US firm Frost Brown Todd has hired a team of local Colorado lawyers from Moye White, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck and Lewis Roca to launch in Denver, its 17th office nationwide.

The Denver office will be led by former Moye White partner and business section chair John Kellogg alongside a team of eight partners. They include Keely Downs, Rebecca Givens, Steven Gockley, Timothy Swanson and Jana Willsey, all from Moye White, Brownstein’s Dustin Charapata and Jennifer Eiteljorg, and Lewis Roca’s Job Seese. The group bring expertise in real estate, business transactions, commercial bankruptcy, litigation and financial services.

Frost Brown Todd chairman Robert Sartin said: “As one of the fastest-growing markets in the US, Denver is the right fit for Frost Brown Todd, as we see meaningful synergies between Denver’s growth and the areas in which our firm has a strong record. The breadth and depth of our legal know-how is paired with a strong culture and deep connection to clients and community, and we look forward to bringing this winning combination to Denver.”

Kellogg joins as partner-in-charge of the new Denver office after more than 16 years at Moye White, having previously been a partner at McKenna Long & Aldridge. His practice focuses advising clients on deal structures, capital formation, M&A, corporate finance and governance matters, with a specialism in ‘off-market’ or distressed assets.

He is followed by real estate partners Downs and Givens, who leave Moye White after more than 12 years and just under two years respectively. Gockley, a construction litigation specialist, departs after two years, having previously been an associate at Stein Ray. Commercial bankruptcy lawyer Swanson clocked up more than 10 years at Moye White, having previously been an associate at Stinson Morrison Hecker. The Moye White contingent is rounded off by finance lawyer Willsey, who only joined the firm back in September from Polsinelli.

Kellogg said: “We look forward to pairing our keen understanding and dedication to Denver and the Rocky Mountain region with Frost Brown Todd’s strong national reputation and client-centred industry focus. Each member of our team has deep roots in the Denver area and possess intimate knowledge of the unique needs of our growing business community.”

Meantime, Charapata joins after just over two-and-a-half years at Brownstein, his second spell at the firm. He previously worked at Vail Resorts as a counsel, and specialises in the resort, hospitality and outdoor industries. He is joined by former colleague and real estate lawyer Eiteljorg, who spent almost 24 years at Brownstein.

Seese, a seasoned commercial litigator, joins after just under two years at Lewis Roca, having previously been a shareholder at Hall Estill.

The new arrivals mean the firm has added 36 new partners across its national offices since its January 2023 merger with California’s Alvarado Smith.

Other firms that have been opening new US offices recently include Fox Rothschild, which in February opened in Sarasota, its third office in Florida. And in January, Kennedys opened its 10th US office and second Florida base in Fort Lauderdale.