Shepherd previously had been counsel to the national law firm ofPatton Boggs LLP. During law school at Tulane University, he hadworked with the Austin law firm of Brown McCaroll & OaksHarltine and Haynes & Boone. Prior to law school, he was alegislative aide to the Texas House of Representatives and aresearch associate for the Texas Legislative Council.In Denver,Mayor Wellington Webb had appointed Shepherd to the Denver HousingAuthority. He is credited with helping Denver to get a $30-millionHope VI grant from the Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment.

Kamlet had been a shareholder in the powerful Denver law firm ofBrownstein Hyatt & Farber P.C. At Brownstein, Kamlet had helpedMediaOne Financial Services dispose of non-telecommunicationsassets and Stevinson Partnership Ltd. develop a regional shoppingcenter in Lakewood on Denver's west side. He also had structured adeal for NorthStar Capital Partners on the financing of a nationalhotel chain project and advised Denver-based Coughlin & Co. ona redevelopment and leasing of three historic buildings at theformer Lowry Air Force Base.

"We were both very fortunate to have worked with suchwell-respected law firms," Shepherd tells GlobeSt.com. "Thebackground and experience they afforded us is largely responsiblefor the strong foundation of our new firm. And it's a foundation onwhich we plan to build a powerhouse."