Philip Cole Finegan, II

In a private ceremony early Wednesday morning on December 1, 2021, Philip Cole Finegan, II was sworn in as the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado as per the nomination made by President Joseph R. Biden on September 28, 2021. The newly appointed Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official for the District of Colorado has been confirmed into position by the United States Senate on November 19, 2021 and has taken the oath of Office before United States District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello. Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado’s highest position was briefly filled in by former Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Kirsch following the departure of former U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn at the end of February 2021. It is now to be permanently filled by U.S. Attorney Philip Cole Finegan, II through the presidential term of President Joe Biden.

Educational Background and Early Professional Career

U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Notre Dame University, from where he graduated in May 1978. Prior to attending law school, U.S. Attorney Philip Cole Finegan, II worked on his professional career and became a Legislative Assistant and Press Secretary to the U.S. Representative James R. Jones. From May 1978 to 1984, he remained in the position for six years before being appointed as the Campaign Manager for the James R. Jones Election Committee. In the subsequent years, Top Federal Prosecutor Finegan persisted through this career line and became Chief of Staff as U.S. Congressman James R. Jones was appointed into the position. In the election year 1986, U.S. Attorney Philip Cole Finegan, once again, served as the Campaign Manager for the efforts of James R. Jones to become a part of the U.S. Senate. Following this endeavor, U.S. Attorney Finegan earned his Juris Doctorate from the Georgetown University Law Center in February 1987.

Education

Georgetown University Law Center, 1982-1986
J.D. – February 1987
Notre Dame University, 1974-1978
B.A. – May 1978

Honors and Awards

Top Lawyer – Government Relations, Contracts, and Lobbying, 5280, 2015-2021
Municipal Law, The Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2019, 2021
Acritas Star, Acritas Stars Independently Rated Lawyers, 2018-2020
Dreamer Award, Colorado “I Have A Dream” Foundation, 2018
Colorado Super Lawyers, 2007-2009, 2012-2018
500 Leading lawyers list, Lawdragon, 2017
People’s Choice Government Lawyer, Barrister’s Best, Law Week Colorado, 2009-2017
Honorary Partner Award, Downtown Denver Partnership, 2016
Denver Municipal Law, Lawyer of the Year, The Best Lawyers in America, 2016
Distinguished Service Award, University of Notre Dame, 2015
Lawyer of the Year, Law Week Colorado, 2013
Lawyer of the Decade, Law Week Colorado, 2011
The 50 Most Influential People in Denver, 5280, 2010-2011

Bar Associations

Colorado Bar Association

Bar Admissions

Colorado, October 1987
District of Columbia, October 1989 (Inactive)

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado (November 1989 – February 2019; June 2021 – Present)
Colorado Supreme Court (October 1987)
All Colorado State Courts (October 1987)

Legal Career of Attorney Finegan

Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber & Strickland, P.C.

Officially launching his legal career, Top Federal Prosecutor Philip Cole Finegan, II joined the Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, & Strickland, P.C. as an Associate Attorney. Through March 1987 and February 1991, U.S. Attorney Finegan performed various duties as a lawyer, including focusing his legal practice on fundamental real estate issues and administrative law while emphasizing land use law. Moreover, as an Associate Lawyer in a global law firm, Top Federal Prosecutor Cole Finegan collaborated with multiple partners on an array of tasks such as administrative cases, campaign finance issues, and cases, civil litigation, corporate transactions, as well as legislative and policy matters as the firm worked in multiple disciplines.

