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

Resume

Linkedin

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

John J. Roberts

Senior Counsel

John is an experienced trial and appellate attorney primarily focusing on professional liability, professional licensure, and construction defect cases. John defends architects, engineers, and other licensed professionals in professional liability matters before administrative agencies, district courts, and appellate courts.

Before joining Hall & Evans, John served as a First Assistant Attorney General advising and representing state regulatory agencies and supervising a team of attorneys. John spent over two decades with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office in the Business & Licensing Section. John counseled and litigated cases for professional licensing boards and regulatory agencies statewide, including the Board for Licensure of Architects, Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors; the Board of Nursing; the Public Utilities Commission; the Mined Land Reclamation Board; the Plumbing and Electrical Boards; and the Passenger Tramway Safety Board.

John began his career in private practice, counseling clients in transactional and litigation matters including employment, corporate, real estate, intellectual property, oil and gas, and estate planning.

Location

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

Education

JD: University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 1998

MA: Colorado State University, 1993, History

BA: University of Colorado, 1991, Psychology

Contact

robertsj@hallevans.com

More About
John

Resume

Professional Associations
  • Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Eagle Scout – Boy Scouts of America, Western Alaska Council
Articles & Publications // Presentations // Webinars

  • Speaker, “Speak No Evil: First Amendment Issues for Regulatory Boards,” Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards Forum, January 2009

  • Speaker, “Speak No Evil: First Amendment Issues for Regulatory Boards,” Federation of Associations of Regulatory Boards Attorney Certification Seminar, October 2009

  • Speaker, “Employee Training: Legal Concerns for Agency Employees – CORA, OML, Hearings, and Best Practices,” Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, September 2007

  • Author, “High Line Canal,” HAER CO-43, Colorado Department of Transportation, April 1994

  • Author, “86th Street Aluminum Overpass,” HAER IA-42, Iowa Department of Transportation, February 1994

  • Author, “Iowa Bridge Overview,” Iowa Department of Transportation, December 1993

  • Author, “Rock House Ford Bridge,” HAER MO-78, Missouri Department of Transportation, November 1993

Samuel M. McCarty

Associate

Mr. McCarty joined Hall & Evans, LLC in 2024 as an Associate. Currently, his practice is primarily composed of Construction & Design and Real Estate Litigation. Mr. McCarty typically represents developers, contractors, and design professionals, including both architects and engineers.

While attending the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, he was a teaching assistant and peer mentor. In addition, Mr. McCarty worked for the Hon. Judge John Wheeler of the 18th Judicial District.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

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

Location

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

Education

JD: University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2022

BA: University of Iowa, 2019, Political Science

Contact

mccartys@hallevans.com

More About
Samuel

Resume

Linkedin

Career Distinctions & Honors
  • University of Denver Sturm College of Law Provost’s Scholarship
  • Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society
Professional Associations
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • Denver Bar Association

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.

Practice Areas

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

Resume

Linkedin

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.

Ryan C. Addis

Senior Associate

Ryan Addis’ practice focuses on the defense of premises liability, product liability, healthcare, construction, and public entity matters. He represents municipalities, contractors, and businesses throughout all phases of litigation in both state and federal court.

Mr. Addis also serves as a City Attorney for the City of Columbus, Montana, where he prosecutes misdemeanors and provides counsel to City officials regarding land use, personnel, zoning, contracts, and other City-related matters.  Previously, Mr. Addis was a Deputy County Attorney at the Yellowstone and Stillwater County Attorney’s Offices, where he prosecuted felony and misdemeanor crimes.

While earning his law degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, Mr. Addis was a part of an independent research project on the Supreme Court’s interpretive rule of mens rea of federal court statutes. Mr. Addis also was an Instructor at The Law and Leadership Institute, where he prepared students for mock trials and instructed on a wide variety of legal issues.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Montana, 2014
  • Colorado (inactive), 2017
  • Wyoming (inactive), 2017
  • U.S. District Court, District of Montana

Location

Billings Office

175 North 27th Street
Suite 1101
Billings, MT 59101

Education

JD: University of Cincinnati College of Law, 2014, Dean’s List
BA: West Virginia University, 2011, History, Minor in Philosophy, summa cum laude

Contact

addisr@hallevans.com

More About
Ryan

Resume

Linkedin

Professional Associations
  • Montana State Bar Association
Business & Community Service

  • Cincinnati Intellectual Property and Computer Law Journal, Founding Member, 2012-2014

  • Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, Treasurer, 2011-2013

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