Zachary D. Wagner

Member

Zachary Wagner’s diverse practice is focused primarily on complex civil litigation involving real estate disputes, contract disputes, premises liability, hospitality & retail, wrongful death, and products liability matters. A large portion of his practice involves counseling individuals, public entities, and private businesses in employment law and constitutional law matters through litigation, appeals, and administrative proceedings. Mr. Wagner is an experienced litigator and has successfully tried many cases to verdict in both state and federal court across Colorado.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2011
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Location

Denver Office

Education

JD: University of Colorado Law School, 2011
BA: University of Arkansas, 2007, History, summa cum laude

Contact

wagnerz@hallevans.com

More About
Zachary

Resume

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Business & Community Service
  • Big, Big Brothers Big Sisters, 2015-present

Susan G. Ridgeway

Senior Counsel

Susan Ridgeway’s practice emphasizes civil litigation and surrogacy and reproductive donation law.

Susan is an experienced litigator in both state and federal court and has a solid record of achieving proactive and cost-efficient resolutions for her clients, both in and out of court.

Her services typically involve real property (design, construction, development, management, sale, foreclosure), health care (professional employment, HIPAA compliance, business and software agreements, fertility law), and defense of legal malpractice claims.  She has represented large and small businesses and individuals in a wide range of matters. 

For the last fifteen years, a portion of Susan’s practice has been dedicated to establishing and protecting family rights in assisted reproductive technology arrangements.  She has obtained remedies for LGBTQ+ parents and their children, including two groundbreaking Montana Supreme Court decisions, routinely represents parties in surrogacy and gamete or embryo donation arrangements, and is recognized as a fertility law authority in Montana.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Montana, 1991
  • Washington (inactive), 1992
  • U.S. District Court, District of Montana
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Washington
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Montana

Location

Missoula Office

Education

JD: University of Montana, 1990, with honors
BA: University of Montana, 1984, History, with honors

Contact

ridgeways@hallevans.com

More About
Susan

Resume

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Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Martindale-Hubbell®, AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated
  • The Best Lawyers in America®; Family Law, 2024-2027; Commercial Litigation, 2025-2027; Construction Law, 2026-2027; Corporate Law, 2026-2027
  • Mountain States Super Lawyers®, Civil Litigation: Defense, 2020, 2022-2025; Business Litigation, 2021
  • University of Montana School of Law, Guest Lecturer, 2016-present
Professional Experience
  • Partner, Axilon Law, Missoula, Montana, 2015-2021
  • Solo Practitioner, Missoula, Montana, 2000-2015
  • Associate Attorney, Datsopoulos, MacDonald & Lind, P.C., Missoula, Montana, 1995-2000
  • Assistant Attorney General, State of Washington, Spokane, Washington, 1992-1995
  • Judicial Law Clerk, Washington State Court of Appeals, Seattle, Washington, 1990-1992
Professional Associations
  • American Academy of Reproductive Technology Attorneys, Fellow
  • Family Law Institute of the National LGBT Bar Association
  • Society for Ethical Egg Donation and Surrogacy
  • State Bar of Montana
Business & Community Service
  • Friends of Missoula Parks, Board Member, 2016-present
  • Missoula City Parks and Recreation, Board Member, 2013-2016
  • Missoula County Public Schools, Writing Coach or Policy Committee Member, 2010-2013
  • Missoula Strikers Soccer Association, Team Manager, Assistant Coach, or Referee 2005-2011
  • Missoula Community School, Board Member, 2001-2002
  • Blue Mountain Clinic, Board Member, 1996-1999
Other Activities
  • Susan enjoys cycling, mountain biking, and playing ice hockey with friends.
Blog Posts About Susan

Francesca M. Coleman

Senior Associate

Francesca Coleman focuses on the defense of construction defect and professional liability claims. Ms. Coleman represents construction professionals, architects, and engineers throughout all phases of litigation. Ms. Coleman is also experienced with matters involving real estate nondisclosure, contract disputes, intra-business disputes, homeowner’s association disputes, premises liability, employment liability, and workers’ compensation. Before joining Hall & Evans, Ms. Coleman was an associate at a general civil litigation firm in Denver, CO where she gained extensive deposition and trial experience.

