Shepherd previously had been counsel to the national law firm of Patton Boggs LLP. During law school at Tulane University, he had worked with the Austin law firm of Brown McCaroll & Oaks Harltine and Haynes & Boone. Prior to law school, he was a legislative aide to the Texas House of Representatives and a research associate for the Texas Legislative Council.In Denver, Mayor Wellington Webb had appointed Shepherd to the Denver Housing Authority. He is credited with helping Denver to get a $30-million Hope VI grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Kamlet had been a shareholder in the powerful Denver law firm of Brownstein Hyatt & Farber P.C. At Brownstein, Kamlet had helped MediaOne Financial Services dispose of non-telecommunications assets and Stevinson Partnership Ltd. develop a regional shopping center in Lakewood on Denver's west side. He also had structured a deal for NorthStar Capital Partners on the financing of a national hotel chain project and advised Denver-based Coughlin & Co. on a redevelopment and leasing of three historic buildings at the former Lowry Air Force Base.

"We were both very fortunate to have worked with such well-respected law firms," Shepherd tells GlobeSt.com. "The background and experience they afforded us is largely responsible for the strong foundation of our new firm. And it's a foundation on which we plan to build a powerhouse."