strategist. He has made the most profound impact I think a person could make on my life and the lives of my children...I am immeasurably grateful for what he has done for my family.
Jessica Lasky has done wonders for me! I have a drama field, complicated, children involved, plus a criminal case that can affect some outcome of other cases. Jessica is the uppermost professional and so genuine. That's how a lawyer should be! Able to bring the professionalism to the courtroom and be genuine and gracious to clients! Perfect balance. Before Jessica I had a horrible lawyer where they didn't take my case seriously. Jessica and her team will do ABSOLUTELY everything they can for you! They have always talked to me when I needed and have gave me useful information when I didn't even know I needed it. I will and have recommend Jessica Lasky and her team to everybody I know!
Job Titles:
- Associate Attorney - Civil Litigation Centennial
Karla is a commercial litigator and trial attorney based in our Centennial office. She focuses her work in representing individuals and businesses in contractual disputes.
Karla is a fluent Spanish speaker with Mexican roots and can handle client files in both English and Spanish, as needed. Collaboration is at the core of Karla's style of resolution and her personable yet thorough nature lends itself to efficient problem solving. When she isn't in the office or courtroom, Karla enjoys time in the mountains: snowboarding, hosting dinners with friends, and learning about new cultures and cuisines.
My attorney, Jennifer Scott was amazing!! So empathetic and encouraging. This was one of the most difficult times in my life. She was my only friend during this process. She made me feel safe, I know she could handle whatever was thrown at me.
I highly recommend Randall Gause from Burnham Injury Law. He never, ever rushed a conversation, whether it was in the office or on the phone. He explained what we should and shouldn't expect & helped us walk thru a truly traumatic event. We were fortunate to have him & his paralegals on our side walking us through an incredibly stressful situation!
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Partner - Domestic Relations & Criminal Defense Colorado Springs
Kayla is a senior associate based in our Colorado Springs office. Kayla graduated from the University of Denver before attending Creighton University School of Law. While at law school, she interned with the Colorado State Public Defenders and also worked as a clerk at a local family law practice. Kayla was the Vice President of her law school and competed in the National Trial Advocacy Competition where she finished as a semi-finalist. Kayla graduated Cum Laude with a concentration in litigation.
Mary Nathan has been exceptional through this horrible time in my life. She is knowledgable and will fight for you. I recommend her to everyone I know who needs a divorce or family practice attorney.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney - Civil Litigation Centennial
Lauren is an associate attorney. Prior to joining Burnham Law, Lauren practiced in general civil litigation and domestic relations matters.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Managing Partner Colorado Springs / Education
Leslie Shafer is the Managing Partner for Burnham Law. She is a winner of the Avvo™ Clients Choice Award and is named among "Colorado Springs Top Attorneys" in Alternate Dispute Resolution and Mediation.
Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Leslie has a great passion for her clients and is committed to applying her education and experience in guiding children, families, and individuals toward beneficial and prosperous futures. Most recently, Leslie has focused her passion for domestic practice into helping parties expedite the cost and time spent on litigation through the mediation process instead and all the tools provided as part of mediation.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney - Civil Litigation Centennial
Logan is an Associate Attorney with the Civil Litigation team at Burnham Law based out of the Centennial office. He completed his Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University at Albany, and recently earned his J.D. from William and Mary Law School.
Before entering law school, Logan spent time working in the in-house legal department of a 3rd party commercial lending company. In this role he assisted with business development projects with clients ranging from local coffee shops, to large commercial developers in New York City. Prior to joining Burnham, Logan began his legal career at a local Denver law firm primarily practicing civil litigation defense for a diverse set of clientele.
I highly recommend Stephanie! She is smart and knows the case laws and laws in our state. She fights for your children when they aren't able to do so themselves.
Job Titles:
- Family Law Attorney
- Senior Associate - Domestic Relations Centennial / Education
Matthew S. Patton is a Family Law Attorney primarily in the Centennial office. His considerate and thoughtful approach to your family law or criminal issue can help both prepare you for adverse or difficult proceedings and ground you throughout the process. Mr. Patton has engaged in hundreds of family law and criminal hearings and trials and is able to navigate his clients through each step of the process. He provides support and counsel through the trials and tribulations that are often inherent in family law litigation. His history in the court system, experience in every level of the process, and his demeanor and reputation with the Court makes him an asset for any client in any type of family law or criminal proceeding.
Mr. Patton's practice focuses on family law cases and criminal defense matters. As a former deputy district attorney and private defense attorney, he has negotiated thousands of plea agreements with opposing counsel and gained a reputation for his integrity and empathy in handling complex and sensitive cases. He has also consulted on diverse legal issues both criminal and civil. His ability to assess the strengths and weaknesses of a case allows him to assist his clients with the highest levels of compassion and competency.
Mr. Patton is child focused. He will work to ensure that should your family law matter involve children, they will be protected throughout the process. He will strive to ensure that the best interests of your child(ren) are maintained and that the stress on the family is relieved to the maximum extent possible. Mr. Patton understands the pressures and frustrations that can be caused by the divorce or APR process as well as the fear and uncertainty. He works tirelessly to answer questions, prepare his clients, advise as to the uncertainties and worries, and provide the ultimate in legal counsel.
Mr. Patton received his law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College Of Law. During law school he participated in both appellate and jury trial competition. While a student, he clerked for a judicial officer in Douglas County, worked as an appellate intern and supervising intern with the District Attorney's Office in the 18th and what is now the 23rd judicial districts.
I had the distinct pleasure of working with Donna Bystricki-and quite frankly- she is the most competent and consummate professional office manager around. I am an attorney with 25 years of experience and I have never seen such poetry in motion. I had some prospective clients reach out to me about divorce and family law (a practice area outside of my wheelhouse) and Donna swooped in to help these people during their emotionally challenging times. When I heard back from these folks, they were so pleased with her performance in matching them up with an attorney in the firm. Whatever your problem is, and whatever type of lawyer you need to find for your domestic relations matter, Donna is the person to talk to!
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate - Domestic Relations Fort Collins
Miguel C. Mondragon is a tenacious and hardworking attorney who cares deeply about his clients and their legal outcomes. Whether he is helping a client through their divorce or defending them against criminal charges, Miguel understands that his clients are in their most vulnerable state. Acting as his clients' advocate, he is able to give them a voice in the legal system.
Miguel grew up in southern Colorado and worked his way through college, taking jobs in construction, lumber yards, and brickyards. This instilled in him a tenacious work ethic that Miguel carries into his legal practice. Before he became an attorney, Miguel worked in the Larimer County Corrections system, which sparked his interest in practicing law.
While attending law school at the University of South Dakota, Miguel spent his summers working with the East River Legal Services, the Colorado State Public Defenders Office, and Samuelson Law, gaining valuable experience that would serve him when he graduated. Upon graduation, Miguel became a solo practitioner before joining Weaver & Associates, P.C where he continued to hone his practice. Miguel eventually founded Mondragon Law, where he handled criminal defense and family law cases for his clients before joining Burnham Law.
When Miguel isn't representing his clients' interests, he enjoys spending time with his family, coaching baseball, fly-fishing, camping and hiking.
Job Titles:
- Member of Burnham Law 's Family Law Team
- Partner - Domestic Relations Colorado Springs
Mikayla Shearer is a member of Burnham Law's Family Law Team. Mikayla assists clients on a variety of family law matters, such as dissolution of marriage, allocation of parental responsibilities, and child support enforcement.
Mikayla began her legal career as a child support attorney for El Paso County where she helped parents obtain financial support for their children. While Mikayla has worked in private practice for a number of years, she draws on her experiences as a public child support attorney to help her current clients achieve the best possible results.
The area of family law was a natural choice for Mikayla, as well. She was raised in a single-parent home, and Mikayla, too, has gone through a divorce. So, she can truly empathize with the struggles her clients are experiencing.
Clients can expect an honest and tenacious legal advocate in Mikayla's representation. She understands the sensitive and stressful nature of family law cases, and Mikayla will be there to guide her clients through the legal process.
Mikayla is a proud military spouse and a parent of two sons. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her family.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney - Domestic Relations Westminster
Patrick is an Associate Attorney based out of our Greenwood Village office. Patrick has worked in the legal field since 2018 and has experience in the areas of family law, dependency and neglect, and juvenile delinquency. His practice currently focuses solely on domestic relations and family law matters.