Ms. Coleman graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law on the Dean’s Honor Roll. While earning her J.D., she was a Law Intern with the Colorado State Public Defender’s Office in Fort Collins, Colorado, and interned for insurance defense firms in Colorado and Wyoming.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2018
  • Wyoming, 2021

Location

Denver Office
Cheyenne Office

Education

JD: University of Wyoming College of Law, 2018, Dean’s List
BSA: Colorado State University, 2015, Business Management and Political Science

Contact

colemanf@hallevans.com

More About
Francesca

Resume

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Decisions
  • Won summary judgment on behalf of property owner concerning whether a common interest community was formed by implication of law.
Professional Associations
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • Denver Bar Association
    • Young Lawyers Division
Professional Experience
  • Associate, Robinson & Henry, P.C., Denver, CO 2019-2021
  • Associate/Law Clerk, Lee & Brown, LLC, Denver, CO 2019-2020
  • Law Clerk, Sundahl Powers, Kapp & Martin, LLC, Cheyenne, WY 2017
Other Activities
  • Gold Level Judge for U.S. Figure Skating
Blog Posts About Francesca

Christopher D. Bryan

Member

Chris represents a variety of clients in matters involving premises liability, products liability, construction, professional liability, real estate and other general litigation matters, with a particular emphasis on hospitality and retail industries.   He is well-versed in all phases of litigation, and his trial and appellate experience includes conducting jury trials and appeals in Colorado, New York, and New Jersey.

Prior to joining Hall & Evans in 2011, Chris was an Associate at a large firm in New York City, where he also served as an approved mediator for the New York Courts, EEOC, and Safe Horizons Community Mediation Centers.  As a mediator, he conducted over 75 mediations covering a wide range of cases including: personal injury, employment, and disability discrimination, juvenile issues, landlord/tenant, creditor/debtor, construction, contracts, and various community or family-based disputes.  Chris has also completed more than 100 hours of mediation training including advanced training in domestic violence, divorce mediation, and cross-cultural issues.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2010
  • New Jersey, 2008
  • New York, 2009
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

Location

Denver Office

Education

JD: Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, 2008
BA: Metropolitan State College of Denver, 2001, Journalism

Contact

bryanc@hallevans.com

More About
Christopher

Resume

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Career Distinctions & Honors
  • Colorado Super Lawyers®, “Rising Star,” Civil Litigation: Defense, 2017-2019
  • While a law student at Benjamin Cardozo School of Law, Chris was a member of one of the nation’s top-ranked Mediation Clinics, a Finalist in the 2006-2007 ABA Representation in Mediation Competition, and a Member of the Arts & Entertainment Law Journal.
Professional Associations
  • Foodservice Industry Risk Management Association
  • ALFA International
  • National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association
Blog Posts About Christopher

Mark S. Ratner

Member

Mark has over a quarter-century in litigation, trial, and administrative experience in both State and Federal venues.  His primary focus at Hall & Evans is on representation of public entities and law enforcement personnel, in federal civil rights matters brought pursuant to the First, Fourth, Fifth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, as well as in employment matters involving the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Americans with Disabilities Act as amended, and national origin discrimination claims brought pursuant to Title VII.

He has also represented Fortune 100 companies in administrative and investigatory matters with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Colorado Civil Rights Division, and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.  Representation in front of these government agencies has been for charges of age, race, and disability discrimination, as well as claims of workplace harassment and hostile work environment.

Mark’s broad base of experience also includes bankruptcy, errors & omissions, insurance coverage opinions as well as representation of real estate appraisers and brokers in civil litigation and administrative matters in front of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies and the Office of Banks and Real Estate (Illinois); representation of corporations in toxic tort exposure matters (asbestos, petrochemical, and lead paint); representation of homeowner associations under the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act, and; representation of automobile manufactures in litigation and arbitration proceedings, for claims made under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and the Illinois Uniform Commercial Code.

Practice Areas

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2007
  • Arizona, 1998
  • Illinois (inactive), 1997
  • Kansas (inactive), 2016
  • Michigan, 1994
  • U.S. Virgin Islands, 2020
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Maryland
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

Location

Denver Office

Education

JD: Michigan State University School of Law, 1994, AmJur Award for Highest Grade in Agency & Partnership, Dean’s List
BA: Michigan State University, 1990, Political Science

Contact

ratnerm@hallevans.com

More About
Mark

Resume

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Appeals

  • Exby-Stolley v. Board of County Commissioners, Weld County, Colorado, 906 F.3d 900 (10th Cir. 2018)

  • Felkins v. City of Lakewood, 774 F.3d 647; 31 Am.Disabilities Cas. (BNA) 15 (10th Cir.2014)

  • Van De Wege v. Chambers, 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 12134 (10th Cir.2014)(unpublished)
  • Johnson v. ExxonMobil Corp., 426 F.3d 887, 96 Fail Empl. Prac. Cas. (BNA 1171)(7th Cor.2005)
  • Kelley v. Carbone, 361 III.App. 477, 837 N.E.2d 438 (III.App.2nd Dist.2005)
Blog Posts About Mark

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