December 2025 - Volume 13, Issue 54 | | |
REFLECTING ON A REMARKABLE YEAR AT FGMC
By Mallory Revel and Mikhail Laskin
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As 2025 comes to a close, we at FGMC are taking a moment to reflect on a year filled with growth, accomplishments, and meaningful connections. Our team has worked tirelessly to support our clients, friends, and community, and we are proud of all we have achieved together.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating FGMC’s 25th anniversary. Seeing so many friends, colleagues, clients, and family members come together to honor this milestone was truly special. We had an unforgettable time reminiscing about where we started, reflecting on all we’ve accomplished, and sharing laughter and stories with the people who have been part of our journey. Your presence made the celebration meaningful, and we couldn’t imagine a better way to mark 25 years of partnership, friendship, and community. We are deeply grateful for your continued support over the years—it’s because of you that FGMC has grown from a small office in Cherry Creek to the strong, enduring firm it is today. Here’s to the past 25 years—and to the many more ahead!
This year also brought exciting new milestones, including the opening of our office in Grand Junction, which expands our ability to serve clients across the region. This expansion provides clients with enhanced local access, increased resources, and a broader range of expertise while remaining grounded in the principles that have guided FGMC for 25 years: friendship, loyalty, and professional excellence.
Specifically for the criminal team here at FGMC, as we (Mallory and Mikhail) head up the practice group, we have remained focused on providing the same award winning, and sophisticated criminal defense representation our clients have come to expect, year in and year out, and serving our community with our Annual High School Boot Camp earlier this year, which was a big hit as always! We look forward to educating many more students and parents in our community next year and for years to come, and as always, we remain a phone call away to help navigate any criminal law related issues that you or your loved ones may be facing.
We were also thrilled to host our first-ever Get Ready for Retirement Boot Camp, held at our office as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting individuals and families through life’s major transitions. The seminar offered practical guidance on legal considerations, healthcare options, estate planning, and financial matters, while also emphasizing wellness and meaningful ways to stay active and engaged in retirement. Experienced professionals provided attendees with essential information, tools, and resources to make informed decisions and navigate this important stage of life with confidence.
As we look ahead to 2026, we remain focused on excellence, client service, and supporting the people who trust us every day. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey—your confidence, partnership, and friendship continue to inspire us.
Happy Holidays and Best Wishes in 2026, from Mallory Revel and Mikhail Laskin – your FGMC Criminal Defense Attorneys, and the whole FGMC Team!
| | Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher, LLP is proud to announce the promotion of Lori Kalata and Nate Mortensen to Partner. Lori brings a compassionate, client-focused approach to estate, elder, and corporate law, while Nate is a committed advocate for injured clients across Colorado, delivering results through effective negotiation and litigation. Their promotions reflect their outstanding work, leadership, and commitment to providing exceptional legal services. | | | |
Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher, LLP is pleased to announce that 16 FGMC partners have been included in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.
Please join us in congratulating the following attorneys:
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We are very pleased to announce that 4 Foster Graham Milstein & Calisher, LLP attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®. This designation recognizes lawyers who are earlier in their careers for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.
Please join us in congratulating the following attorneys.
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Erik N. Carlson (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2024)
- Land Use and Zoning Law
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Stephen Klein (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2026)
- Commercial Litigation
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Nate Mortensen (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2026)
- Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs
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Amelia Stefan (Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2026)
- Land Use and Zoning Law
| | John Chanin Elected Chair-Elect of ADL Mountain States | | | |
In addition to John’s work with ADL, John has been deeply engaged with JEWISHcolorado for over a decade, serving on its Board of Directors for the past five years. He has also served as past Chair of both the Israel Engagement Committee and the Partnership Workgroup Committee.
John’s commitment to the community is shared by his wife, Holly Stein Sollod, who has been an esteemed member of the ADL Mountain States Regional Board since 2012.
Gary Lozow, a former ADL Chair and FGMC past partner, looks forward to John Chanin’s leadership during these challenging times! He brings a strong history of commitment to ADL’s Mission!
Please join us in congratulating John on this well-deserved honor. We are proud of his leadership and look forward to the continued impact he will have on our community.
Congratulations John Chanin!
| | Deirdre Oss Appointed to the Denver Planning Board | | | We’re proud to share that Deirdre Oss has been appointed by Mayor Mike Johnston to serve on the Denver Planning Board. With more than 25 years of experience in urban and regional planning, Deirdre has led numerous impactful initiatives across Colorado with clarity, collaboration, and integrity. Her appointment is a well-deserved recognition of her exceptional expertise and commitment to meaningful public service—please join us in congratulating her on this exciting opportunity to help shape Denver’s future. | | |
THE DIRTY LITTLE PERSONAL INJURY SECRET
By Danny Foster
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If you have eyes, you can’t help but see all of the TV and billboard ambulance chasing lawyers polluting our streets, TVs and Internet feeds. There is a reason why this is happening: personal injury cases can be worth a lot of money. And the sad thing is that most people injured in car crashes don’t have a lawyer they know to refer them to a respectable, seasoned, honest personal injury attorney. So, they find the loudest, most obnoxious clown on TV, see the “clients” they have represented bragging about how much money they received in their personal injury case, and ‘voila’ they have captured another naive, desperate person whose life has been dramatically impacted by a terrible trauma.