Campaign Manager, Chief Legal Counsel, and Director of the Office of Policy & Initiatives

After working in the legal field for approximately two years, Top Federal Prosecutor Finegan returned to working in his former professional career and served as a Campaign Manager for the Norm Early for Mayor campaign. Alongside carrying out duties in the campaign efforts for Norm Early from February 1991 to July 1993, U.S. Attorney Philip Cole Finegan managed to serve as the Chief Legal Counsel to Colorado Governor Roy Romer from July 1991 to February 1993. In this capacity, U.S. Attorney Finegan provided legal advice to Governor Romer and his office staff and his Cabinet consisting of the Executive Directors for the 17 state agencies and their staff members. Furthermore, the role of Top Federal Prosecutor Finegan relied on him focusing exclusively on state-related matters, including but not limited to Colorado Bureau of Investigation matters; disputes and issues related to natural resources and the environment; engagement in preparing and implementing the multi-billion-dollar state budget; investigation and review of all proposed judicial appointments; request for pardons and paroles; representing the Governor in any disputes over vetoed legislation and congressional redistricting with the General Assembly; and prison and criminal reform issues. Within weeks following his appointment in the Office of Governor Romer, U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan was assigned and promoted into the Director of the Office of Policy & Initiatives in the Office of the Governor for the State of Colorado, on top of being Chief Legal Counsel to Governor Roy Romer. With his broadened scope of responsibilities, U.S. Attorney Finegan also presided over the supervision of approximately 60 policy development team personnel dedicated to working on criminal justice, economic, education, energy, environmental, health care, telecommunications, and transportation policy issues.

Continued work at Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber & Strickland, P.C.

After serving in the Office of the Governor for the State of Colorado, Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official Finegan returned to his former firm—the Brownstein, Hyatt & Farber, P.C., as a shareholder. Beginning in February 1993, U.S. Attorney Finegan took on the role of representing the firm’s corporate clients, including trade associations and real estate businesses such as the Colorado Credit Union League; local and state governmental entities within Colorado and New Mexico; nonprofit organizations; and individual clients. His work included legislative and public policy issues such as lobbying; handling negotiations between private businesses on multiple commercial issues; and representing private entities, individuals, and local, state, and federal governments on various matters. Top Federal Prosecutor Philip Cole Finegan remained in the global law firm for about ten years, until October 2003, before shifting to working in the government sector.

Office of the Mayor for the City and County of Denver

On October 1, 2003, U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan shifted from private practice to government service as he was appointed by Mayor John Hickenlooper to be the City Attorney for the City and County of Denver. He worked as the lawyer for Mayor Hickenlooper and the City’s agencies and employees, including the 13-person City Council. Throughout his tenure as a City Attorney to the City and County for Denver, U.S. Attorney Finegan led and supervised approximately 100 lawyers involved in all aspects of the city government, including criminal, contract, and land use. In addition, U.S. Attorney Finegan guided a section of support personnel devoted to victim advocacy. In the first half of his tenure in the Office, from 2003 to December 2006, the character of U.S. Attorney Finegan’s practice was exclusively public as the Chief Legal Officer for the City, wherein he was completely devoted to serving all legal needs of the City and County of Denver. In July 2005, Top Federal Prosecutor Finegan was selected by Mayor John Hickenlooper to be his Chief of Staff. In these dual capacities, he supervised the Department of Law and the Cabinet of the Mayor. At the same time, he oversaw the legal and operational activities of the City.

Hogan & Hartson (Hogan Lovells US LLP)

In December 2006, Top Federal Prosecutor Cole Finegan left the Office of the Mayor of the City and County of Denver to return to the private sector. He became the Office Managing Partner at the Hogan & Hartson in May 2007, where he began supervising approximately 80 lawyers and 100 support personnel. In this position, the legal practice of U.S. Attorney Finegan particularly emphasized the creation and expansion of public-private partnerships. Among his significant tasks in the firm was being elected to serve on the Board of Directors for Hogan Lovells US LLP in 2012, becoming the firm’s Chief Executive Officer in 2014, serving on the International Management Committee (IMC) of Hogan Lovells as its Regional Managing Partner for the Americas. The IMC comprises only about 15 individuals heading and managing the firm, along with its over 2,800 lawyers. From 2014 to July 2020, U.S. Attorney Finegan continued his legal practice but has shifted his primary duties to a managerial scope, where he supervised more than 500 attorneys and several business staff personnel in the 11 offices of the Hogan & Hartson in the United States, Mexico, Venezuela, and Brazil.

