Werge Law Welcomes You to 2021 and Hopes You Had a Wonderful Holiday Season!

This holiday season was unlike any other, to cap off a year unlike any other. The Werge Law team celebrated their first virtual Holiday party, and it could not have turned out better than if we were physically together. The team dressed up in their tackiest Holiday attire, shared virtual toasts and memories of the past year, and even exchanged Secret Santa gifts. We are profoundly grateful for a healthy and thriving team this year. And most importantly, we are appreciative of our clients that allow us to do what we love. 

We wish you moments of harmony amid the obstacles, connections with family and friends even if they can’t be in person, and as much happiness as these times can allow. Cheers to health, happiness, and prosperity in 2021!!

Cartoon Artwork by our very own, Dan Williams

Wrapping up 2020 with a Big Virtual Trial Win!

Photo: Andrew Gaber, Tom Werge, Greg Corbin

Despite the tribulations and difficulties this year, Werge Law ended it on a high note. Following two weeks in a virtual arbitration final hearing, our client received a large arbitration award including attorney fees. Even better, the award was paid in full before the end of the year!

The Background

Our client Andrew Gaber, a young and talented financial advisor, built a financial practice together with a partner who had been in the industry for many more years. After the relationship soured in 2018, Andrew left the practice and started anew, while entering into negotiations for the buyout of his ownership interest in the successful company. Rather than paying the reasonable value of his share, the former partner instead falsely claimed that our client never owned any part of the business. Nevertheless, Andrew conducted his transition to working for a new company while at all times staying above-board and being very careful to not take any actions to poach clients or do anything else untoward that might later be used against him by his former partner.

The Lawsuit and Arbitration

After the former partner zeroed out Andrew’s membership interest in the company (as shown through tax filings), in October 2019, we filed suit in state court seeking recovery of the value of his interest in the company. The other side filed a motion to compel arbitration in FINRA, and the matter proceeded to be decided by a panel of three FINRA arbitrators. And although Andrew took every step he could to make sure his transition to his new employer complied by all applicable legal, ethical, and contractual standards, his former partner nevertheless brought claims for significant damages against him by alleging business interference, unfair competition, and even fraud.

The Virtual Trial

The final arbitration hearing was set for a week in August. Attorneys Tom Werge and Greg Corbin represented Andrew during the virtual trial held over Zoom. We became adept at using technology to our advantage, including setting up a trial room where we conducted the trial together with our client, equipped with microphones, lighting, a wired Internet connection, and everything necessary to ensure the hearing went smoothly from our side. But after the former partner’s lawyer kept Andrew on the stand for the first four days, the final hearing had to be continued for an additional non-consecutive week, which concluded at the beginning of October.

The Award

In early November, the arbitrators decided the matter wholly in favor of Andrew. The award was substantial, and it also included a significant sum of attorney fees. The arbitrators also dismissed all of the claims made by the other side. And the other side even paid the full amount of the award before the end of 2020! We are thrilled to have been able to help our client achieve such a successful outcome, especially after he fought so hard for the last two years to make it happen.

WBI Management et al. v. Gaber, Arbitration Award, November 5, 2020, FINRA Dispute Resolution Services #19-03430.

Continuing Education in the Time of Covid

The pandemic has pushed us all to operate more virtually, and as a side-effect, has created an opportunity for our own Tom Werge to present a pair of virtual continuing legal education courses. On August 13, Tom presented a course of the Colorado Legislature’s emergency collections act — legislation which went into effect in June, and was recently extended through February, 2021. And on September 25, Tom was honored to sit on a panel as part of the Colorado Bar Association’s Litigators’ Summit - to discuss litigation trends, from his small business litigator’s perspective.

Both CLEs were recorded and the video replays are available through CBA-CLE. Although these times are incredibly trying, a bit of a silver lining can be found in the increased access to information and efficiency inherent in virtual learning. That said, as shown by the expression on Tom’s face (in the corner of the picture), he can’t wait to connect with everyone in person again!

Welcome Back and Welcome Up!

Werge Law is excited to announce that Getssemany Rivera has rejoined the team! After a year-long hiatus to complete her degrees in political science and psychology from the University of Denver, Getssemany has returned to Werge Law in a new dual role as Junior Paralegal and Office Manager.  She is excited to continue to learn and grow her skill set to better support our clients, while still planning to attend law school within the next two years.

