Key Takeaways
- • Foley Hoag expanded its Denver office with four new attorneys: partners Rose Standifer and Allie Clark, counsel Marc Graboyes, and associate Zack Mueller, strengthening the firm's Emerging Company & Venture Capital (ECVC) practice group less than one year after establishing the office in February 2023.
- • The firm also hired Matthew Jonsen as a partner to lead its intellectual property practice in Denver, marking Foley Hoag's first IP partner hire in the western United States and relocating to new office space in LoDo (Lower Downtown Denver).
- • The ECVC practice group manages hundreds of venture capital and private equity financings annually across pre-seed to growth stages, with particular focus on clean energy, life sciences, technology, and cannabis sectors.
- • The expansion reflects Foley Hoag's strategic commitment to build its national footprint in the western U.S. and capitalize on high demand for venture capital and corporate legal services in Colorado's entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Summary
Foley Hoag LLP has accelerated growth in its Denver office through a significant hiring wave that substantially expands both its Emerging Company & Venture Capital practice and intellectual property capabilities in the western region. The firm recruited partners Rose Standifer and Allie Clark for its ECVC practice, along with counsel Marc Graboyes and associate Zack Mueller, adding depth to transactional work supporting emerging companies and investors. Standifer has been named Partner in Charge of the Denver office, drawing on her 20 years of experience forming technology companies, structuring venture capital investments, and negotiating corporate transactions.
In parallel, Foley Hoag brought on Matthew Jonsen as a partner from Dorsey & Whitney LLP to establish and lead the firm's intellectual property practice in Denver. This represents the firm's first West Coast IP partner hire and signals an integrated strategy to serve venture-backed companies requiring both equity financing and IP guidance. The firm simultaneously relocated to new office space in Denver's LoDo district, underscoring its commitment to the market.
The Denver office, established in February 2023, has become a core expansion priority for Foley Hoag's national strategy. The ECVC group manages hundreds of venture capital and private equity transactions annually across all stages from pre-seed through growth, with particular expertise in clean energy, life sciences, technology, and cannabis sectors. Managing Partner Jim Bucking emphasized that the new team's "deep roots in Colorado's entrepreneurial and business community" strengthen the firm's ability to serve clients in key growth markets, while Erica Rice, Co-chair of the Business Department, noted that emerging companies require partners with deep industry-specific knowledge and understanding of the evolving startup landscape. The hires position Foley Hoag to compete more effectively for corporate and venture work in the competitive Denver market.
In parallel, Foley Hoag brought on Matthew Jonsen as a partner from Dorsey & Whitney LLP to establish and lead the firm's intellectual property practice in Denver. This represents the firm's first West Coast IP partner hire and signals an integrated strategy to serve venture-backed companies requiring both equity financing and IP guidance. The firm simultaneously relocated to new office space in Denver's LoDo district, underscoring its commitment to the market.
The Denver office, established in February 2023, has become a core expansion priority for Foley Hoag's national strategy. The ECVC group manages hundreds of venture capital and private equity transactions annually across all stages from pre-seed through growth, with particular expertise in clean energy, life sciences, technology, and cannabis sectors. Managing Partner Jim Bucking emphasized that the new team's "deep roots in Colorado's entrepreneurial and business community" strengthen the firm's ability to serve clients in key growth markets, while Erica Rice, Co-chair of the Business Department, noted that emerging companies require partners with deep industry-specific knowledge and understanding of the evolving startup landscape. The hires position Foley Hoag to compete more effectively for corporate and venture work in the competitive Denver market.
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