Ballard Spahr's Denver Office Completes Major Acquisition With Arrival of Four More Attorneys.

Two Partners and Two of Counsel Bring to Six the Number of New Attorneys This Week

DENVER -- Days after announcing the addition of two high-profile corporate partners in the Denver office, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP welcomes two additional prominent partners and two of counsel to that office, firm Chairman Arthur Makadon announced today.

Kim I. McCullough, a nationally respected franchise attorney, and Jeffrey Cowman, a franchise and commercial litigator, have joined the firm as partners, along with Lynne M. Hanson and Garrett Tuttle as of counsel. They follow corporate and tax attorney John L. Ruppert and M&A and finance attorney Michele J. Rowland, who joined the firm on Monday. These additions underscore Ballard's commitment to its business and litigation practices and the continued growth of its Western presence.

"Kim is a real gem in franchise law nationally and Jeff is a seasoned litigator in franchising, as well as other areas," Mr. Makadon said. "Being able to attract them, along with Lynne and Garrett, is a tour de force for us. Their arrival adds considerable heft to our franchise and distribution practice."

"Kim and Jeff add a new dimension to our Western presence," said Roger P. Thomasch, Managing Partner of Ballard's Denver office. "We are delighted that we are able to take advantage of the opportunity to bring in such accomplished attorneys."

Ms. McCullough is equally enthusiastic. "I am excited about helping to expand Ballard's existing franchise and distribution practice by establishing the firm's Western foothold," she said. "Joining forces with the firm's attorneys, particularly those in the East, will also help me to further develop my national practice."

Mr. Cowman said he looks forward to collaborating with members of Ballard's litigation practice, the firm's largest, and to helping enlarge the firm's litigation practice in the West. "The national prominence of Ballard's litigation practice, and Roger's reputation, were a huge draw for me," Mr. Cowman said. "I am pleased to contribute to the firm's growing litigation practice in Denver."

About the Attorneys

Kim I. McCullough has more than 25 years of experience representing franchisors with respect to compliance with franchise registration and disclosure laws, franchisor-franchisee relations, international expansion, mergers and acquisitions, general business matters, and trademark issues. Among her clients are franchisors operating nationwide and internationally within a wide variety of market segments, including restaurant, automotive aftermarket, professional services, retail consumer products, real estate, and business-to-business services, as well as companies with alternative licensing and distribution networks and private equity funds and other investors in franchise concepts. Ms. McCullough, who served as chair of the franchise practice group at her former firm, is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Law (J.D. 1981) and the University of Oregon (B.S. 1977).

Jeffrey Cowman is a commercial litigator who focuses his practice in the areas of franchising, construction, insurance, and product liability. Mr. Cowman has substantial trial and arbitration experience and recently completed service as the managing partner and litigation head of the Denver office of his former firm. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Law (J.D. 1981) and Moorhead State University (B.A., summa cum laude, 1978).

Lynne M. Hanson focuses her practice on franchising and distribution regulatory law, corporate law, trademark, and business transactions. She counsels franchisors on compliance with franchise registration and disclosure laws, general business matters, international expansion, mergers and acquisitions, and trademark issues. She has developed franchise programs for more than 25 franchise companies, including drafting and registering franchise disclosure documents in all states that regulate the sale of franchises. Ms. Hanson is a graduate of the University of Colorado School of Law (J.D. 1988) and Carleton College (B.A. 1981).

Garrett Tuttle focuses his practice on franchising and distribution, corporate transactions, trademarks, and intellectual property. Mr. Tuttle's experience ranges from advising on purchase and sale transactions, drafting and registering franchise disclosure documents, and worldwide trademark registrations and trademark and domain name disputes, to negotiating and drafting procurement contracts. Mr. Tuttle is a graduate of the University of Colorado (M.B.A. 1992), University of Colorado School of Law (J.D. 1984), and the University of Virginia (B.A., with distinction, 1981).

About Ballard Spahr

Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP is an Am Law 100 firm with more than 550 lawyers in 12 offices in the United States, including Western offices in Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake City. The firm provides a range of services in litigation, business and finance, real estate, intellectual property, and public finance. Ballard clients include Fortune 500 companies; banking and other financial institutions; life sciences companies; health systems; real estate owners, developers, and lenders; government agencies and sponsored enterprises; educational organizations; and nonprofit organizations. The firm combines a broad scope of practice with strong regional market knowledge. For more information, please visit www.ballardspahr.com.