           We are also proud to announce that Shelby Sims, our former office manager, is moving to a dual position of her own - Junior Paralegal and Legal Assistant. Shelby has been with Werge Law for almost a year now and has played a fundamental role in supporting our growing firm. She is passionate about this transition and looking forward to providing more support direct case-specific support for our clients.

           Getssemany and Shelby will also be working closely on the administrative side to ensure the firm is continuing to run smoothly. Their respective roles will help establish new and improved processes, with increased efficiency to Werge Law. We are excited about this duo and we look forward to the new ideas and perspectives they each will bring to the team.

Congratulations Getssemany and Shelby!

Werge Celebrates Five-Year Anniversary

This month marks the fifth anniversary of Tom Werge’s independent legal practice, including through Werge Law LLC. There are a number of reasons for us to celebrate this year, including our expansion of the firm by adding three new team members, and the opening of our new office. We are honored to have been given the opportunity to build lasting relationships with our clients, and to deliver results. Tom Werge has been designated as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in each and every year since the opening of his independent legal practice. Last year he was also given the AV preeminent designation from Martindale Hubbell.

In a recent firm win, after obtaining a complete dismissal in a lawsuit filed in Denver District Court, the firm was able to defend the decision before the Colorado Court of Appeals, obtaining a ruling affirming the dismissal together with an award of attorney fees in favor of its client. The Werge Law team is passionate about their work and we are look forward to obtaining more favorable results for years to come.

Werge Law focuses on litigation and dispute resolution matters, through the representation of small businesses and individuals involved in business disputes, while also supplementing the same with small business transactional work including related to music law.

New Office for a New Era

Following issuance of the stay at home order in March, Werge Law left the downtown office we had called home for the last four years and went 100% remote. Now that the quarantine is lifting, we are excited to announce that we have opened a new office! We are now located in the City Park West neighborhood of Central Denver, inside Steno at 1627 North Vine Street, Suite 200, Denver, CO 80206. We have taken over two offices on the second floor of this beautiful 1905 post-Victorian mansion.

Although moves can add a tinge of chaos and complexity, they can also give a fresh new drive to usual office life. We are enjoying being located in a vibrant and historical neighborhood, which also happens to be a short six-block walk from Tom’s home. It also brings with it a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of downtown, while remaining only a mile and a half from the Capitol and courts. And most importantly, it allows us a great new work environment to continue to fight for our clients.

While enjoying the new space, we are also adapting to our new times by limiting the number of us at the office on any given day, allowing those team members who prefer to work from home to do so as much as possible, continuing our adoption of the use of video conferencing and other remote communication technologies to stay in touch, and continuing to employ social distancing and mask wearing in the office.

Cheers to a new office for a new era for the Werge Law Team!

- photo cred: our fabulous law clerk Travis Miller!

Werge Law Is Moving Forward, Six Feet Apart

During these challenging times, Werge Law is up and running and moving forward for our clients. As demonstrated by the (pre-pandemic) photo above, we are keeping a safe distance, while still vigorously fighting for our clients. We completed a smooth transition to 100% remote operations before the stay at home order went into effect, and we have rolled out a robust video conferencing and electronic communication system which has allowed the entire team to remain in regular communication. We will soon also roll out a video conferencing option for our clients, to allow us to communicate as effectively as possible during this trying time and into the future. The courts remain open, electronic filing is ongoing, and judges are still issuing orders. And we are still hitting deadlines for our clients, pushing forward each matter as diligently as possible, and continuing to be retained by new clients who need legal help more than ever.

It has also been amazing to see our community begin to join together and rise above the crisis. We realize many of you are experiencing additional challenges due to this unprecedented event. If we can be of assistance, we want to hear from you. If we stick by each other and continue to care for our neighbors and communities, we will be able to start to grow and build from this experience. Please be safe and healthy.

- the Werge Law team: Tom, Dan, Shelby, Christina, Peggy, and Travis

photo: Casey Wigotow, Two One Photography

Werge Hires Rising Stars, Selected as Same for Sixth Consecutive Year

2020 has started strong for Werge Law. Tom Werge has been selected as a Colorado Super Lawyers Rising Star for the 6th consecutive year. And we have added some amazing “rising stars” to the Werge Law team: paralegal Christina Stoner, law clerk Travis Miller, and office manager Shelby Sims. Together with attorney Dan Williams and paralegal Peggy Quines, we are excited to grow the team and continue to expand our ability to serve our amazing clients.