Fort Collins, CO Lawyers

Personal Injury Law

1730 S. College Avenue, #202, Fort Collins, CO 80525

Emily Benight, a proud Wyoming native, has a remarkable educational background. She completed her B.S. in Finance, with a focus on Real Estate, and a minor in International Business at the University of Wyoming. Following this, Emily pursued her J.D. and master's in public administration from the same university in 2013. During her time in law school, she served as the director of the Prosecution Clinic, where she had the rare opportunity to successfully argue cases before the Wyoming Supreme Court. Emily is admitted to practice law in various jurisdictions, including Colorado (state and federal courts), Wyoming (state and federal courts), Nebraska (state courts), Oregon (state courts), and Washington (state courts). Emily actively participates in multiple trial lawyers' associations, such as the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association, Washington State Association for Justice, Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, and The Trial Lawyer's College. In July 2017, she graduated from The Trial Lawyer's College and was elected by her peers to serve on the F-Warrior Board, which is the alumni association of The Trial Lawyer's College, as a class representative. Emily has held various leadership positions within the F-Warrior Board since 2019, including serving as the president-elect from 2019 to 2021 and currently serving as the President from 2021 to 2023. Emily's exceptional legal skills have earned her recognition from prestigious organizations. The American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys named her one of the "10 Best Attorneys" in Colorado in 2017 and "10 Best Female Attorneys" in Colorado in 2020. Additionally, the National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys ranked her in the "Top 10 under 40" in both 2017 and 2018. In her practice, Emily focuses on advocating for individuals who have suffered serious injuries in motor vehicle crashes, motorcycle crashes (she carries an MC endorsement), and trucking crashes. Outside of work, she enjoys the splendid weather of Colorado and cherishes quality time with her family.

Civil Litigation

405 Mason Ct, Fort Collins, CO 80524, USA

James B. Conte brings a wealth of success and experience in all facets of commercial litigation, commercial transactions, patent matters, and trademark matters. In the patent, trademark, and copyright space, James represents large and small businesses and individuals on worldwide intellectual property acquisition, transactions, and enforcement. He routinely obtains key patents and trademarks in the United States (US) and internationally. In more detail, in his patent practice, James is an expert in the preparation and filing of United States provisional patent applications to protect ideas in the early stages of product development. He prepares and successfully prosecutes to a grant of patent United States non-provisional patent applications to protect US innovation, international patent applications to provide protection for inventions in foreign countries, and US and foreign design patent applications to protect the look of a products. In his trademark practice, James has extensive experience in acquisition of word and design marks and the obtention of trade dress protection for the look of industrial and consumer products and architecture, including acquisition of trade dress in the look of restaurants. He develops strategies to protect alphanumeric designations that started as part numbers. He also develops local trademark protection in key states in which a client needs to enforce trademark rights. In his Patent litigation practice, James has first- and second-chair federal and state trial court experience. He vigorously defends clients against charges of patent and trademark infringement. He has successfully defended clients against claims asserted by Starbucks, Talking Rain, and H & R Block. On the flipside, he successfully enforces the rights of clients in patent, trademark, copyright, trade secrets, and non-compete matters. James provides counseling in the area of patent and trademark risk assessment, legal management, contracts and regulations and has specialized knowledge obtained as a bank auditor. In connection with his commercial litigation practice, James has litigated breach of contract matters, commercial fraud, breach of warranty, breach of duty of loyalty, and theft of trade secrets.

Family and Divorce Law

155 Boardwalk Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA

Born and raised in south suburban Chicago, Illinois, Stephen Vertucci served aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln while on active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1990-1994 during the first Gulf War. Upon being honorably discharged, Stephen enrolled at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, earning a Bachelor of Arts in history in 1998. Stephen’s interests in public speaking and litigation led to his decision to attend Chicago-Kent College of Law, largely due its outstanding reputation for having one of the top trial advocacy programs in the nation. Through this course of study and his internship with the Cook County Illinois Public Defender’s Office, Stephen discovered his passion: advocating for client’s rights in the Courtroom. Stephen earned a Juris Doctor degree from Chicago-Kent in 2001. While attending Chicago-Kent and after being admitted to the Illinois Bar, Stephen worked for Schiff & Hulbert, a top-rated employment litigation firm. Seeking courtroom experience, he transitioned to family law, working at the law firm of Sullivan, Taylor & Gumina. His experience at STG Divorce Law taught him trial preparedness, client compassion, and to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct. In 2004, Stephen sought an opportunity to advance his trial skills. After being admitted to the Arizona Bar, he found this opportunity working as a felony prosecutor for the state of Arizona at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. This career move provided invaluable experience litigating jury trials against some of the best criminal defense attorneys in the State of Arizona. After gaining experience as a felony prosecutor, Stephen partnered with a colleague and friend from law school to establish the law firm of Stewart & Vertucci, a successful family law practice in Phoenix. In 2007, Stephen moved to Colorado to start a new personal and professional chapter in his life. He was admitted to the Colorado Bar, relocated to Fort Collins, married, and started a family. He elevated himself from Associate to Partner in one of the largest family law firms in Denver prior to making the decision to open his own firm in 2016. The Law Office of Stephen Vertucci, LLC was established to serve the communities of northern Colorado and focuses exclusively on the practice of family law. Stephen is admitted to practice law in the states of Illinois, Arizona, Colorado and before the United States Supreme Court. Among his professional recognitions, he is proud to be a member of the Colorado Eighth Judicial District Domestic Relations Best Practices Committee. In 2017, Stephen was nominated as one of 10 Best Family Law Firms by American Institute of Family Law Attorneys. In 2018, he was nominated as one of 10 Best Family Law Firms by American Institute of Family Law Attorneys. In 2021, Stephen was nominated to Larimer County Domestic Relations Best Practices Committee – this is a committee of Larimer County Family Law Judges, Magistrates, Attorneys and other Professionals aimed at improving the quality of practice in the community. In the same year, he was recognized by threebestrated.com as a top 3 divorce lawyer in Fort Collins, CO