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GENERAL OVERVIEW
Ms. Walker has nearly thirty years’ experience as a trial attorney in complex construction and civil matters in courts, arbitrations and mediations across the country. She handles matters involving owners, design professionals, and contractors in disputes up to $100 million in projects including: commercial, industrial, government, residential, schools, hotels and utilities.
Work History
Arbitrator Commercial, Consumer and Construction 2020 to present; Attorney 1994 to present
Director, Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe PC, 2020-Present; Founding Partner, Kelly & Walker LLC, 2014-2020; Partner, McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Carpenter, 2012-2014; Partner/Associate, Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell, 2002-2012; Associate, Burns Figa & Will, 2000-2002; Associate, Petrie Bauer & Vriesman, 1997-2000; Attorney, Reinhart Boerner Van Duren & Rieselbach, 1996-1997; Associate, Kirkland & Ellis, 1994-1995.
Experience
AAA Construction Panel Arbitrator
Construction defect related matters.
Experienced Attorney – Construction
Served as lead counsel in hundreds of claims, lawsuits and/or arbitrations representing owners, design professionals, architects, engineers, land surveyors, contractors, subcontractors and construction management firms in variety of complex matters ranging from $50,000 to $100 million, in Colorado, Texas, California, and Wyoming, including arbitration, mediation and litigation. Handled all types of matters including personal injury, contract and payment disputes, complex delay claims, professional negligence and construction defect litigation.
Experienced Attorney - Commercial Litigation
Served as a trial lawyer representing individuals and businesses in federal and state courts as well as in arbitrations and mediations across the country as well as jury and bench trials in Colorado and other jurisdictions. Handled complex litigation for all types of businesses in a variety of matters including: LLC/partnership disputes, professional liability, product liability, qui tam, contract disputes, financial services, environmental, securities and civil fraud, conspiracy, complex torts, employment, corporate shareholder, partnership, limited liability company member disputes as well as commercial litigation. Also experienced in assisting licensed professionals in responding to regulatory inquiries or disciplinary matters. Expert witness in attorney fee disputes.
Handled numerous arbitration proceedings before AAA, NASD/FINRA, private arbitrators with completed hearings in construction, legal malpractice, contract, corporate disputes, employment, securities-related matters as well as attorneys' fee disputes.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Training
ACE 22 - Process Essentials for AAA Arbitrators, 2022; ABA 15th Annual Arbitration Training Institute, 2022; ACE 21 – Impartiality: Do You Know Where Your Biases Are?, 2021; AAA Consolidation and Joinder in Construction Arbitration - Ignorance is Not Bliss 2021; ADS
S01 - Cybersecurity Awareness Training for AAA Panelists, 2021; AAA Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators, 2020; AAA Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards, 2020; ABA 13th Annual Arbitration Training Institute, 2020.
Professional Licenses
Admitted to the Bar: Colorado (1994), Wyoming (2015), California (2018); U.S. District Court: Colorado (1994); U.S. Court of Appeals: Tenth (2011), First (2012).
Professional Associations
American Bar Association – ABA ADR Committee, ABA Forum on Construction; Colorado Bar Association; Denver Bar Association; Wyoming Bar Association; California Bar Association; International Association of Defense Counsel; DRI; CLM.
Education
University of Denver Sturm College of Law; Muhlenberg College
Publications and Speaking Engagements
Author and speaker "High Times in the Construction Industry", CNA Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys, 2019 Contributing Author, "Grit, The Secret to Advancement – Stories of Successful Women Lawyers", ABA Commission on Women in the Profession, August 2017 Speaker, DRI Women in the Law Seminar – Rainmaking Workshop, February 2016 Speaker, “Twelve Angry… Jurors: Diversity and Jury Selection”, IADC Annual Meeting, July 2015 Author and speaker “Collaboration or Conflict: What Results When a Claim Triggers Both General and Professional Liability Coverage”, CNA Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys, May 2015 Speaker, “The Risks of Statutory and Civil Liability on Multi-Employer Jobsites”, American Society of Safety Engineers, 2014 Professional Development Conference in Orlando, FL, June 11, 2014 Faculty, ABA Forum on Construction Trial Academy, June 2012.
Awards and Honors
Best Lawyers - Commercial Litigation - 2015 to the Present Colorado Super Lawyers - Professional Liability - 2015 to the Present. The Legal 500 for Litigation: Product Liability and Mass Tort Defense, 2009-2010 Law Week Colorado's “People's Choice” – 2012.
