Sherman & Howard Opens St. Louis Office

Former Senior Counsel at Charter Communications to Lead Midwest Operation

June 3, 2008

Sherman & Howard L.L.C. announced today that it has extended its geographic reach to include the St. Louis market, opening its eighth office, its first outside the Rocky Mountain Region. The St. Louis office will be led by Shannon Dunham, former Vice President and Senior Counsel, Charter Communications, who brings a wealth of experience to the firm's cable and programming clients.

Since the infancy of the cable industry in the 1960s, Sherman & Howard's Business & Corporate Group has represented a number of Multiple System Operators (MSOs) and cable companies, including Charter, AT&T Broadband and Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI), as well as programming giants such as Liberty Media Corporation. "The firm is known for its deep ties and long history in the cable industry, which found its roots in the Denver market more than 40 years ago," said the firm's Chief Executive R. Michael Sanchez, adding that Sherman & Howard's cable lawyers have likely negotiated more industry transactions than any other law firm in the country.

Opening the St. Louis office was not as much about its geography as it was about the strategy behind it, explained Greg Ramos, Manager of the Business & Corporate Practice Group. "Being able to add Shannon to our cable and programming team bolsters both our commitment to our existing clients and to the cable industry as a whole. Shannon adds a substantial depth and breadth of experience that will be a great addition to our core strengths," he said. The cable and programming group is comprised of nearly three dozen attorneys, some of whom have come to the firm from the industry's largest and most respected MSOs.

"The day-to-day experience brought by Shannon and others who have joined us from cable and programming companies has been invaluable in putting together a team that really understands each client's particular needs and challenges," said Ramos. This is one of the reasons that Sherman & Howard welcomes the move from the corporate to firm environments, which is directly contrary to the conventional trend in which law firm attorneys typically leave for plum in-house positions. "When they decide they want to join a law firm," noted Ramos, "we're frequently the first call they make."

Dunham, in fact, spent more than nine years at Charter, where she worked in the areas of corporate governance and securities, pre-litigation dispute resolution, regulatory compliance, technology and programming negotiations, mergers and acquisitions and operations.

"I am truly thrilled to be joining such a stand-out leader in cable and programming law," Dunham said. "While at Charter, I had the unique opportunity to see Sherman & Howard in action from both sides of a deal-first as opposing counsel on several major transactions, where their performance impressed Charter so much that we later hired the firm as our outside legal counsel. As a result, I have first-hand knowledge of the culture and caliber of this firm and its attorneys, whom I hold in very high esteem."

Commenting on Dunham's move to Sherman & Howard, Charter's General Counsel Grier Raclin said, "We enjoy a strong relationship with Sherman & Howard and are extremely pleased that they will now have an office in St. Louis. Charter considers the firm to be a great legal resource and among the most experienced in the cable and programming industries."

In addition to Charter, the firm will serve other locally-based clients from its new office in St. Louis's influential West County district. Sherman & Howard attorneys licensed to practice law in Missouri include Dunham, John Mill, Patrick Scully and Dean Harakas, the firm's Executive Director of Marketing and Strategic Development. Ramos's Missouri law license application is pending before The Missouri Bar.

Dunham holds a Master of Laws in Taxation from Washington University School of Law and a Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law. She is a member of the Missouri Bar, The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Association of Corporate Counsel. She is an active member of Women in Cable Telecommunications, and has served on the board of its Midwest Chapter since 2004, including a term as President in 2007. Dunham is a fellow of Class XV of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute.

About Sherman & Howard

Established in 1892, Sherman & Howard L.L.C. is the oldest law firm in Denver, with more than 160 attorneys serving clients in a wide range of industries. The firm provides its clients with assistance in most aspects of law affecting businesses and public institutions, and maintains offices in Denver, Colorado Springs, Steamboat Springs and Vail, CO; Reno and Las Vegas, NV; Phoenix, AZ and St. Louis, MO.

