Published: Oct. 19, 2024 • By Eric Nicholson '26

Andrew GarnettCommercial litigation attorney Andrew Garnett '12 has been surrounded by the legal world鈥攁nd the University of Colorado Law School鈥攈is whole life. Garnett grew up in the Boulder community and was given a window into the legal world by his father, fellow Law Buff Stan Garnett '82, who often praised Colorado Law for its welcoming atmosphere and brilliant faculty. After watching his father use his law degree every day as a prosecutor and commercial litigator Garnett was inspired to pursue a legal career of his own. Garnett set his sights on a legal education that he hoped would eventually land him in the Denver District Attorney鈥檚 Office.

As a student at Colorado Law, Garnett immersed himself in as much trial work as he could. He took classes in motions practice and trial advocacy to prepare for the work he hoped to conduct regularly after graduation. In addition to trial coursework, he also sought to experience the real thing while still a student.

鈥淵ou can鈥檛 fake trial experience,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you want to do trial work out of law school, you should take advantage of the Student Practice Act.鈥� The Student Practice Act allowed Garnett to act as an attorney on real cases while still in law school, receiving guidance from licensed attorneys along the way. He spent every semester he could externing with the Denver District Attorney鈥檚 Office and found the work he did there to be the most rewarding of his law school career.

After graduation, Garnett worked for the Denver District Attorney鈥檚 Office full-time as a prosecutor and, using all he had learned from his time at Colorado Law, excelled. He described the skills he honed there as 鈥渋rreplaceable鈥� and a great help at transforming him into a strong litigator. As he made new friends and forged connections with talented attorneys, Garnett began to consider a shift toward civil litigation, rather than criminal.

鈥淚 find civil litigation to be very interesting. I find myself growing as an attorney with every new case, and I like having a career that constantly challenges me every day,鈥� he said.

Garnett wanted to give back to the Colorado Law community for the skills and support the school had given him throughout his legal career. In summer 2012, Garnett and his friend and classmate, Matt Henderson '12, organized a golf tournament with some of the law school faculty to 鈥渁ct as a distraction from studying for the Bar.鈥� The tournament was a hit, and Garnett was determined to make it a tradition rather than a one-off event. 鈥淭he tournament was perfect for us to reconnect with alumni and create a community after we graduated,鈥� he said.

Garnett became interested in using the tournament to raise money for Colorado Law, and in 2014 partnered with the Sarah L. Rector Memorial Scholarship Fund, so that funds raised from the tournament would benefit law students. What began as an escape from studying blossomed into an opportunity to expand the law school network while supporting the community.

After spending several years working for other private firms, in 2023 Garnett embarked on a new venture: he co-founded Garnett Powell Maximon Barlow & Farbes, where he works with 鈥済reat attorneys that are even better people.鈥� Garnett reflected, 鈥淭hey all care about doing the right thing above all else.鈥� While Garnett specializes in commercial litigation, the other attorneys at his firm operate in practice areas that complement each other, he explained.

One of those attorneys is his father, Stan, who continues to use his criminal law expertise to help others. 鈥淚t was a dream of mine growing up to build a firm with my dad. Actually getting to do it has been very special,鈥� he said.

Stan and Andrew Garnett

Andrew (right) and his father, Stan Garnett.

Garnett works with large and small clients headquartered around the world, from Fortune 100 companies to mom-and- pop shops.

Despite his successes, Garnett never loses sight of the privileges he鈥檚 been afforded: being able to work with clients and solve their problems. 鈥淚t is a great honor to earn a client鈥檚 trust,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am proud they trust our firm to solve their most complicated problems.鈥�

Garnett鈥檚 humility can also be seen in his commitment to learning and improving his craft, using his own experience from prior cases or internalizing lessons from partners and associates at his firm.
鈥淚t鈥檚 called the 鈥榩ractice of law鈥� because you鈥檙e always improving,鈥� he said. Garnett believes that even if a case is completely new, an attorney who reflects on their past experiences will have the tools to make a strong argument and forge a path forward.

Q&A

Were there any professors who had a strong impact on you during law school, leading you to your current career path?

I really enjoyed taking motions practice with retired Colorado Supreme Court Justice Nancy Rice and Trial Advocacy with Eric Eliff '87, who is now a judge. And I took White Collar Criminal Law with Cliff Strickland. Justice Rice taught me how to ask questions of witnesses, to get answers that explained things in a way judges and juries could understand鈥攁rguably the most important skill I have for my trial practice.
听

What sort of advice would you give law students interested in pursuing a career in litigation?

First, try to observe as much in-court stuff as you can. You will learn so much from watching other people who have done these things over and over before. Second, get up in court as much as possible. Try to learn what your authentic in-court style is, and then apply that style as much as possible.
听

What鈥檚 your favorite way to stay engaged with Colorado Law?

Organizing the Colorado Law Classic every year, reconnecting with old friends, meeting as many new friends as possible, and making as much money as we can to give back to the law school through scholarships. To date we have donated over $160,000 to the law school through the event.
听

How did you come to meet your wife [Megan Garnett '14] through Colorado Law?

I met Megan through our mutual friend and my roommate Nate Jewell '12. Megan was a 1L and I was a 3L. She knew Nate from mutual friends in undergrad and Nate and I went to high school together. My first memory of meeting Megan was at the beginning of the school year softball tournament at Stazio Fields. I doubt she remembers me from that day, but we met a few weeks later on a Saturday during the Boulder City Amateur Golf Tournament where I beat Matt Henderson by 6 strokes!
Issue: Amicus | Fall 2024