Meet Lillian Coward
Lillian Coward joined us from William & Mary Law School in Virginia, where she will start her third year this fall. She has experience serving as an extern for the Honorable Holly B. Smith of Williamsburg/James City County Circuit Court and as an intern for the York County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
“I’m excited to gain exposure to different practice areas so I can determine what I would like to focus on and develop my skills accordingly,” she said.
Lillian also is dedicated to making a difference in her community. While in Virginia, she has volunteered at two organizations dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals and has organized fundraisers for local charities.
We share your passion for shaping the future of our communities, Lillian!
Meet Eliz Espinoza
Eliz joined us from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where she will start her third year in the fall. She brought with her 15 years of experience in the law profession, serving as a legal administrative assistant and paralegal before attending law school.
“I chose to work with Sherman & Howard because firm culture is very important to me. S&H cares not only for their clients, but also for their staff. I wanted to work somewhere I felt at home and comfortable to grow in my practice as a professional. S&H offers that environment. This summer, I hope to continue growing my skills in trial advocacy and legal writing,” she said.
A Denver native, Eliz is committed to helping shape the future of disadvantaged students who hope to someday attend law school by serving on the board of directors of the organization Law School… Yes We Can! She also founded the organization’s Young Professionals Network and has served as gala auction chair of the Rocky Mountain Multiple Sclerosis Center.
“I am strongly tied to my community here and could not think of a better place to live!”
We couldn’t agree more, Eliz!
Meet Richard Graney
Richard joined us from the UCLA School of Law, where he will start his third year this fall. He chose to spend his summer with us after gaining meaningful experience working as a summer associate with Red Bull North America, a legal analyst with a law firm in New York City, a legal clerk with a law firm in Michigan, and as an intern with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
“I am excited to explore opportunities to work on matters across S&H’s practice groups and to get to know and work with S&H’s fantastic attorneys on interesting issues. I would be thrilled to leave the summer program having learned about working in several practice areas and having learned from great people,” Richard said.
After graduation next spring, Richard plans to take his mom on a trip to South Korea. She hasn’t been back since she emigrated to the U.S. when she was a teenager, and he is looking forward to accompanying her on her return. After that, he’s hoping to return to Denver.
“I love having access both to nature and to an incredible city with great food, museums, sports, and other activities. Having also lived in New York City and Los Angeles, I love how manageable Denver is. It’s such a wonderful place, and I’m enjoying being back in town.”
We’re glad you chose to spend your summer with us!
Meet Camila Gutierrez Writtenberry
Camila joined us from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where she will enter her second year in the fall. She earned her Certificate in Legal Research from DU last year.
“I chose to spend the summer at Sherman & Howard because of the firm’s friendly, family-like environment. Every person I met from Sherman & Howard had incredible things to say about the firm,” Camila said. “I’m excited to be a part of an organization that not only has shaped the face of the law in Colorado, but that also allows and encourages its employees to have a good work-life balance.”
Fluent in Spanish, Camila owns her own nationwide translation and interpretation service. She also volunteers for Learn Your Rights in Colorado (LYRIC), which empowers young people to exercise their constitutional rights.
Originally from Chile, Camila and her family moved from New Mexico to Denver last year so she could attend DU.
“I love Denver because it’s close to home, and we have family here. The summer weather is incredible, and I appreciate that Denver is the perfect mix of ‘big city’ and ‘small town,’ depending on what you’re looking for,” she said.
We were happy to have you, Camila!
Meet Jayson Hatfield
Jayson joined us from the University of Houston Law Center, where he will start his third year in the fall. Throughout the school year, Jayson gained practical experience working as a law clerk for an immigration firm, where he worked on briefing asylum and withholding of removal cases.
“My passion for law and the firm’s inviting environment convinced me that this was the ideal place for my summer experience,” he said.
This isn’t his first prolonged stay in Denver. He spent time here training for his first job out of college.
“My wife came with me, and we immediately fell in love with the city. Our favorite part was that it has a very ‘outdoorsy’ vibe, and the Rocky Mountains provided the most beautiful scenery we had ever seen!”
We tend to agree with you, Jayson!
Meet Morgan Ryan
Morgan joined us from Penn State Law at Pennsylvania State University, where she will start her third year this fall.
Morgan spent a semester working remotely for the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. Last summer, she externed for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor’s Office of General Counsel. She also served as a legal intern for the Clean Air Council in Philadelphia.
“I chose Sherman & Howard for my summer experience because of their high level of expertise and innovative work across the entire legal industry,” Morgan said.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in astronomy from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Originally from Colorado, she is happy to return to the atmosphere (and climate!).
“My favorite part about Denver is being in a big city while still being so close to the mountains,” she said.
It really is the best of both worlds, isn’t it?
Meet Leah Schwartz
Leah joined us from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where she will start her third year this fall. She serves as the president of the school’s Air and Space Law Society and treasurer of the school’s Native American Law Student Association. She interned last year with Seemorgh Investments, Inc. in Denver and externed as a construction litigation law clerk at a local law firm.
“This summer I hope to gain insight into the various legal practice areas at Sherman & Howard to determine which one best aligns with my strengths and interests,” Leah said. “I also look forward to learning from and working with such a talented and experienced group of attorneys.”
A Denver native, Leah is committed to shaping the future of the city and those in it. In 2021, she planned a virtual food drive for the Food Bank of the Rockies, which raised enough money to provide 1,380 meals to Coloradans in need.
“I was born and raised in the Denver area, but besides the city being so close to the mountains and outdoor activities, I love the fact that the majority of my family and friends all live close to Denver as well,” she said.
We were happy to have you on our team, Leah!
Meet Sasha Shadrina
Sasha joined us from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where she will start her second year in the fall. She brought with her two years of experience as a paralegal and volunteer with Colorado Legal Services. She has also worked as a research assistant in one of the top legal writing programs in the country.
“I look forward to honing my analytical skills in a diverse space committed to inclusion and equity. I hope to embody the same excellence and humility as the outstanding Sherman & Howard team.”
Sasha is fluent in Russian and is proficient in Spanish. She has helped shape the future of Colorado by volunteering to prepare meals for those in need through CAFE 180 and building trails and restoring ecosystems through Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado.
“I selected Denver as my home city because of its rich cultural institutions and proximity to the mountains.”
We’re so glad you chose Denver and Sherman & Howard, Sasha!