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My practice focuses on complex business and real estate litigation. I have represented financial institutions, landlords, tenants, individual property owners, developers and title insurance companies in a wide variety of real estate and commercial disputes in both state and federal courts.  My experience includes contract claims, resolution of title defects, title insurance litigation, permitting and zoning, and commercial and residential summary process eviction actions, including post-foreclosure eviction litigation.. I also have extensive experience defending financial institutions, national banks, institutional lenders and other creditors from various lender liability claims, including M.G.L. c. 93A, private causes of action under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and other modification programs, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Predatory Home Loan Practices Act, and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act.

I joined Kline, McCorkle & Pilger in 2011 and represent individuals and businesses in complex civil rights litigation, employment issues, licensing issues and administrative matters. I also represent individuals in personal injury and medical malpractice suits, recently obtaining a $1.5 million judgment in a personal injury matter.. Prior to joining the firm, I prosecuted for the Laramie County District Attorney’s Office where I gained extensive litigation and trial experience, handling numerous hearings, bench trials and jury trials for hundreds of cases.. I graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law, magna cum laude, in 2004, during which time I gained several distinctions, including the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award, National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Graduate Award, Order of the Coif, and was a staff member of the University of Wyoming Land and Water Law Review.  I was also selected as the recorder and member of the Wyoming State Bar Select Committee to Review the Rules of Professional Conduct, an elite committee comprised of judges, prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys and civil litigators chosen to review and suggest revisions to the ethical rules governing attorneys.  Immediately after graduating from the University of Wyoming, I clerked for the Honorable Clarence A. Brimmer, United States District Court, District of Wyoming. As a law clerk, I gained valuable insight into the judicial arena and performed extensive research and drafted numerous orders in various areas of the law, including Title VII, ERISA, due process, social security, natural resources, and First, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights issues.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

Mr. Holmes' practice focuses on complex civil litigation, securities enforcement defense, and other regulatory defense. He represents clients in a broad range of fraud-based matters, including SEC and CFTC investigations, grand jury investigations and criminal and civil litigation involving allegations of financial fraud and related allegations of malfeasance. He also represents clients in proceedings before FINRA, the Department of Insurance, Department of Real Estate, and Board of Accountancy.. Mr. Holmes, an accomplished trial lawyer, recently completed a federal trial regarding securities law claims (defeating all claims of fraud against his client), obtained an approximately $1 million decision in favor of his plaintiff client in a breach of fiduciary duty case tried in state court, obtained an over $1 million award for his client following a securities arbitration, obtained a state court trial verdict for another client (the plaintiff in a breach of contract and fraud case), and obtained a nonsuit for his client in a jury trial following the close of the plaintiffs' case - and these are only a few of his many favorable trial results. Mr. Holmes has also represented clients in appellate matters (most recently affirming a state-court post-trial result he'd earlier obtained for his client), as well as before the Ninth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeal (in securities-related matters), and the Delaware Supreme Court (finding in favor of Mr. Holmes' client). While at the SEC, Mr. Holmes led SEC investigations and injunctive/administrative actions, and since entering private practice, has defended - at the investigative and litigation stages - numerous such actions.. Prior to founding what became Holmes, Athey, Cowan & Mermelstein LLP, Mr. Holmes was a shareholder in a Los Angeles-based white collar criminal and civil litigation firm, and was Of Counsel to two national law firms. He also served as a Staff Attorney in the Enforcement Division of the United States Securities & Exchange Commission, and as Corporations Counsel in the Enforcement Division of the California Department of Corporations (now known as the "Department of Financial Protection and Innovation", or DFPI). While at the California Department of Corporations, Mr. Holmes was a founding member of the Internet Compliance and Enforcement ("ICE") unit, and while at the SEC, Mr. Holmes was a member of the Internet Enforcement Branch.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

