Mercer, Sarah M. - Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Sarah M. Mercer Sarah M. Mercer_HighRes

Sarah M. Mercer

Shareholder
smercer@bhfs.com
303.223.1139
Denver, Colorado
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Las Vegas, Nevada

Counsel for the Honorable Michael Bender, Colorado Supreme Court

Litigation Associate, Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley, P.C.

Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Michael Bender, Colorado Supreme Court

Solves intractable legal problems by offering fresh solutions incorporating legal and political strategies. Relationship-builder skilled at aligning state and local stakeholders. 

Sarah Mercer ensures clients overcome challenging and entrenched legal issues by guiding clients through the complex political landscape. She combines her litigation background with her experience navigating state and local government to develop creative political and administrative solutions for complicated legal issues. In short, Sarah helps her clients efficiently achieve their goals. She’s a connector drawing on her close ties with elected officials and bureaucratic staff at all levels of local and state government to form connections and bridge relationships among diverse stakeholders. 

No stranger to high-profile policy matters, Sarah is at the forefront of some of the hottest regional and national issues—the Paycheck Protection Program, campaign finance, ballot initiatives, gaming and sports betting to name a few. Whether advising on navigating the regulatory environment of sports betting or representing a client in a lawsuit challenging a governor’s executive order, Sarah brings passion, grit and ingenuity. She gets results in situations where others have failed due to her ability to find fresh solutions and align conflicting stakeholders. 

Sarah’s determination and passion extends beyond her client work. She is a steadfast community volunteer serving as a board member for the National Sports Center for the Disabled and the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. She also has a roster of pro bono lobbying clients helping Denver’s underserved communities. 

Previous Experience

Counsel for the Honorable Michael Bender, Colorado Supreme Court

Litigation Associate, Welborn Sullivan Meck & Tooley, P.C.

Judicial Clerk for the Honorable Michael Bender, Colorado Supreme Court

Practices & Industries

Practices

Industries

Representative Matters

  • On behalf of a Nevada casino, passed a law that allowed relocation of the gaming establishment because the existing establishment was adjacent to a military installation that had been designated by the federal government as necessary for the expansion of the military installation.

  • On behalf of a Colorado municipality, secured $9M for a new cybersecurity intelligence center in partnership with the University of Colorado and federal Department of Defense, and amended legislation to reduce the regulatory burden on the city’s fire department and EMS responders.

  • Provided risk assessment and advised on lease restrictions for prospective tenant selling hemp-derived CBD products.

News & Events
Community

Colorado Competitive Council, 2017-present

Denver Bar Association Board of Trustees, 2014-2018

Edgewater Collective Board of Directors, 2013-2016

Colorado Bar Association Board of Governors, 2012-14

Edgewater City Council, 2009-2011

Colorado Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, 2010

Edgewater City Charter Review and Compliance Commission, 2008-09

Publications & Presentations
Education
  • J.D., 2007, University of Colorado Law School
  • B.A., 2004, Harvard University
Admissions
  • Colorado
Recognition

Denver Business Journal, 40 Under 40, 2020

5280 Top Lawyers, Government Relations, 2019-2020

Colorado Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2015-2020

Up-and-Coming Lawyer, Law Week Colorado, 2010

Editor-in-Chief, Vol. 78, University of Colorado Law Review, University of Colorado Law School, 2006-07

Membership

Colorado Bar Association

Denver Bar Association

Colorado Women’s Bar Association

Doyle Inn of Court

attorney-33002

© 2020 Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP

Technology by Tenrec, Inc.

All rights Reserved | Attorney Advertisement