Practice Areas: Insurance Coverage, Securities Litigation, Business Litigation; view more
Licensed in Colorado since: 2005
Education: University of Colorado Law School
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2024 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2013 - 2019 Details
Attorney Scott W. Wilkinson is a partner at the law firm of Davis & Ceriani in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Wilkinson concentrates his practice on complex litigation in the areas of business law, insurance coverage and real estate development. He serves clients in Denver and throughout Colorado.
Mr. Wilkinson advises clients in complex business, corporate and insurance matters. He has experience litigating cases involving, among other things, insurance coverage, construction disputes, securities fraud, contracts, breach of fiduciary duty, employment issues, negligence, personal injury and property disputes. He participates in arbitrations and mediations and litigates at the state, federal and appellate levels, both in Colorado and in a number of other states.
Honored for his accomplishments in the legal profession, Mr. Wilkinson is rated AV Preeminent* rated by the peer review organization Martindale-Hubbell. This is the highest rating given by the prominent organization. Mr. Wilkinson was also honored by the Denver Business Journal as a 2019 40 under 40 winner.
An active member of his legal and professional communities, Mr. Wilkinson belongs to the Colorado Bar Association and is a former president of the board of directors of the Ranch Country Club. He volunteers his time for the First Tee and previously served with the Boettcher Foundation coaching corps.
Mr. Wilkinson earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Colorado State University and received his law degree from the University of Colorado Law School. He obtained his license to practice law in 2005 and is qualified to appear before all Colorado state courts. He gained his initial legal experience as a law clerk at Davis & Ceriani and joined the firm as an associate in 2005 before becoming a partner in 2011.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Practice areas
Insurance Coverage, Securities Litigation, Business LitigationFocus areas
Bad Faith Insurance, Insurance
- 50% Insurance Coverage
- 30% Securities Litigation
- 20% Business Litigation
First Admitted: 2005, Colorado
Professional Webpage: https://www.davisandceriani.com/wilkinson.html
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Executive Committee Member, Colorado Association of Home Builders (2020, 2021).
- Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co. v. Hansen, 375 P.3d 115 (Colo. 2016) (author of Amicus brief on behalf of Colorado Association of Home Builders, The Home Builders Association of Metro Denver, and Colorado BUILDS) , 2016
- First Tee, Volunteer
- Participant in Boettcher Foundation Coaching Corps 2015 Pilot Program
- Board Member and Officer, The Ranch Country Club, Westminster, CO (7 years, two terms as President of the Board)
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Member, Colorado Bar Association and Colorado Trial Lawyers Association
Educational Background:
- J.D., University of Colordo, Boulder, 2005
- Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering, Colorado State University (minor in political science), 2002
Videos:
- Michigan Supreme Court Argument, Insurance Coverage, 2017
Honors/Awards:
- Top 50 Bench Awards in the United States, https://topverdict.com/lists/2020/united-states/top-50-bench-awards, 2020
- Denver Business Journal's 23rd annual 40 Under 40 awards program recognized the best and brightest young leaders in the local business community. Fifteen judges scored the more-than 400 nominations submitted. Judges assigned nominees scores across three categories: (1) Leadership; (2) Company contributions; and, (3) Community involvement., 40 Under 40, Denver Business Journal, 2019
- Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area. Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters., Best Lawyers in America--Insurance Law, Best Lawyers, 2022
- Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. This selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. The Super Lawyers list recognizes no more than 5 percent of attorneys in each state., Super Lawyers List--Colorado, Super Lawyers, 2022
- AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. , AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2021
- AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. , AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2020
- Super Lawyers uses a patented multiphase selection process, including nominations, independent research and peer evaluations. The Rising Stars list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state. To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less., Rising Star Award, Colorado Super Lawyers, 2019
- AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. , AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2019
- Super Lawyers uses a patented multiphase selection process, including nominations, independent research and peer evaluations. The Rising Stars list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state. To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less., Rising Star Award, Colorado Super Lawyers, 2018
- AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. , AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2018
- Super Lawyers uses a patented multiphase selection process, including nominations, independent research and peer evaluations. The Rising Stars list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state. To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less., Rising Star Award, Colorado Super Lawyers, 2017
- AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. , AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2017
- Super Lawyers uses a patented multiphase selection process, including nominations, independent research and peer evaluations. The Rising Stars list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state. To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less., Rising Star Award, Colorado Super Lawyers, 2016
- AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. , AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2016
- Super Lawyers uses a patented multiphase selection process, including nominations, independent research and peer evaluations. The Rising Stars list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state. To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less., Rising Star Award, Colorado Super Lawyers, 2015
- AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. , AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2015
- Super Lawyers uses a patented multiphase selection process, including nominations, independent research and peer evaluations. The Rising Stars list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state. To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less., Rising Star Award, Colorado Super Lawyers, 2014
- AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. , AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2014
- Super Lawyers uses a patented multiphase selection process, including nominations, independent research and peer evaluations. The Rising Stars list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state. To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less., Rising Star Award, Colorado Super Lawyers, 2013
- AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. , AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2013
- AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. , AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2012
- AV Preeminent®: The highest peer rating standard. This rating signifies that a large number of the lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal knowledge, communication skills and ethical standards. , AV Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2011
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- Praetorian Ins. Co. v. Axia Contracting, LLC, 488 F. Supp. 3d 1042 (D. Colo. 2020), 2020
- Judgment for Landlord against defaulting tenant and guarantor., 2020
- Praetorian Ins. Co. v. Axia Contracting, LLC, 794 F. App'x 791, 792 (10th Cir. 2019), 2019
- Employers Mut. Cas. Co. v. Helicon Associates, Inc., 152994, 2017 WL 1957304 (Mich. May 10, 2017) (argued case, obtained reversal of Court of Appeals decision)., 2017
- Donoghue v. Bohemian Investments LLC, No. 15-CV-01279-PAB-KLM, 2016 WL 9738103, at *1 (D. Colo. Sept. 30, 2016), 2016
- In re Allstate Life Ins. Co. Litig., CV-09-8162-PCT-GMS (D. Ariz.) (settled), 2014
- D.R. Horton, Inc.Denver v. Mountain States Mut. Cas. Co., 2014 WL 4695805 (D. Colo. Sept. 22, 2014) (Favorable settlement obtained following favorable liability verdict at trial), 2014
- Nuveen Mun. High Income Opportunity Fund v. City of Alameda, Cal., 730 F.3d 1111 (9th Cir. 2013) (argued case), 2013
- State Court action re breach of insurance contract and bad faith claims practices. Favorable settlement obtained., 2013
- D.R. Horton, Inc.-Denver v. Travelers Indem. Co. of Am., 2012 WL 5363370 (D. Colo. Oct. 31, 2012) (subsequently resolved), 2012
- In re Harwell, 10-CV-00339-WYD, 2011 WL 1135382 (D. Colo. Mar. 29, 2011) (upholding favorable finding), 2011
- State Court action alleging misconduct in connection with sale of insurance product. Favorable settlement obtained., 2010
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Presentation re various emerging trends in the insurance industry relevant to the target audience., Presenter, Emerging Trends in CGL and D&O/E&O Coverage and Post-Claim Traps for the Unwary, Lockton Law Day, Insurance, Construction, Business, 2020
- Presentation highlighting pertinent issues in Construction Contracting, Performance and Disputes, Presenter/Speaker, Common Misconceptions and Mistakes in Construction Contracting, Performance and Disputes, Lockton Law Day, Insurance, Construction, 2019
- Defined Statute of Repose Start Results in Problematic Exposure, Colorado Real Estate Journal, 2017
- Article for industry publication concerning insurance coverage issues faced by contractors and subcontractors relative to obtaining appropriate insurance coverage., Author, Construction Defect Insurance, Part 1: Are you getting the coverage you need, Colorado Builder Forum, 2014
- CLE Panelist for a program discussing the impact of CRS 13-21-111.5 (the "Anti-Indemnity Statute") on construction litigation and insurance issues relating thereto., Panelist/Speaker, C.R.S. Section 13-21-111.5, The "Anti-Indemnity" Statute, Colorado Defense Lawyer's Association, 2015
- Participant in panel discussion concerning various legislative options for reformation of Colorado's construction defect litigation climate and the impact of such options on insurance issues specific to the construction industry., Panelist/Speaker, Construction Defect Reform Panel Discussion, Colorado Defense Lawyer's Association, 2014
- Article for industry publication concerning issues faced by builders/contractors when seeking to enforce and/or obtain the benefit of the insurance coverage they purchased., Author, General Liability Insurance, Part 2: Are you getting the full benefit of the coverage you have?, Colorado Builder Forum, 2014
Transactions:
- Represented owner in connection with sale of construction business., 2021
- Draft and negotiate construction and professional services agreements for multiple builder/developer clients.
- Represented medical professional in sale of practice., 2021
- Represented Shareholders in sale of multi-site medical practice., 2019
Industry Groups:
- All commercial insurance policy holders (all policy forms)
- Commercial/Business Disputes
- Construction
- Development
- Institutional Investors (securities claims)
Selections
3 Years Super Lawyers
7 Years Rising Stars
- Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2024
- Rising Stars: 2013 - 2019
