About David
David D. Powell, Jr. is a partner in the firm’s Denver office, focusing his practice on employment and commercial litigation. Before co-founding the firm with his colleagues in 2023, David served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, managing the eight separate legal units comprising the State Services Section. In this role, he oversaw those responsible for representing the state’s key elected officials and providing legal services in the areas of health care, human services, K-12 and higher education, state contracts and procurement, labor, and public utilities.Prior to his work at the AG’s Office, David was an equity partner in two prominent Denver-based full-service law firms and a well-known national labor and employment law firm. During this time, his practice focused mainly on representing employers in employment litigation matters, conducting internal investigations, and advising employers on the myriad of legal issues impacting the employer-employee relationship.David attended the UCLA School of Law and was a Managing Editor of the UCLA Law Review. Following graduation, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable John L. Kane, Jr. in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, which inspired him to focus his legal practice on trial work.After completing his clerkship, David worked as a Deputy District Attorney in the Denver District Attorney’s Office, gaining valuable trial experience by prosecuting misdemeanor and felony criminal cases.Following his stint as a prosecutor, he entered private practice in 1990. For the next thirty years, he acquired significant experience litigating employment and commercial cases on behalf of employers in various industries. During this time, he tried to verdict several notable employment-related cases.In addition to his experience handling trials in the employment arena, David has significant experience defending and pursuing claims for injunctive relief related to enforcing non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants.
David D. Powell, Jr. is a partner in the firm’s Denver office, focusing his practice on employment and commercial litigation. Before co-founding the firm with his colleagues in 2023, David served as a Deputy Attorney General in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, managing the eight separate legal units comprising the State Services Section. In this role, he oversaw those responsible for representing the state’s key elected officials and providing legal services in the areas of health care, human services, K-12 and higher education, state contracts and procurement, labor, and public utilities.
Prior to his work at the AG’s Office, David was an equity partner in two prominent Denver-based full-service law firms and a well-known national labor and employment law firm. During this time, his practice focused mainly on representing employers in employment litigation matters, conducting internal investigations, and advising employers on the myriad of legal issues impacting the employer-employee relationship.
David attended the UCLA School of Law and was a Managing Editor of the UCLA Law Review. Following graduation, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable John L. Kane, Jr. in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, which inspired him to focus his legal practice on trial work.
After completing his clerkship, David worked as a Deputy District Attorney in the Denver District Attorney’s Office, gaining valuable trial experience by prosecuting misdemeanor and felony criminal cases.
Following his stint as a prosecutor, he entered private practice in 1990. For the next thirty years, he acquired significant experience litigating employment and commercial cases on behalf of employers in various industries. During this time, he tried to verdict several notable employment-related cases.
In addition to his experience handling trials in the employment arena, David has significant experience defending and pursuing claims for injunctive relief related to enforcing non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants.
Professional Affiliations
Awards & Recognition
- Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Labor and Employment, Denver (2025)
- Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Labor and Employment, Denver (2018)
- Lawyer of the Year: Employment Law - Management, Denver (2016)
- Recognized: Commercial Litigation
- Recognized: Employment Law - Management
- Recognized: Litigation - Labor and Employment
- Special Focus: Civil Rights
- Special Focus: Defense
- Special Focus: Disability
- Special Focus: Harassment
- Special Focus: Litigation
- Special Focus: Management
- Special Focus: Title VII Litigation
- Special Focus: Trade Secrets
- Special Focus: Wage-Hour Law
- Richard Marden Davis Award, given annually by the law firm of Davis Graham & Stubbs
- Lawdragon 500, Leading Lawyers in America (2006, 2007)
- Colorado Super Lawyers (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013)
- Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers (2005-2010, 2013)
- “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell