SPECIALDISTRICTLAW.COM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Paralegal
- Paralegal at McGeady Becher
Zander has been serving law firms in a variety of capacities since 2015. She joined McGeady Becher in 2021.
As a paralegal at McGeady Becher, Zander works closely with the attorneys and clients of the firm on a wide range of special district functions, including assisting with district formations, coordinating district elections, preparing district meeting agendas, notifications and board minutes, monitoring compliance with filing deadlines and statutory requirements, and coordinating statutory filings with the Division of Local Affairs (DOLA) and other entities.
Zander enjoys all things British (food, books, TV shows), listening to obscure indie rock bands and podcasts, hanging out with her parents, and snuggling with her cat, Jane Eyre.
Job Titles:
- Paralegal
- Paralegal at McGeady Becher
Andrew has been serving law firms in various capacities since 2017, including as a paralegal specializing in homeowner associations and special district collections. He joined McGeady Becher in 2022.
As a paralegal at McGeady Becher, Andrew works closely with the attorneys and clients of the firm on a wide range of special district functions, including assisting with district formations, coordinating district elections, preparing district meeting agendas, notifications and board minutes, monitoring compliance with filing deadlines and statutory requirements, and coordinating statutory filings with the Division of Local Affairs (DOLA) and other entities.
Andrew enjoys books and board games. You can usually find him curled up with a novel, at pub trivia events, or starting arguments about grammar. If he must be outside, he'll be skiing, hiking, or somewhere he can see trees and mountains. He also speaks Arabic and German.
Catherine has been serving law firms in a variety of capacities since 2014. She originally joined McGeady Becher as a records specialist in 2017 before earning her paralegal certificate.
As a paralegal at McGeady Becher, Catherine works closely with the attorneys and clients of the firm on a wide range of special district functions, including assisting with district formations, coordinating district elections, preparing district meeting agendas, notifications and board minutes, monitoring compliance with filing deadlines and statutory requirements, and coordinating statutory filings with the Division of Local Affairs (DOLA) and other entities.
Job Titles:
- Paralegal at McGeady Becher
- Senior Paralegal
Experience
Over the past thirty years, Craig has served in various legal administrative roles in Denver law firms including information technology, librarian, records management, human resources, and as a paralegal. He has assisted clients at McGeady Becher since 2004.
As a paralegal at McGeady Becher, Craig works closely with the attorneys and clients of the firm on a wide range of special district administrative functions, including assisting with district formations, coordinating district elections, preparing district meeting agendas, notifications and board minutes, monitoring compliance with filing deadlines and statutory requirements, and coordinating statutory filings with the Division of Local Affairs (DOLA) and other entities.
Education
Paralegal Certification, University of Colorado
Craig enjoys spending time with his wife and family, and is an avid history and movie buff.
On August 31, 2012, we celebrated the life of Darlene Sisneros, as we mourned the loss of her presence. Darlene joined our Firm at its inception in 1988 and was elected to shareholder of the Firm in 1992. Darlene had very high standards of performance for everyone in the Firm and all of the consultants the Firm works with, but demanded no more of anyone else than she gave herself. Darlene led by example in her commitment, dedication, and striving for perfection. Her successful legal career was a reflection of the consistency with which she approached every situation: be prepared, be thorough, be accurate, be careful, and at the same time, be creative. Darlene's accomplishments as an attorney were recognized by her peers with the Super Lawyers designation in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.
Darlene was a proponent of community involvement and led by example in her service to non-profits. In her short life Darlene served on the Regional Advisory Board of the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute, the Colorado Supreme Court Nominating Commission, and the Law Committee of the Colorado Board of Law Examiners. Darlene also served as a Board member, officer and President of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association.
Darlene was a zealous advocate of Sense of Security, a non-profit providing financial support to breast cancer patients. She was an active and effective fund-raiser for Sense of Security, moved by her concerns for those who would be fighting breast cancer with limited funds and support systems.
As much as Darlene enjoyed being an attorney, her greatest joy was being the wife to Emilio Lobato III and the mother of her two daughters, Pilar and Paloma, and her greatest happiness came from the time she was able to spend with her family and friends.
All of us who had the blessing of knowing Darlene deeply miss her.
Elisabeth has been practicing special district law since 2012, although she originally began working at McGeady Becher as a paralegal in 2004.
Emily has been practicing special district law since 2016.
Of her special district practice, Emily says: "Every project is unique. This makes the practice challenging yet rewarding. I enjoy working with the various entities and individuals to determine each client's needs and implementing a plan to meet those needs."
Prior to joining McGeady Becher, Emily worked as in-house legal counsel for an insurance company, where she was responsible for drafting, negotiating and reviewing essential business contracts, and assisting with the risk management of businesses across a broad range of industries.
Emily enjoys skiing, biking, rock climbing, and fly-fishing in the mountains. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends, as well as with her two dogs.
Jay joined McGeady Becher as a special district attorney in 2021. He received his juris doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School on merit-based scholarship. During his legal education, Jay earned credit towards his degree as a judicial intern in the Wisconsin Supreme Court and as a Student Associate with the Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic, assisting nascent and early-stage businesses. Before joining the firm, Jay focused his practice in the areas of commercial real estate and business transactional matters.
Of his special district practice, Jay says: "Every day I look forward to working on solving Colorado's residential, commercial, and other infrastructural community needs."
Prior to his legal career, Jay promoted U.S. exportation as a Commercial Service Intern with the U.S. Department of Commerce at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He then took that experience in-house to boost the international sales of a domestic packaging producer. Between his studies and work experience, Jay lived in South America for two years and speaks Spanish fluently.
