Thomas R. Ward
Attorney Profile
Top Rated Criminal Defense Attorney in Denver, CO
Selected to Rising Stars: 2009 - 2010
Thomas R. Ward, a founding partner of McDermott Stuart & Ward LLP, is dedicated to representing clients in the Denver Metro area and throughout the state of Colorado. He focuses his practice on criminal defense, generally handling cases that involve domestic violence, sexual assault, homicide, large-scale drug conspiracies, computer crime and mortgage fraud. He also represents clients in civil litigation.
Mr. Ward earned a Bachelor of Arts in finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1992. He then went on to receive a Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado Law School in 1997.
In his private practice, Mr. Ward draws on the valuable experience he gained working as a deputy state public defender for the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender. He believes that everyone charged with a criminal offense is entitled to knowledgeable, aggressive representation. For that reason, he zealously defends his clients and their rights. He has litigated cases at state and federal court levels, where he has obtained many favorable resolutions for his clients. Mr. Ward is admitted to practice law in the state of Colorado as well as before the United States District Court for the District of Colorado and the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.
Involvement in the legal community is a priority for Mr. Ward. He is a member of the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, the Colorado Bar Association, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Additionally, he regularly volunteers his legal services, and he has given a number of lectures before other Colorado attorneys on criminal defense topics.
- 70%Criminal Defense
- 20%Criminal Defense: White Collar
- 10%Civil Litigation: Plaintiff
Arrest & Arraignment, Assault & Battery, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, False Accusations, Felony, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Probation, Sex Offenses, Tax Evasion, Theft, Criminal Domestic Violence, White Collar Crime, Criminal Law - Federal
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2014 - 2022
- Rising Stars: 2009 - 2010
Additional Sources of Information About Thomas R. Ward
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About Thomas R. Ward
First Admitted: 1997, Colorado
Professional Webpage: http://mswdenver.com/attorneys/thomas-r-ward/
Educational Background
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.A. in Finance, 1992
Scholarly Lectures/Writings
- , Interviewee, "Featured Alumni: Dru Nielsen ('97) and Tom Ward ('97)", Colorado Law, University of Colorado Boulder, 2019
- , Interview, "Criminal Risk Assessments in Colorado", Super Lawyers Magazine, 2018
- , Interview, "A Blurry Picture", Law Week Colorado, 2017
- , Lecturer, "Felony Murder, Hunter S. Thompson, and the Last Gonzo Campaign", West LegalEdCenter, 2011
- , Lecturer, "Medical Marijuana and the Federal Non-Enforcement Policy", West LegalEdCenter, 2011
Other Outstanding Achievements
- WORK EXPERIENCE: Partner, McDermott Stuart & Ward LLP (2016-present); Partner, The Ward Law Firm P.C. (2001-2016); Public Defender, Office of the Colorado State Public Defender, Pueblo Office (1998-2001); Public Defender, Office of the Colorado State Public Defender, Denver Office (1997-1998); Intern, ACLU of Colorado (Spring-Summer 1997)., 2020
Pro bono/Community Service
- Tom Ward serves as a volunteer for the Homeless Court at the annual Project Homeless Connect convention in Denver., 2020
- Board of Directors, Colorado Lawyers Committee, 2020
Special Licenses/Certifications
- ADMISSIONS: State of Colorado (1997); U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (2003); U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2006); Supreme Court of the United States (2007), 2020
Bar/Professional Activity
- Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar (2001-present), 2020
- Member, Criminal Justice Act Panel for U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (2002-present), 2020
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2014-present), 2020
- Colorado Bar Association (2002-present), 2020
Honors/Awards
- , Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2021
- , Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2022
- , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2020
- , Denver's Top Lawyers, Criminal Defense, 5280 Magazine, 2020
- ., Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2020
- ., Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2019
- , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2019
- , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2018
- , Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2018
- 10/10, AVVO, 2018
- , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2017
- , Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2017
- , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2016
- , Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2016
- , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2015
- , Criminal Defense: White-Collar, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2015
- , Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2014
- , Colorado Rising Star, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2010
- , Colorado Rising Star, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2009
- Community Contribution Award, Colorado Lawyers Committee, 2004
- Winner, Rothgerber Moot Court Competition, University of Colorado School of Law, 1997
Last Updated: 9/13/2021