January Allen
January Allen has over 20 years of experience providing efficient, solution-oriented assistance to clients in both transactional and litigation matters. She is an advocate and counselor for her clients in a broad array of areas, including:
- Construction
- Intellectual property
- Real estate
- Insurance coverage
- Environmental
- Product liability
- Employment
Prior to joining Fennemore, she was a founding member of Galvanize Law Group, a Denver-based law firm focused on serving the construction industry. January also worked previously as a patent attorney and intellectual property litigator with two boutique law firms.
Prior to law school, January worked as a wetlands and conservation biologist. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, biking, skiing, and scuba diving with her husband and two sons.
Education
- J.D., University of Hawaii, William S. Richardson School of Law, 2005
- Recipient of a scholarship for academic achievement
- Native American Moot Court, 2nd Place Nationally for Best Brief
- B.S. Biology, College of Charleston, with honors, 2000
- Golden Key Honors Society
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Experienced, forward-thinking advocates who go beyond the expected for clients in dispute prevention and resolution.
Our construction attorneys have substantial experience with the diverse and often complex aspects of the construction business.
Create. Protect. Thrive.
Your Technology and Intellectual Property Assets Are The Lifeblood Of Your Business: We Partner With You To Protect Your Critical IP —and To Identify and Implement IP Strategies To Help You Thrive.
Our real estate practice is one of the largest in the American West, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada and Washington with experience in all aspects of the real estate development process, from due diligence, acquisition and finance, through land use permitting and entitlements, to leasing and sale.
We are the forward-thinking natural resources, energy and environmental law team that innovates to ensure industry and businesses successfully navigate the ever-changing regulatory climate.
Representative Matters
- Trial victory on behalf of homeowner in case involving real estate non-disclosure, contractor standard of care, and asbestos contamination issues.
- Negotiated series of contracts for acquisition, entitlements, development, and re-sale of 300 lot multi-family development.
- Part of trial team in patent infringement case successfully defending against efforts to invalidate small business owner’s patent through allegations of inequitable conduct during the patent prosecution process.
- Drafted and closed transactions for mergers, acquisitions, and member buyout for conglomerate of construction and real estate holding companies.
- Economically beneficial settlement reached for brewery client after two years of contentious litigation in trademark infringement suit.
- Represented environmental professional in litigation involving brownfields development and CERCLA liability.
- Favorable outcome at trial for C-suite employee of technology company in litigation involving eight figure damages on allegations of misappropriation of trade secrets and violation of restrictive covenants.
- Represented EPA subcontractor in mining reclamation case involving CERCLA liability.
- Successfully moved for dismissal of all claims in a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 case brought against a municipality.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a dock-leveling equipment manufacturer in a products liability case in which the Plaintiff was seeking seven figures in damages.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of special district on 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and Rehabilitation Act claims brought against it by former employee.
- Represented produce distributor in food-borne illness and product liability multi-district litigation, with 36 lawsuits filed in Colorado.
- Successful briefing to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals on the idea-expression dichotomy on behalf of artist in a copyright infringement case.
- Represented homeowners through litigation and appellate process in key Colorado case on tolling of the statute of limitations in construction defect disputes.
- Prosecuted patent applications on behalf of a variety of clients including a flow meter company, construction materials manufacturer, agricultural irrigation company, ophthalmologist, and endodontist.
Awards and Honors
- Colorado Bar Foundation – Fellow
- Martindale Hubbell AV Pre-eminent Peer Review Rating
- Colorado Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation, 2020-2025
Articles and Presentations
- Co-Presenter, “Emerging Legal Issues Affecting Your Contracts, Insurance, and Employees,” American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado’s Annual Conference, April 2025
- Presenter, “Die Hard for the Holidays: Jobsite Safety and Insurance Coverage,” Tradecraft Industries, November 2024
- Presenter, “Fundamentals of Construction Contracts: Concepts, Clauses, and Compliance,” Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute, September 2023
- Presenter, “Construction Employers Lunch and Learn: Employees and Vehicle Accidents,” Tradecraft Industries, August 2023
- Presenter, “Employment Law Considerations for 2023: Overview of Colorado Legal Changes & Remote Employees,” American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado’s Annual Conference, May 2023
- Presenter, “Contract Basics, ACEC Member Lunch and Learn,” October 2022
- Presenter, “Acquiring and Selling Businesses Part 1,” Tradecraft Industries Lunch and Learn, May 2022
- Presenter, “Federal, State & Local Vaccine Mandates: What Do They Mean for Your Firm?, “American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado Fireside Chat, November 2021
- Presenter, “When the S#it Hits the Fan: How to Navigate Contract Disputes,” Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute, July 2021
- Presenter, “The Americans with Disabilities Act & the Accessibility Code,” J.S. Held LLC, CLE Webinar, May 2021
- Author, “Post-Cyberattack Professional Duties: A Review of ABA Formal Ethics Opinion 483 and a Recent Colorado Malpractice Suit,” Professional Liability Defense Federation Quarterly, Spring 2019
- Presenter, “The Ethics of Insuring Maryjane: An Update on Cannabis Law,” Lloyd’s of London, 2019
- Presenter, “Product Malfunction Theory,” Liberty International, 2019
- Presenter, “Lions & Tigers & Technology: LPL Risks Associated with the Use/Misuse of Technology,” Professional Liability Defense Federation, 2019
- Presenter, “The Data Behind the Data: Use of Metadata in Litigation,” National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association, 2019
- Presenter, “Cyber Competence 101,” Nebraska Defense Federation, 2019
- Author, “Bits and Bytes: Cyber Case Law Review,” Professional Liability Defense Federation Quarterly, Fall 2018
- Author, “Cybersecurity Breaches Involving Personal Identifying Information: Survey of State Notification Laws,” Professional Liability Defense Federation Quarterly, Spring 2018
- Presenter, “Trademarks for Startups,” Colorado Preferred Partners, 2018
- Presenter, “Intellectual Property Basics,” Jeffco Innovators, 2016
- Presenter, “An Intellectual Property Toolbox for Inventors,” Denver Indian Bureau 2014
Professional and Community Activities
- American Council of Engineering Companies of Colorado
- Former Board Member, Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
- Chair, Trial Academy
- Former Board Member, Professional Liability Defense Federation
- Colorado Bar Association, Intellectual Property and Construction Sections
- American Intellectual Property Association
- Habitat for Humanity
Admissions
- United States Patent and Trademark Office
- Colorado
- Wyoming
- The United States District Court for the District of Colorado
- The United States District Court for the District of Wyoming
- Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals