Global law firm Baker McKenzie has added highly regarded trial advocacy trainer Allison Rocker to its contentious practices as the Firm continues to invest in its market-leading trial teams across a range of practice areas.
Allison joins Baker McKenzie from the Denver City Attorney's Office, where she established, coordinated and executed trial advocacy training for new lawyers in the office. Allison previously served as a prosecutor in the Denver District Attorney's Office, where she tried numerous serious felony cases. Allison also has served as program director and faculty instructor at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, leading courses throughout the US on topics such as effective depositions, fact investigation and more.
In her role at Baker McKenzie, Allison will focus on trial advocacy training for our advocates in the Firm's Tax, Employment & Compensation, Intellectual Property, and Litigation & Government Enforcement teams in North America. In addition to hands on training, she will support the Firm's controversy lawyers before and during hearings and trials.
"Allison is widely considered one of the top trial advocacy trainers in the US," said Colin Murray, Baker McKenzie's North America Chief Executive Officer. "She is both a gifted advocate and an incredibly passionate and skilled teacher of trial skills and will continue Baker McKenzie's long tradition of investing in trial lawyers as they advance in their careers."
Allison will also work closely with members of Baker McKenzie North America Trial Team, formed in 2020, which brings together the Firm's first-chair litigators from across a variety of legal areas and industry experiences to meet its global clients’ demand for lawyers who try, and win, bet-the-company disputes. The North America Trial Team includes Partners from each of the Firm's eight US offices, plus Canada and Mexico. Partners Michelle Hartmann and Bill Roppolo serve as the team's co-chairs.
"Our clients are looking for an organized, cohesive team of the best trial lawyers available to efficiently and effectively deliver exceptional trial services and sought-after results," said Bill. "Our Trial Team includes highly skilled and experienced lawyers with extensive in-court experience, including former prosecutors and government officials who bring decades of first chair trial experience to the table. Allison will ensure we are providing expert training to our developing trial lawyers across our practices while maximizing results for our clients in major bet-the-company litigation."
In recent months Baker McKenzie's controversy practitioners have won significant victories for both plaintiffs and defendants, in jury trials, injunction hearings and arbitrations, including among others:
- Defeated a claim for roughly USD 20 million in lost profits, plus punitive damages, in a jury trial against one of the largest poultry processors and co-packers in the US. The dispute related to the quality of chicken provided to a contractor, who provides chicken to the New York and Los Angeles public school systems. (Currently on appeal).
- Secured a $75 million judgment and jury verdict for Superior Energy, an international energy equipment supply company, against multiple former officers for fiduciary misconduct. (Currently on appeal).
"I am thrilled to join Baker McKenzie and work with its outstanding group of trial lawyers," said Allison. "In high stakes litigation, clients need superior courtroom advocates and I'm looking forward to working side-by-side with Baker McKenzie teams to deliver excellent results for clients in the courtroom."
Allison received her B.A. from the University of Colorado and University of Oregon, and her J.D. from the University of Denver.