Michael Beaver's Email & Phone

Michael S. Beaver is a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group of Holland & Hart LLP. His practice emphasizes representation of employers and employee benefit plans in litigation. He has extensive experience in litigating disputes under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"), as well as other employee benefit matters, including public employee plans. Mr. Beaver has defended claims arising under pension, health, disability, life, and severance benefit plans; lawsuits relating to fiduciary duties and prohibited transactions; lawsuits brought by independent contractors seeking plan participant status; ERISA class actions; and discrimination claims under ERISA. Mr. Beaver has appeared in and led the defense of cases in states throughout the United States (in states other than Colorado, he has been admitted pro hac vice). He has handled ERISA appellate issues in both the Ninth and Tenth Circuits of the United States Court of Appeals. He has been involved in extensive non-ERISA litigation in the state courts. In addition to employee benefits litigation, Mr. Beaver's practice includes the defense of employment litigation, as well as general life and disability insurance litigation. He also frequently advises insurers, plan sponsors, and other employee benefits professionals with respect to plan drafting and administration issues, and frequently advises employers concerning preventive employment practices. Mr. Beaver began practice with Holland & Hart in 1986 after working in several corporate management positions, including Human Resources Director and Vice-President for Finance and Administration with a large Denver-based manufacturing company. Mr. Beaver has authored employee benefit chapters in the ERISA Survey Of Federal Circuits (ABA 2007) and Insurance Coverage Litigation (West 2000), as well as a number of articles in publications such as For The Defense, the Tort & Insurance Law Journal, and the Labor Law Journal. He has spoken at national and state programs sponsored by the ABA, DRI, Western Pension & Benefits Conference, National Ski Areas Association, the Colorado Bar Association, and numerous others. Mr. Beaver is listed as one of The Best Lawyers in America® and in Colorado Super Lawyers (for Employee Benefits/ERISA and Employment & Labor Law). Mr. Beaver is rated AV (preeminent) by Martindale Hubbell. Mr. Beaver served on the Management Committee of Holland & Hart from 2006 to 2009 and as the Chair of the firm's Litigation Department from 2002 to 2005. PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES Former Member, Governing Council, American Bar Association - Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (2006-2009) Fellow, American College of Employee Benefits Counsel Fellow, American Bar Foundation Defense Research Institute Colorado Bar Association EDUCATION University of Denver J.D. 1986 University of Colorado B.S.B.A. 1979