Associate Members

For over 25 years, Bradley K. Benson has represented and counseled business and real estate clients through formation, investment, development, growth and culmination, including strategic sale or acquisition. He specializes in negotiation and documentation of commercial transactions, including related financing. His financing clients include both borrowers and lenders of traditional, securitized, private, mezzanine and venture financing sources. Brad’s transactional representation extends to his clients’ day-to-day operations, including contract review, drafting and negotiation and handling of regulatory matters. Mr. Benson also has substantial litigation experience, advocating on behalf of his clients in courts across the country.

Brad is rated AV PREEMINENT, the highest possible rating, by the Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rating system, indicating his peers rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. Before joining practices with Tobin Kern to form Volant Law LLC, Brad was a partner in several prominent law firms, including Greenberg Traurig, an international firm of over 1800 lawyers, and the Denver firm of Robinson Waters & O’Dorisio. Brad also previously served as in-house counsel for SecurCare Self Storage, Inc., a national self-storage provider, and for Nord Capital Group, a Sellers’ M&A intermediary firm.

Brad graduated from Notre Dame Law School, and went on to earn his LL.M in Taxation from the University of Denver Graduate Tax Program. He achieved his undergraduate degree, Cum Laude, from Wheaton College (IL).

Kristen Cunningham Burke provides pragmatic legal advice to help clients accomplish their business objectives.

She specializes in business formations; drafting and reviewing contracts, including employment agreements, independent contractor agreements, and commercial leases; negotiating and facilitating the purchase and sale of businesses; counseling clients on how to manage their liability risks; and providing general strategic counsel as companies get started, operate, and grow.

Immediately prior to merging with the firm, Kristen was the founder and managing attorney of Bluebird Legal Strategies. There, she advised small-business and non-profit clients, primarily in the outdoor and technology industries, while simultaneously running a small business herself. As a result of this experience, Kristen understands her entrepreneurial clients’ practical concerns and tailors her legal advice accordingly.

Prior to founding Bluebird Legal Strategies, Kristen served a two-year term as in-house General Counsel to Chief Justice Nancy Rice of the Colorado Supreme Court. In this role, Kristen worked closely with judges and high-ranking administrators across Colorado to help the Chief Justice make decisions about budgeting, internal rules, risk management, legislative policy, and Judicial Branch operations. This experience taught Kristen how to navigate the myriad legal issues and interpersonal dynamics endemic to evolving negotiations, while keeping her sights set on the ultimate goal of accomplishing the client’s objectives.

Kristen received her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School in 2009. While at CU Law, Kristen served as an editor on the Colorado Natural Resources, Energy, & Environmental Law Review and was the vice president of the Women’s Law Caucus. Prior to earning her J.D., Kristen graduated from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts in 2006 with a B.A. in philosophy and political science.

Outside of work, Kristen, like many of her fellow Colorado natives, loves to spend time outdoors hiking, skiing, and biking with her family and friends. She also enjoys watching live music, practicing yoga, playing the piano, reading, and snuggling her rescue mutt, Baxter.

Trevor Crow advises closely-held entities through the whole business life cycle, including entity selection, formation, equity and debt financing transactions, acquisitions and the eventual transfer or sale of the business. In addition, he counsels business entities and individuals on tax planning related to real estate and other business transactions. Trevor represents entrepreneurs and promoters in organizing entities, including negotiating and documenting corporate, joint venture, partnership, or limited liability company agreements, and preparing buy-sell and shareholder agreements for the owners. He also represents investors in the negotiation and structuring of financing transactions.

While in law school, Trevor was the managing editor of The Race to the Bottom, a corporate governance online journal, and he is currently the host of the Colorado Entrepreneur Show.

BIO
Prior to Rubicon, Ryan worked on the founding teams of several venture backed startups and as in-house counsel at a venture firm. Frustrated that there weren’t more law firms that understood the needs of nimble, growth-oriented businesses, Ryan founded Rubicon. At Rubicon, Ryan is at his best when working alongside clients to match legal solutions to business strategy and goals. From founding to exit, Ryan provides clients with counsel that is understandable, efficient, and solutions-focused.

COMMUNITY
Ryan serves as volunteer mentor for the Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute and as an area Scoutmaster. Previously, Ryan taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business.

EDUCATION
Ryan received a BA in International Politics from Brigham Young University, and both a JD and MBA from the University of Denver. Ryan also studied at Peking University.

IRL
Ryan loves running, reading, and all things technology. He is also the proud father of five daughters.