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	Contact Us Services Attorneys News and Events Publications About the Firm Diversity Careers Events and Registration Speaking Engagements Press Releases Articles Client Advisories Subscriptions History Offices Pro Bono Interlaw Contact Us Culture Legal Opportunities Summer Associates Support Staff News and Events Home > News and Events > View Sherman & Howard Opens St. Louis Office Former Senior Counsel at Charter Communications to Lead Midwest Operation June 3, 2008 Sherman & Howard L.L.C. announced today that it has extended its geographic reach to include the St. Louis market, opening its eighth office, its first outside the Rocky Mountain Region. The St. Louis office will be led by Shannon Dunham, former Vice President and Senior Counsel, Charter Communications, who brings a wealth of experience to the firm's cable and programming clients. Since the infancy of the cable industry in the 1960s, Sherman & Howard's Business & Corporate Group has represented a number of Multiple System Operators (MSOs) and cable companies, including Charter, AT&T Broadband and Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI), as well as programming giants such as Liberty Media Corporation. "The firm is known for its deep ties and long history in the cable industry, which found its roots in the Denver market more than 40 years ago," said the firm's Chief Executive R. Michael Sanchez, adding that Sherman & Howard's cable lawyers have likely negotiated more industry transactions than any other law firm in the country. Opening the St. Louis office was not as much about its geography as it was about the strategy behind it, explained Greg Ramos, Manager of the Business & Corporate Practice Group. "Being able to add Shannon to our cable and programming team bolsters both our commitment to our existing clients and to the cable industry as a whole. Shannon adds a substantial depth and breadth of experience that will be a great addition to our core strengths," he said. The cable and programming group is comprised of nearly three dozen attorneys, some of whom have come to the firm from the industry's largest and most respected MSOs. "The day-to-day experience brought by Shannon and others who have joined us from cable and programming companies has been invaluable in putting together a team that really understands each client's particular needs and challenges," said Ramos. This is one of the reasons that Sherman & Howard welcomes the move from the corporate to firm environments, which is directly contrary to the conventional trend in which law firm attorneys typically leave for plum in-house positions. "When they decide they want to join a law firm," noted Ramos, "we're frequently the first call they make." Dunham, in fact, spent more than nine years at Charter, where she worked in the areas of corporate governance and securities, pre-litigation dispute resolution, regulatory compliance, technology and programming negotiations, mergers and acquisitions and operations. "I am truly thrilled to be joining such a stand-out leader in cable and programming law," Dunham said. "While at Charter, I had the unique opportunity to see Sherman & Howard in action from both sides of a deal-first as opposing counsel on several major transactions, where their performance impressed Charter so much that we later hired the firm as our outside legal counsel. As a result, I have first-hand knowledge of the culture and caliber of this firm and its attorneys, whom I hold in very high esteem." Commenting on Dunham's move to Sherman & Howard, Charter's General Counsel Grier Raclin said, "We enjoy a strong relationship with Sherman & Howard and are extremely pleased that they will now have an office in St. Louis. Charter considers the firm to be a great legal resource and among the most experienced in the cable and programming industries." In addition to Charter, the firm will serve other locally-based clients from its new office in St. Louis's influential West County district. Sherman & Howard attorneys licensed to practice law in Missouri include Dunham, John Mill, Patrick Scully and Dean Harakas, the firm's Executive Director of Marketing and Strategic Development. Ramos's Missouri law license application is pending before The Missouri Bar. Dunham holds a Master of Laws in Taxation from Washington University School of Law and a Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law. She is a member of the Missouri Bar, The Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and the Association of Corporate Counsel. She is an active member of Women in Cable Telecommunications, and has served on the board of its Midwest Chapter since 2004, including a term as President in 2007. Dunham is a fellow of Class XV of the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute. About Sherman & Howard Established in 1892, Sherman & Howard L.L.C. is the oldest law firm in Denver, with more than 160 attorneys serving clients in a wide range of industries. The firm provides its clients with assistance in most aspects of law affecting businesses and public institutions, and maintains offices in Denver, Colorado Springs, Steamboat Springs and Vail, CO; Reno and Las Vegas, NV; Phoenix, AZ and St. Louis, MO. Click here to see our ecard. Copyright 2000-2008 Sherman & Howard L.L.C. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy \| Terms of Use