A. CRAIG FLEISHMAN
SHAREHOLDER -
Commercial Litigation
Construction Litigation
Professional Liability Litigation
Insurance Defense Litigation
Business and Insurance Law
Personal Injury
Divorce/Domestic Relations
Employment Law
University of Denver
J.D., 1975
University of Colorado
B.S., 1968
Mr. Fleishman’s practice emphasizes creative, aggressive representation of firm clients in the areas of commercial, construction, personal injury, domestic relations, professional liability, employment law, bad faith, and insurance litigation. His expertise in the creation of medical and legal risk management programs and procedures for clients, as well as drafting and analysis of insurance contracts, is well recognized.
Known nationally as an expert in professional liability matters, Mr. Fleishman has lectured on numerous American and Colorado Bar Association programs, is a contributor to West’s Legal Malpractice 3rd Edition by Mallen & Smith, has served as adjunct professor at the University of Denver College of Law, and has served as a column editor for The Colorado Lawyer. He has contributed articles to the National Law Journal and was chosen one of the top 25 legal malpractice attorneys in America. Mr. Fleishman has been a contributing magazine columnist for several years, having had articles published in Homebuilder magazine, the Women’s Business Chronicle, and Colorado Medicine. He has been listed numerous times in the Denver Business Journal’s Who’s Who column.
Mr. Fleishman is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He served in the Army, achieving the rank of captain, and was awarded the Bronze Star in Vietnam.
Mr. Fleishman is active in community and charitable organizations and activities. He has served as Chairman of the Board of The National Conference of Christians and Jews. He has served or serves on the Boards of the Colorado Bar Association, Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado, Colorado Symphony Orchestra (currently Treasurer of the Board), Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, Rose Medical Center, St. Anthony Hospital, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Denver Chamber Foundation Board. He served as a member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association. He chaired the Colorado Bar Association’s Professional Liability Insurance Committee for several years, and served on the Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau, Government and Community Affairs Advisory Committee.
Mr. Fleishman is licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court, Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court for Colorado, U.S. Tax Court, and Colorado, Texas and Nebraska Supreme Courts. He represents clients in administrative and arbitration hearings. He is rated “AV” by the nationally renowned publication Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating for excellence of practice and ethical standards.
STEVEN A. SHAPIRO
SHAREHOLDER -
Thomas M. Cooley Law SchoolJ.D., 1982
Pennsylvania State University
B.A., 1979
Mr. Shapiro is a trial attorney and a member of the Denver firm of Fleishman & Shapiro P.C. His broad range of trial experience includes personal injury, automobile/motorcycle litigation, professional liability/malpractice, bad faith, insurance and commercial litigation. The majority of his practice focuses on traumatic brain injury as well as spinal cord injuries. His work also embodies health care and risk management issues. He is rated “AV” by the nationally renowned publication, Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating possible for excellence of practice and ethical standards.
He has built his reputation based on aggressive and creative trial work. He has obtained numerous six- and seven-figure verdicts and settlements for clients who have been involved in traumatic situations which altered their lives physically, mentally and financially. These results have been obtained in brain injury, spinal cord damage, and loss of bodily function cases. He prides himself on his personal commitment to assisting clients to achieve financial stability and security after suffering significant loss. He has obtained one of the largest slip and fall verdicts in Colorado history and the largest personal injury verdict in Jefferson County.
Community involvement is also a priority for Mr. Shapiro. He is involved with the 9News Law Line, Auto Litigation Task Force of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, and is the chairperson of the Brain Injury Association of Colorado Legislative Committee. He is past President of the Brain Injury Association of Colorado and a Board Member of the National Sports Center for the Disabled in Winter Park. He is a frequent contributor to publications concerning health care and risk management issues.
Mr. Shapiro is from Brooklyn, New York and has practiced in Colorado his entire professional career. He is an associate member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates. He is well versed in all alternative dispute resolution procedures.
MELISSA J. WINTHERS
DIRECTOR -
Personal Injury
University of Denver
J.D., 1998
Colorado College
B.A., 1995
Ms. Winthers practices in the area of personal injury. A significant portion of her practice focuses on severe neck and back injury cases. Her knowledge and understanding of the medicine is a key factor in obtaining significant awards for her clients.
She is a Colorado native who graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Colorado College in 1995. During her undergraduate years, Ms. Winthers focused on multi-cultural studies. She spent a semester in Mexico studying Spanish, student taught in a multi-lingual Chicago elementary school, and taught English as a Second Language. Ms. Winthers earned her J.D. from the University of Denver.
