Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to announce the addition of four litigation partners, two of counsel and four associates in its Denver office as the firm continues to expand services to align with the legal needs of its clients. The partners include Terence Ridley, Evan Stephenson, Jeremy Moseley, and Linda Knight, who bring extensive experience representing household name insurance carriers in a range of high stakes civil litigation matters.
As a part of a team of 10 attorneys, the group reinforces the firm’s commitment to making a full range of legal services available to clients throughout its growing footprint while also deepening its capabilities in Denver, which now has a bench of 50 attorneys in the local market.
“Our ambition is to build an exceptionally talented team of attorneys that increasingly adds value to our clients while remaining true to our core values, which include a commitment to collaboration, maintaining a mindset focused on excellence, and operating in service to colleagues, clients and the community,” said Ron Fano, Office Managing Partner for Spencer Fane in Denver. “Led by Terence, Evan, Jeremy and Linda, this team has a tremendous reputation in the legal community with experience and perspectives that not only align with these values but we believe will help us continue to improve in these same areas.”
The attorneys join the firm with a concentrated focus on providing clients civil litigation counsel in the insurance industry, as well as in sectors including construction, consumer products, healthcare, and professional services. With an emphasis on defending bad faith claims and class action matters, the group commonly represents household name sector companies in jurisdictions across the nation and several serve in significant leadership positions within the industry.
“Our team is excited to join Spencer Fane for the similarities that exist in our approach to serving clients,” said Ridley, who is recognized for his national leadership with the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel and as a Fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel. “We also look forward to the opportunity to leverage the firm’s broader platform of services both in regard to geography and the depth of experience available to support our clients’ businesses.”
ABOUT THE ATTORNEYS
Linda Knight (Partner) — Knight maintains a national practice that includes representing insurers in complex coverage and bad faith litigation in federal and state court jurisdictions across the country. Whether representing insurance companies in first- or third-party litigation, she brings exceptional creativity to bear when defending insurers in coverage litigation or insureds in catastrophic loss claims. A leader in the industry, Knight is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel.
Jeremy Moseley (Partner) – Moseley defends mass and class action claims in venues throughout the country, using his breadth of experience in highly regulated industries to instill confidence for clients facing difficult and uncertain circumstances. As national trial counsel for multiple clients, Moseley has won multiple complex commercial trials, defeated class allegations claims for several insurers, and has successfully defended these victories on appeal. His knowledge of insurance coverage, pharmaceuticals, professional services, and consumer products have led to successes in matters involving insurance, health care, telecommunications, and oil and gas.
Terence Ridley (Partner) – Ridley focuses his practice on assisting clients in civil litigation related to insurance matters. When businesses face bad faith claims and class action suits, he works closely with leadership to develop legal strategies that allow them to defend their businesses while continuing to run their companies smoothly. He has handled dozens of these matters, prevailing at trial, defeating certification, winning motions to dismiss or for summary judgment, and achieving other successful outcomes for insurers facing substantial financial exposure.
Evan Stephenson (Partner) – Stephenson focuses his practice on insurance, commercial, and class action litigation with a particular emphasis on trials and appeals, handling his clients’ most important matters with a focus on efficient and cost-effective legal services. In each of these areas, he has built a proven track record of achieving favorable outcomes for his clients. Stephenson also serves as an elected member of the American Law Institute.
Kayla Scroggins-Uptigrove (Associate) – Scroggins-Uptigrove represents insurance clients in complex commercial disputes, with an emphasis on defending bad faith claims at the trial and appellate levels. Her experience includes representing clients at trial in matters including examining expert and fact witnesses and cross examination of a party-opponent. She has also drafted winning motions in high-stakes cases, argued extensive motions hearings, and taken key depositions resulting in “walk away” settlements.
Hannah Seifert (Associate) – Seifert represents clients in complex insurance coverage and bad-faith litigation at the trial and appellate levels. Her experience includes representing clients at trial in challenging jurisdictions and assisting in defeating class certification claims against her insurance clients. Prior to joining private practice, she served as a Law Clerk to The Honorable Sam E. Haddon of the U.S. District for the District of Montana. She earned her J.D. with honors from the Montana School of Law, where she served as a member of the Public Land & Resources Law Review.
Elayna Fiene (Associate) – Fiene represents clients in commercial disputes with a focus on the defense of complex insurance coverage and extra-contractual litigation. During her time in private practice, she has gained valuable experience drafting dispositive motions, developing creative and comprehensive discovery strategies, and taking key depositions. A graduate of the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, she also served as Law Clerk go The Honorable Carmen E. Garza of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.
Will Brophy (Associate) – Brophy represents insurance clients in complex civil disputes at the trial and appellate levels. He has valuable experience in representing clients in insurance, toxic tort, construction defect, and other commercial matters, including conducting strategic motions practice, taking and defending depositions, drafting appellate briefs, and successfully delivering oral arguments. Brophy is a graduate of the Fordham University School of Law, where he served as Notes and Articles Editor for the Urban Law Journal.
Megan Treseder (Of Counsel) –Treseder represents insurance companies in complex commercial litigation involving bad faith and coverage claims. Her experience includes analyzing complex insurance coverage matters to advise her clients and defending her clients in high-exposure litigation.
Evan Blonigen (Of Counsel) – Blonigen represents insurance carriers in complex commercial actions at both the trial and appellate levels. A former Judicial Intern to The Honorable William W. Hood, III, Denver District Court and Law Clerk for the 20th Judicial District Attorneys’ Office, he earned his J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School where he was a member of the Dean’s Council for Diversity and Inclusiveness.