What you don’t see on all these TV ads, billboards and bus benches is that most mass media law firms have a system to get people signed up as fast as possible. Many times without ever meeting a lawyer, let alone the stars of all these commercials who profess to really care about you. Many advertising firms are not even from Colorado and may only have a small Denver office with a skeleton staff to maintain the illusion they are a Colorado law firm. All these firms brag about the ‘billions’ they recovered for victims, but they never let you know how many millions they spend annually to advertise.
Often, when a personal injury victim retains one of these firms it can leave the client more confused and frustrated than before they started. I cannot tell you how many current and former clients came to me after they mistakenly hired one of these firms and asked if they could switch. Switching law firms in the middle of a case is entirely acceptable and legal and we encourage more people to do it. Sometimes we can take over a case and provide the one-on-one attention the client craves, and other times the damage to their case is really hard to fix, and we cannot “right the ship”. It’s a frustrating thing to see someone regret a decision to hire a questionable law firm just because they have been promised riches. But it happens a lot.
Do I sound angry? Bitter? Resentful? A little I suppose, because I have found representing injured clients a highlight of my professional career, but the ugly truth is that advertising law firms have cheapened our profession which can impact all injured clients, not just those represented by the advertising firms. The personal injury practice is a noble practice and something I am proud to be a part of. I have a drawer full of notes and cards from former clients thanking me and my staff for helping them through their awful experience; appreciative of how we helped ensure they received the best medical care, handled the insurance companies and in most cases delivered them a settlement check that was far more than they had thought possible. But guess what? Not every case has the happiest ending. Sometimes, despite all of our hard work and the medical care our clients received, we don’t get the result we wanted. It’s rare, but the dirty little secret these TV and billboard lawyers don’t ever share is that it does happen. And promising riches when there are complicated liability issues, fairly minor injuries, or worst of all limited insurance coverage, is an irresponsible and unjust way to handle clients.
These firms need every client they can get. TV commercials and billboards cost millions of dollars a year. And that means they need to churn and burn and get every client they can. Some people in the industry estimate that over 90% of all injured people hire just a handful of law firms. NOT because they are good. But because they don’t know any better and just dial the number they see on TV.
If you, or one of your clients, friends or loved ones want a true local Colorado personal injury firm that will handle your case carefully and personally, then there are many reputable lawyers I know who are ready, willing and able. Call me first. If my firm is not the right fit I promise to get you connected with a lawyer I know and trust. We are out there, you just don’t see our faces splattered all over the place. And that is a good thing…because you don’t want to see my face everywhere!
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Artificial intelligence isn’t just shaping the future—it’s already here. Whether it’s using ChatGPT to draft an email, scrolling past AI‑generated ads, or transitioning to smart tools at work, nearly everyone has experienced both the promise and pitfalls that come with it. Law firms, local businesses, and tech startups alike are finding new ways to harness AI’s power while also grappling with its risks. That’s where Colorado’s new law, SB24‑205, steps in with its aims to bring some clarity and accountability to how AI is used across the state.
If your law firm, company or startup develops or deploys artificial intelligence (AI) systems that play a significant role in consequential decisions affecting Colorado consumers and residents such as hiring, promotion, lending, housing, insurance, healthcare, education, credit, or government benefits, and legal services, your operations likely fall under one of the most comprehensive state-level AI regulations in the United States.
Enacted on May 17, 2024, the Colorado Artificial Intelligence Act SB 24-205, also known as the Anti-Discrimination in Artificial Intelligence Law (ADAI) is the nation's first comprehensive state-level artificial intelligence consumer protection law. This legislation imposes groundbreaking requirements on both developers and deployers of high-risk AI systems. Its primary goal is to prevent algorithmic discrimination in decisions that materially impact consumers’ lives.
Originally set to take effect February 1, 2026, the law is now delayed until June 30, 2026, followed by a full-year mandatory cure period ending June 30, 2027. That five-month postponement via SB 25B-004, signed by Governor Jared Polis on August 28, 2025, plus the grace period should feel like breathing room. For most, it feels like the calm before the storm.
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| | MEET FGMC'S NEWEST ATTORNEY | | | |
We are excited to welcome Kayla Trafford to FGMC. With strong experience in commercial transactions, corporate governance, and supporting small and mid-sized businesses, she brings valuable expertise to the firm. Kayla earned her J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. We’re thrilled to have her on the team.
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Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our inaugural Get Ready for Retirement Boot Camp on October 30th — over 70 people joined us for this unique and thought provoking event. A special thank-you to our colleagues who generously shared their expertise and helped make the event such a success.
Please be on the lookout for future seminars.
| (Pictured from Left to Right) Steve Weiser, Susie Finley, Dr. Aria Mohtadi, Carin Wagner, Lori Kalata, Danny Foster | | |
Contact Us
360 S Garfield St., Suite 600
Denver, CO 80209
Offices in Denver and Grand Junction
Phone: (303) 333-9810 Fax: (303) 333-9786
Website: fostergraham.com
FGMC is a Colorado law firm serving most personal and business legal needs.
We offer clients the power of a large law firm with the personal service of a boutique law firm.
Practice areas include:
Auto Accident / Personal Injury Law, Appellate Practice, Business / Corporate / Finance / Mergers & Acquisitions,
Criminal Defense, Employment Law, Estate Planning / Tax Planning, Government Affairs, Government Investigations & White-Collar Defense, Land Use And Real Estate, Law Enforcement Representation, Litigation
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