Job Titles:
- Adjunct Leadership and Team Performance Coach
- Director of Operations for 3d Lacrosse
Phil McCarthy is an adjunct leadership and team performance coach at Burnham Law. He is also an adjunct Professor and an Executive in Residence in the Entrepreneurship Department at the Daniels College of Business.
Phil started his career as a Futures and Options trader on the Nikkei for Spear Leeds Kellogg (SLK) on the AMEX in New York City. He then transferred to Singapore for SLK to head operations and trading on the Simex. He returned to the US as a NASDAQ Trader for Troster Singer, a subsidiary of SLK. After Wall Street, Phil changed his sights for Denver, Colorado and founded Breakaway Sports, a national hockey and lacrosse sporting goods company. He grew the company to seven locations across the US and developed a National Team Sales Division and operated the business for 20 years before a successful exit in 2016.
While building Breakaway Sports, Phil was also building a Real Estate company to support his sporting goods business which he successfully exited in 2016/17 and a performance apparel company, Wicked Smart Apparel, which he successfully exited in 2009.
Today, Phil is a Director of Operations for 3d Lacrosse, an Adjunct Professor in the Entrepreneur minor in the Daniels School of Business where he teaches Leadership and Execution, and is an Executive in Residence. He sits on the Advisory Board for Entrepreneurship at DU. He is also an experienced Leadership, Motivation and Team Performance Coach working with C-Suite Executives and their Executive Leadership Teams as a soundboard and Leadership Coach. Founding North Star Leadership Consulting. He is also the Associate Director of The Psychology of Success and Failure Research for Columbia University and writes a blog on Athletic Approach at Athlete2lifelite.com.
He has been a Public Speaker, most recently presenting to the CU Football Team on Leadership, Mindset and Financial literacy.
Phil believes that great people have a great impact on the lives of others. He is excited about working with the Leaders of Burnham Law and supporting our goals of constant personal growth so we can help our clients achieve great results and move forward with their lives. Phil is also available to assist Burnham Law clients in certain circumstances.
Phil's Favorite Quote by Positive Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, "The best times in life are when our minds or bodies are stretched to their limits in pursuit of a goal that is difficult but worthwhile. It's about taking bold action, making a real impact in the lives of loved ones, customers, colleagues, learning and growing and accomplishing great things with others."
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney - Probate Centennial
Rachael is an Associate Attorney based out of our Centennial office. Originally from Iowa, Rachael relocated to Colorado and earned her law degree from the University of Colorado Law School. While in law school, Rachael served on the editorial board for The University of Colorado Law Review and worked as a judicial intern for the Honorable Kristen L. Mix at the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.
Rachael brings a diverse legal background to Burnham Law with experience in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, criminal law, and immigration. She now centers her practice on estate planning and probate matters.
In her spare time, Rachael enjoys attending live sports events and spending time outdoors with her two dogs.
My son's attorney was Heidi Whitaker. She was an aggressive litigator with an eagle-eyed approach to dealing with an antagonistic opposing counsel. She was highly strategic and proficient in every aspect of the services she provided. I highly recommend Heidi Whitaker and her team at Burnham Law Firm for any client faced with false allegations or struggling with a high-conflict custody issue.
Burnham Law helped me with a domestic matter. I used another law firm for this, but the case stalled. Anthony Zarsky helped me to get the case moving in a timely manner. I received everything I asked for from the court. I now have peace of mind knowing the case is finally resolved. I started this case about five years ago, but Burnham resolved it in about seven months.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Attorney
- Associate Attorney - Civil Litigation Westminster
Sam Scheurich is an associate attorney based in our Cherry Creek office. Sam graduated from the University of Arizona where he pursued a degree in print journalism. After college, Sam joined the United States Peace Corps, where he taught English in Ceadir-Lunga, Moldova. Upon completion of his volunteer service, Sam attended the University of Denver to obtain a law degree. At law school, Sam participated in the school's civil litigation clinic and the criminal defense clinic.
Tara Adkins is a Licensed Legal Paraprofessional with a profound passion for Family Law. She brings a deep insight into the needs of the legal community with 18 years' experience as a Paralegal in Family Law, Civil Litigation, Criminal Defense, Probate/Estate Planning and Real Estate Law.