Ms. Winthers was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1998 and is licensed to practice before the Colorado Supreme Court and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, and she has co-chaired several committees over the past several years, including the Membership Committee and the Young Lawyers Committee. Ms. Winthers has spoken at numerous medical-legal seminars about the causes and treatment of traumatic neck and back injuries and their long-term consequences. Ms. Winthers has set up on-going trial skills seminars for new lawyers through CTLA. She is a member of the American, Colorado, and Denver Bar Associations, the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, and the Auto Litigator’s Task Force Committee and Women’s Caucus.
KATHERINE KARAMALEGOS
ASSOCIATE -
Personal Injury
Commercial Litigation
Divorce/Domestic Relations
Golden Gate University School of Law
J.D., 2002
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
B.A., 1998
Personal Injury Commercial Litigation
Divorce/Domestic Relations
Ms. Karamalegos practices in the areas of personal injury, general civil and commercial litigation, insurance litigation, and domestic relations. Prior to becoming an associate with Fleishman & Shapiro P.C., she was fortunate to have had a diverse experience in the legal field. During her undergraduate years in Wisconsin, she worked in the fields of environmental law as well as complex commercial litigation. While in law school, she participated in the settlement of a multi-million dollar antitrust litigation for a prestigious San Francisco-based class action law firm. Ms. Karamalegos spent her final year of law school as an intern for the San Francisco District Attorney's office where she engaged in criminal prosecution and gained valuable courtroom experience performing preliminary hearings.
Ms. Karamalegos graduated and received her J.D. from Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco, California with a specialization and honorary recognition in the field of Intellectual Property. In her first year of law school, she was selected as a member of the Law Review. She also enjoyed taking on an active role in student government as Treasurer of the Student Bar Association.
She is licensed to practice before all California and Colorado state courts, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, as well as the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a member of the American, California, Colorado and Denver Bar Associations, the Colorado and Denver Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, and the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association.
Plaintiffs' Personal Injury
Medical Malpractice
Commercial Litigation
Criminal Defense
University of Denver College of Law
J.D., 2001
University of Colorado at Denver
B.A., 1997
Ms. Greer centers her practice in the areas of personal injury, medical practice, nursing home negligence, and criminal defense. Having lived in Colorado for most of her life, she attended the University of Colorado at Denver for her undergraduate work, receiving the Dean’s scholarship for academic achievement. She received her J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law earning the distinction of Student of the Year in the Student Law Office. Her experience in injury assessment gives her a unique perspective that helps her assist clients that have been involved in severe accidents.
After graduating law school, she practiced criminal defense and personal injury with a solo practitioner. She later worked with a mid-sized defense firm representing numerous physicians, hospitals, nurses, and nursing homes in health care related issues. Her background provides her with valuable courtroom experience and medical knowledge that is indispensable in representing clients at Fleishman & Shapiro.
She is licensed to practice in Colorado State courts, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and is a member of the American and Colorado Trial Lawyers Associations, the Criminal Bar Association, and the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations.
MICHAEL SANDSTRUM
SPECIAL COUNSEL -
Pre-Suit Consultation and Opinion Letters
Complex Litigation
Business Law/Commercial Disputes
Trademark and Copyright Law, Trade Secrets and Trade Libel
Insurance Law
Premises Liability & Landlord/Tenant law
Contract Review, Analysis, Negotiations, and Disputes
Construction Law/Defect
Western State College of Law
J.D., 1998
University of California, Los Angeles
B.A., 1992
Michael Sandstrum is known as an aggressive and effective litigator with tested experience in all aspects of civil litigation and business law, including commercial litigation, construction law, trademark and copyright litigation, trade secrets, unfair business practices, franchise disputes, general liability and personal injury. His excellence as a creative litigator and negotiator has earned him the respect of his colleagues, his clients and the judiciary.
Prior to joining Fleishman & Shapiro, P.C. as special counsel, Mr. Sandstrum was one of the original members and a managing partner for Bremer Whyte, Brown & O’Meara, LLP, a California firm, where he successfully handled numerous multi-million dollar cases. He has had the privilege of representing clients ranging from auto dealerships, small and large business owners, general contractors, developers, subcontractors, homeowner associations, distributors, manufacturers to individuals. He has extensive negotiation experience from both the plaintiff and the defense perspective.
Mr. Sandstrum obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1992. As an undergraduate, he competed in Pac-10 and NCAA Swimming and intercollegiate basketball, volleyball, and water polo. He received his Juris Doctorate degree from Western State College of Law in 1998. During law school, he was appointed to the Dean’s List for outstanding achievement.
Mr. Sandstrum is admitted to practice before the State Bar of Colorado, State Bar of California, United States District Court of Colorado and United States District Court for the Central and Southern Districts of California.