Board Directorships

Apart from his professional career, U.S. Attorney Philip Cole Finegan also emphasize serving on numerous charitable boards, including the Children’s Hospital in Colorado, the Colorado ‘I Have A Dream Foundation,’ and the Denver Public Schools Foundation, as well as in the Palace Lofts Condominium Association, Rose Andom Center, Teach for America, Downtown Denver Partnership, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Colorado State Board of Agriculture, Colorado Board of State Colleges, and Auraria Higher Education Commission. He also helped in fighting against domestic violence through the creation of Denver’s First Family Justice Center.

Memberships

Colorado Concern (2014-2018)
Rose Andom Center (2015-2017)
Board member (2015-2017)
The Denver Foundation (2012-2014)
Board member (2012-2014)
Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce (2011-2014)
Board member (2011-2014)
Children’s Hospital Colorado (2007-2014)
Board member (2007-2014)
Vice Chair (2012-2014)
Secretary (2010-2012)
Teach for America (c. 2011-2015)
Board member (c. 2011-2015)
Downtown Denver Partnership (2007-2014)
Board member (2007-2014)
Chair (2012-2013)
The Denver Forum (2007-2014)
Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce (2006-2014)
Board member (2006-2014)
The Quarterly Forum (2004-2014)
Colorado “I Have A Dream” Foundation (c. 2001-2007)
Board member (c. 2001-2007)
Denver Public Schools Foundation (1997-2009)
Board member (1997-2009)
Vice Chair (2001-2003)
Colorado State Board of Agriculture (1998-1999)
Board member (1998-1999)
Colorado Board of State Colleges (1993-1997)
Board member (c. 1993-1997)
Auraria Higher Education Commission (1993-1995)
Board member (c. 1993-1995)

Office Jurisdiction

Holding the highest position in the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado, United States Attorney Philip Cole Finegan, II oversees all federal criminal prosecutions, as well as civil litigations undertaken on behalf of the United States Government. As Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official, U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan leads a staff of more than 160 Assistant United States Attorneys and professional staff members, in addition to about 20 government contractors. The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Colorado is headquartered in Denver, with branch offices in the Municipalities of Grand Junction and Durango.

Published Writings by Cole Finegan

2018 Midterm Election Results: The Bottom Line for Colorado Business, COLORADOBIZ, November 11, 2018
Are Changes in Store for Denver’s Elections?, DENVER GAZETTE, December 23, 2020
Benson’s Passion a Big Plus for CU, ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, February 6, 2008
Could Redistricting End Up in Court – Again?, DENVER GAZETTE, February 17, 2021
Denver Charter Changes Ensure Dysfunction, DENVER GAZETTE, November 10, 2020
Don’t Let council Politics Derail Police Contract, DENVER GAZETTE, September 14, 2020
Dystopic Denver? Not With These Amenities, DENVER GAZETTE, February 3, 2021
Mobilizing to Support Victims in Boulder’s Aftermath, DENVER GAZETTE, April 1, 2021
Public-Private Partnerships are Here to Stay; Good News for Colorado Residents, DENVER BUSINESS JOURNAL, April 18, 2014
Reflections on 2 Who Helped Build our Denver Community, DENVER GAZETTE, December 9, 2020
Securing Safety, Justice for Domestic Violence Victims, DENVER GAZETTE, January 21, 2021
Tackling Tough Questions to Guide Colorado’s Land Use, DENVER GAZETTE, March 17, 2021
The Best Prospects Won’t Apply, COLORADO POLITICS, July 20, 2020
The Children Come Still to the Old House in Park Hill, DENVER GAZETTE, March 3, 2021
The Heart of Denver Will Beat Again, DENVER GAZETTE, January 6, 2021
The Super PAC and Its Lesser Known Sidekick; Guest Column; Politician Committees, COLORADOBIZ, July 1, 2012