The Law Office of Monica S. McElyea, LLC provides experienced, reputable, and skilled legal representation from our office in Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado. We are honored and humbled each time a client entrusts us to handle their legal matter, because we know the outcome will affect their lives for years to come. Her practice areas include criminal defense, personal injury, DUI, divorce, juvenile matters, and family law. Monica S. McElyea is an established lawyer who provides legal services at competitive rates while maintaining the highest professional standards and continuing to evolve in order to meet the needs of the client. This firm tailors its services to respond to a client’s particular need. Every client deserves clear communication, practical advice, and a cost effective outcome. The firm practices and believes in frequent client communication and participation in decision making in order to ensure the outcome meets a client’s need. Monica was born and raised in Pennington Gap, Virginia, until she moved to Georgia to attend law school. She graduated from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University, in Macon, Georgia in 1991. After graduating from law school and practicing law for five years in Virginia, she and her husband moved to Summit County, Colorado in 1997.  In 1997, she commenced practicing law in Frisco with David A. Helmer. She first worked as an associate and then as a partner in the law firm of Helmer & McElyea, LLC. Monica S. McElyea practices in the areas of criminal defense, domestic relations including divorce, personal injury, medical malpractice, civil and criminal litigation. Attorney Monica S. McElyea is a former Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Lee County, Virginia and a former Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Monica has engaged in the practice of law for over 30 years.  She and her husband lived in Breckenridge, Summit County, until they relocated to the Grand Junction area in December 2023.  She actively practices law only in Colorado, and is inactive in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

Chris's practice focuses on real estate-related business transactions. He documents and negotiates loans for institutional lenders, structures partnerships and LLCs for developers and equity real estate investors, establishes condominiums, represents land banking entities, and advises businesses and individuals on leases, easements, covenants, contracts, and other business matters. Chris received a J.D., with high honors, from the University of Washington, and a B.A. from Columbia College.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

Brian J. McCormack is a Principal Attorney with the law firm of Callahan & Blaine, in Santa Ana, California, where his practice focuses on high-stakes, complex litigation, including business and contract disputes, business fraud, serious personal injury, wrongful death and product liability cases.. In October, 2002, Mr. McCormack and Daniel J. Callahan negotiated a settlement on behalf of the plaintiffs in a traumatic brain injury case which resulted in payments to the plaintiffs in excess of $28 million dollars.. In November, 2003, Mr. McCormack and Mr. Callahan obtained a jury verdict of $934,419,108 in Beckman Coulter, Inc. v. Dovatron International, Inc., Flextronics International, Inc. et. al. The verdict was the largest in Orange County, California history and was the largest verdict in the State of California in 2003.. Mr. McCormack was born in Salem, Massachusetts on August 23, 1959. He attended the Pennsylvania State University, receiving his B.A. in 1983. He received a J.D. from Western State University, College of Law, in 1993. Mr. McCormack is admitted to practice in California and in the United States District Court, Central District of California.. Mr. McCormack is a member of the American Trial Lawyer’s Association, The Association of Business Trial Lawyers and the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.

An Indiana native (Hoosier Boy), but now a true Atlanta Falcons and Braves fan, W. Winston Briggs has over 25 years of experience and tried more than 150 jury trials. After watching his grandfather, parents, and siblings practice law, Winston decided to follow in their footsteps and pursue this profession at a very young age. Winston obtained his B.A. Degree from DePauw University in 1984 and graduated from Wake Forest University Law School in 1987. Upon graduation, he passed the Georgia Bar exam and joined the law firm of Decker & Hallman (the predecessor to Decker, Hallman, Barber & Briggs.) He is now currently a member of the Georgia Bar, the Florida Bar and multiple federal courts in Georgia, Florida and Louisiana. Winston also serves as President of the West Midtown Business Alliance and is Vice President and serves on the Board of Directors of Peachtree Childtown School, an educational preschool for children in Atlanta. Winston Briggs has successfully tried a wide variety of cases over the years including ones involving auto accidents, trucking accidents, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, wrongful death, medical malpractice, chemical exposure injuries, Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS) and many more. Winston works closely with his clients, meeting them at the beginning and throughout each case. His approach to the law is to prepare every case as if it is actually going to go to trial. Helping his clients acquire the full compensation they deserve is a rewarding experience for this attorney.

Experienced Civil attorney serving clients in United States and surrounding areas.