Jeff Soffer

Senior Associate

Jeff’s practice focuses on premises liability, products liability, medical malpractice, employment, hospitality & retail, professional liability, and complex commercial litigation. Representative clients include hospital systems, nursing facilities, trucking companies, gig-economy platforms, retail establishments, and hospitality businesses.

Jeff utilizes his experience in litigation, business strategy, and risk assessment to advocate for clients in high-stakes conflicts, develop innovative legal arguments, and mitigate risk through proactive compliance and dispute resolution.

Prior to joining Hall & Evans in 2025, Jeff worked for two law firms in Houston, Texas. He received his JD from the University of Texas School of Law, his MBA from New York University, and his BA from Northwestern University. He lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife and three fun-loving children.

Location

Denver Office
1001 17th Street
Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202

Education

JD: University of Texas School of Law, 2012
MBA: New York University, 2017, Financial Instruments and Markets, Economics, and Marketing
BA: Northwestern University, 2008, Economics and Philosophy

Contact

sofferj@hallevans.com

More About
Jeff

Professional Associations
  • Colorado Bar Association

  • Denver Bar Association

Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Author, “A Professional (lack of) Courtesy: The Emergence of Expert Testimony in Legal and Medical Malpractice Cases,” St. Mary’s Law Journal on Legal Malpractice and Ethics, Volume 46, 2015
  • Author, “Apologize First; Mediate Second; Litigate…Never?” The University of Texas School of Law, The Review of Litigation, Volume 34, 2015
  • Presenter, “A Professional (lack of) Courtesy: The Emergence of Expert Testimony in Legal and Medical Malpractice Cases,” St. Mary’s Legal Ethics Symposium 2015
  • Presenter, “Handling Lawsuits: It’s Not Just For Lawyers Anymore,” American Society for Healthcare Risk Management, Annual Conference & Exhibition, 2014

Steven P. Johnston

Senior Associate

Steven Johnston has over 20 years of civil litigation experience in Colorado state and federal courts. He focuses on medical malpractice and defends medical and dental providers along with hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Outside of his healthcare practice, Mr. Johnston has extensive experience with insurance defense, premises liability, and business related matters. He has also managed mass tort litigation involving pharmaceutical product liability and environmental contamination.

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2003
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Location

Denver Office
1001 17th Street
Suite 300
Denver, CO 80202

Education

JD: Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School, 2003
BS: Brigham Young University, 1998, Business Management

Contact

johnstons@hallevans.com

More About
Steven

Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars
  • Presenter, “Drafting the Complaint: Why It Controls Your Entire Case and Using the Amended Civil Rules to Your Advantage,” Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Blockbuster, 2016

Alisa A. McAffee

Associate

Alisa McAffee’s practice includes transportation, premises liability, personal injury, medical malpractice, and general insurance defense.

Ms. McAffee attended the William S. Boyd School of Law and earned two concentrations; one in Alternative Dispute Resolution and the other in Business and Commercial Law. She was a Public Interest Law Association Grant Recipient and a UNLV Public Interest Fellow. Ms. McAffee was also a student attorney with the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, a fellow with the Utah Attorney General’s Office, and a judicial intern for Judge Stefany Miley with the Clark County District Court in Nevada.

Before her legal career, Ms. McAffee was a regional leader and licensing coach at a financial services company. She maintains her Nevada life insurance license and is a FINRA registered representative.

Location

Las Vegas Office
1160 North Town Center Drive
Suite 330
Las Vegas, NV 89144

Education

JD: University of Nevada-Las Vegas, William S. Boyd School of Law, 2021

BS: University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 1998, Community Health Education, Minor in Women’s Studies, magna cum laude

Contact

mcaffeea@hallevans.com

More About
Alisa

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • UNLV Public Interest Fellow, 2019-2021
  • American Bar Association Janet D. Steiger Fellow, 2020
  • Public Interest Law Association Grant Recipient, 2020
Professional Associations
  • Clark County Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
License
  • Life Insurance License, State of Nevada, 2012-present
  • FINRA Representative, Series 6 and 63, 2014-2019; 2022-present
  • FINRA Principal, Series 26, 2017-2019
Business & Community Service
  • Represent.Us, Las Vegas Chapter Communications Coordinator, 2017 – 2018
  • William S. Boyd School of Law Community Law Day, Volunteer, 2018 & 2019
Certifications
  • LexisNexis® Proficiency Certification
  • LexisNexis® Practice-Ready Certification
  • Westlaw® Advanced Legal Research Certification
Other Activities
  • Ms. McAffee enjoys making hand-crafted soaps and amigurumi crochet.

Miranda R. Kennedy

Associate

Miranda Kennedy joined Hall & Evans, LLC as an Associate in 2024.  Her practice involves general civil litigation, business litigation, and medical malpractice defense in the state and federal courts of Nevada.

While attending Gonzaga University School of Law, Ms. Kennedy was an associate editor and a vested member of the Gonzaga Law Review.  She also was an intern with the school’s Intellectual Property and Business Innovation Clinics and clerked with several civil and appellate law firms in Spokane, WA and Las Vegas, NV.

Ms. Kennedy graduated cum laude from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas Honors College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/International Business and minors in Spanish and Violin Performance.

Bar Admissions

  • Nevada, 2024
  • U.S. District Court, District of Nevada

Location

Las Vegas Office
1160 North Town Center Drive
Suite 330
Las Vegas, NV 89144

Education

JD: Gonzaga University School of Law, 2024

BSBA: University of Nevada-Las Vegas, 2020, International Business, Minors in Spanish and Violin Performance, cum laude, Dean’s Honors List

Contact

kennedym@hallevans.com

More About
Miranda

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • CALI Excellence for the Future Award, Criminal Procedure, 2024

  • Associate Editor & Vested Member, Gonzaga Law Review, 2022-2024

Languages
  • Spanish

Jacob Gudenkauf

Associate

Jacob Gudenkauf is a litigator with a broad range of experience in construction and design, premises liability, health care, employment, toxic torts, commercial litigation, catastrophic injury, and coverage matters. Mr. Gudenkauf defends a variety of licensed professionals including architects, engineers, and design professionals involved with construction defect claims, as well as doctors, nurses, and health care providers facing medical malpractice claims. He counsels employers with investigations of harassment, retaliation, and discrimination and defends public entities in matters involving Constitutional torts, governmental immunity, and local governance.

Mr. Gudenkauf’s focus is on first seeking to understand his client’s goals and story. Whether through facilitating an early resolution or pursuing a matter through trial and final judgment, he always seeks to find creative solutions to the problems that face his clients and to help them reach their goals.

Mr. Gudenkauf graduated cum laude from Willamette University College of Law. During law school, he served as a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Elizabeth Weishaupl in Colorado’s 18th District and clerked with the Trial Division of the Oregon Department of Justice.

Bar Admissions

  • Utah, 2022
  • Colorado, 2016
  • U.S. District Court, District of Utah
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Location

Salt Lake City Office
175 South Main Street
Suite 500
Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Education

JD: Willamette University College of Law, 2016, cum laude
BA: University of Colorado, 2012, History and Political Science

Contact

gudenkaufj@hallevans.com

More About
Jacob

Decisions
  • Won summary judgment on behalf of general contractor construction defect, defamation, and breach of contract case.
Professional Associations
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
Other Activities
  • Mr. Gudenkauf enjoys spending time with his family, playing golf (poorly), and cheering for the University of Colorado Buffaloes.