Jenny has more than thirteen years experience as a paralegal, and joined McGeady Becher in 2008.
Experience
Jennifer has been serving law firms as a paralegal since 2002. She joined McGeady Becher in 2007.
As a paralegal at McGeady Becher, Jennifer works closely with the attorneys and clients of the firm on a wide range of special district functions, including assisting with district formations, coordinating district elections, preparing district meeting agendas, notifications and board minutes, monitoring compliance with filing deadlines and statutory requirements, and coordinating statutory filings with the Division of Local Affairs (DOLA) and other entities.
Education
Paralegal Certification, Denver Paralegal Institute
Job Titles:
- Paralegal
- Paralegal at McGeady Becher
Jessie has been serving law firms as a paralegal and legal assistant since 2012. She joined McGeady Becher in 2021.
As a paralegal at McGeady Becher, Jessie works closely with the attorneys and clients of the firm on a wide range of special district functions, including assisting with district formations, coordinating district elections, preparing district meeting agendas, notifications and board minutes, monitoring compliance with filing deadlines and statutory requirements, and coordinating statutory filings with the Division of Local Affairs (DOLA) and other entities.
Jessie enjoys outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, swimming, and going on walks. She also enjoys attending car shows and arts and craft fairs. When homebound, Jessie likes watching cooking shows, crocheting, and making a mess of her kitchen.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
Kate joined McGeady Becher as a special district attorney in 2019, bringing with her nearly 20 years of experience representing a wide variety of clients in matters involving real estate development, land use, zoning, housing, planned unit developments, and historic preservation.
Job Titles:
- Director of District Administration
- McGeady Becher in 2021 As the Director of District Administration
Experience
Lisa joined McGeady Becher in 2021 as the Director of District Administration, bringing with her 15 years of experience in special districts. She is well versed in all facets of district administration.
In her role at McGeady Becher, Lisa works closely with the Firm's attorneys and clients using her expertise to support and advance our clients' objectives. Lisa performs a wide range of functions including coordinating district activities, and monitoring statutory, contract, and jurisdictional compliance. Lisa works to regularly identify processes that ensure the highest level of transparency and communication for the communities in which we work.
The districts that Lisa manages benefit from her discerning knowledge of fiscal responsibility and her experience in the special district industry.
Education
Orange Coast College
When she's not working with special district clients, Lisa enjoys spending time with family, friends, and competitive endurance horseback riding.
MaryAnn is a founding member of McGeady Becher, which was established in 1988. For over 30 years, she has played a leading role in some of the largest and most complex real estate developments in the Front Range and throughout the state of Colorado.
MaryAnn focuses on providing prompt, responsive service, characterized by a level of creativity and commitment unique to her experience, abilities, and energy level.
Of her special district practice, MaryAnn says: "Colorado has a unique structure for special districts and the financing of the installation, operations and maintenance of public improvements. I enjoy helping our clients understand how districts work and how we can create districts to meet the unique needs of the communities they create. We focus on educating our clients, identifying options and developing governance structures that will work well in the near and long term. I see my role as both lawyer and consultant.
Megan has been assisting developers with special district legal matters since 1996. She began work as a paralegal in the public finance group of an international firm based in Houston prior to attending law school. Megan joined McGeady Becher as a law clerk in 1999 and has been practicing special district law since 2001. She became a shareholder of the Firm in 2008.
Of her special district practice, Megan says: "My role goes beyond organizing special districts. Clients hire us not only for our legal experience, but also for our relationships with key people in the industry. I connect our clients to bankers, bond counsel, engineers, water lawyers, management companies, accountants and many others who all work together to serve special districts. We often work on behalf of our clients to seek solutions to statutory or regulatory issues by working with the legislature and agencies to promote responsible development."
Megan is recognized as an expert in all facets of special district law, and frequently provides presentations on special district matters to municipal staff, in-house counsel, and elected officials on practical issues surrounding special district law and how districts benefit development and re-development needs.
Paula joined McGeady Becher as a special district attorney in 2012, and brings to her practice fifteen years of diverse real estate law experience, both as outside counsel to developers and as former in-house counsel with a national homebuilder.
Her real estate experience includes representing clients in the acquisition and sale of real property, commercial leasing, due diligence, financing, secured lending transactions and in the negotiation and drafting of a wide range of agreements related to real estate.
In her capacity as in-house legal counsel to a national homebuilder, Paula represented different homebuilding divisions in several states, which included the acquisition of thousands of lots. She provided in-house legal counsel to the organization's mortgage company and title company.
Of her special district practice, Paula says: "I am happy to be able to combine my real estate and development experience with the formation and representation of special districts, which are critical to the success of new communities and projects."
Suzanne rejoined McGeady Becher in 2019, and has been practicing special district law since 2017. Her experience includes contract drafting and analysis, risk management, and litigation.
Of her special district practice, Suzanne says: "I am excited to apply my reputation of providing well-reasoned counsel within short timelines and budgetary constraints in the special district context and look forward to building new relationships to foster development in Colorado."
Prior to joining McGeady Becher, Suzanne practiced insurance coverage for over a decade, including an in-house role with a Lloyd's of London syndicate.
Tim joined McGeady Becher as a special district attorney in 2021. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, where his studies focused on real estate law. Prior to joining the firm, Timothy represented a wide variety of clients in various real estate matters involving land use, zoning, conveyancing, and title curative.
Of his special district practice, Timothy says: "Colorado is such an exciting state from a development and growth perspective. I am thrilled to be a part of a team that is actively building communities statewide."