Tara is a native of Arizona and has called Colorado Home since 2002. She has a deep understanding that Family Law is high conflict with high emotions and is determined to help guide each client through their case to advocate for the client's best interest and ensure they understand the process, as well as what to expect. She is dedicated, invested and committed to each client. She combines her personal experiences, strong advocacy, diverse education, and unwavering compassion to help clients facing the challenges brought with Family Law cases.
Tara started her career in the legal field in 2006 working as a Legal Assistant for a General Practice attorney. She then received her Associate Degree with a Paralegal Certificate in 2009, graduating with Honors as the Valedictorian and a 4.0 GPA. She went on to obtain her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice in 2018. From 2011-2012 she was an Instructor at Institute of Business and Medical Careers teaching various legal classes to Paralegal studies students. She also volunteered as the Family Readiness Group Leader of her husband's Army Unit's Brigade from 2015-2018. In June 2024, she successfully passed the LLP Bar Exam and obtained her LLP license with the first set of LLP's in Colorado to practice family law as an LLP with a limited license.
As an LLP, Tara's primary objections are to relieve her clients from the burden and stress family law cases bring, by handling their matters with efficiency and effectiveness. Tara can represent clients in marital/civil union dissolutions and legal separations; allocation of parental responsibility matters; establishing, enforcing and modifying child support, parenting time and decision-making; name changes; protective orders; adult gender designation changes; and remedial contempt. She is able to assist clients at a much more affordable option than an attorney, while still having access to an attorney, when necessary.
Outside of her legal career, she enjoys cheering her son on at his sporting events, BBQing, fishing, 4-wheeling and spending time with family and friends. Tara and her husband were foster parents for many years, and she is passionate about helping others during their time of need.
Job Titles:
- Domestic Relations Associate
- Senior Associate - Domestic Relations Centennial
Theresa is a domestic relations associate attorney based out of our Greenwood Village office. Theresa graduated from the University of South Florida with a BA in political science and minor in communications in 2014. She went on to graduate third in her class at Western Michigan University Law School in 2018.
Job Titles:
- Business Strategist, Leadership Trainer, Expert Speaker
- Founder / Chief Innovation Officer Boulder / Professional Associations & Memberships
Todd Burnham is a renowned Trial Attorney, Business Strategist, Leadership Trainer, Expert Speaker, Law Firm Consultant, and Motivational Author who is consumed with helping you fully leverage your life.
As a New York-trained trial attorney and Founding Partner of Colorado's Burnham Law, Todd's service-focused approach and strategic vision have translated into rapid growth. Now comprised of eight law offices across Denver, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Cheyenne, WY, the firm's reputation attracts Colorado's most talented and experienced litigators.
Todd grew up in the South Side of Syracuse, relocating to Fayetteville, New York where he picked up lacrosse. A member of two National Champion Hobart College lacrosse teams and two-time NCAA All-American lacrosse player, he received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Hobart College and a J.D. from Albany Law School. He is admitted to practice law in both Colorado and New York state courts, in addition to the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.
Todd Burnham's book COMEBACK: Epic Rebound Strategies for Personal or Business Adversity revolutionizes the way we view life's obstacles. Packed with firsthand experiences and inspiring true stories from award-winning artists, scientists, athletes, and business leaders from across the globe, Burnham's groundbreaking findings and aggressive insight have helped countless individuals break through adversity and become more powerful than before. Todd's live seminars and Deep Bench podcast empower hundreds of thousands internationally with the tactics and knowledge needed to generate lasting success in business and life.
Todd has been honored by the American Institute of Criminal Attorneys as one of the "Ten Best Attorneys in Client Satisfaction," is a two-time winner of Avvo's Client Choice Award, a 5-time SuperLawyers selectee, including 2023, the Top 1% selection by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and named among Colorado's Top 10 by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys.
Todd serves on the executive board of directors for Von's Vision, a nonprofit organization whose focus is to provide low-income Denver children with the eye care and corrective eyewear they need. He served for two years on the executive board of the Boulder Interdisciplinary Committee, a nonprofit group of professionals focused on supporting and educating professionals who work in the family law spectrum.
Todd Burnham is among the top Boulder divorce attorneys in Colorado. His aggressive and strategic nature make him the best choice for anyone going through divorce, mediation or any other child custody, support or family law matter. I would highly recommend Burnham Law over anyone else in the Boulder divorce law arena.