Meet Our Team

Denver, Colorado Probate Lawyers

Local experts with decades of combined experience

R. Eric Solem • FOUNDING PARTNER

Eric founded the firm in 1990. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin Law School and is licensed in both Wisconsin and Colorado. Eric has practiced before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit Court of appeals and the United States Supreme Court. His current emphasis is in the drafting of special needs trusts and Medicaid and Medicare lien resolution. Eric's successes include numerous elder law cases in the appellate courts and federal and state lower courts. He won the only Colorado State cases establishing restrictions on Medicaid estate recoveries and Medicaid personal injury liens.

Eric is a co-founder and past President of the Colorado Fund for People with Disabilities, Inc., has been distinguished as a Colorado "Super Lawyer" for many years, and is a long time member of National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), Colorado Trial Lawyers Association, and the Trust and Estate Section of the Colorado Bar Association.

Zachary F. Woodward • PARTNER

Zach received a BA in Political Science from the University of Colorado Boulder, and went on to receive his JD from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. He began his career as a Deputy District Attorney in Jefferson County, Colorado. During his time as a prosecutor, he conducted more than 50 jury trials, securing justice in cases ranging from felony drug trafficking to sex assault, kidnapping and murder.

Zach joined Solem Woodward & McKinley, P.C. as an associate in 2019, focusing primarily on probate litigation, though he handles all matters related to estate planning and legal protection for our community's most vulnerable members: children, those with disabilities, and the elderly. In 2021, Zach became a partner with the firm. Zach is a member of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations.

Lance E. McKinley • PARTNER

Lance E. McKinley is a partner with the law firm of Solem Woodward & McKinley, P.C. His practice focuses on probate matters, disability trusts, estate planning and administration, and public benefits issues. He received his law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law in 2001. He joined the firm in 2004 and has been a partner there since 2010. Prior to private practice, he was a law clerk in Arapahoe County District Court, where he clerked for the Hon. Juanita L. Rice and the Hon. Gerald J. Rafferty.

He has presented continuing education services to other lawyers on the topics of Qualified Settlement Funds, Medicare Set-Asides in liability cases, and the state Medicaid appeals process. He is a member of the Colorado Bar Association and Arapahoe County Bar Association.

David F. Steinhoff • OF COUNSEL

David has been practicing law for 41 years. He earned his BA in History and Mathematics and JD from the University of Denver. Prior to joining the firm in 1997, he served as Staff Attorney and Division Director for Colorado Legal Services and as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Colorado.

In addition to representing clients in estate planning and litigation, he has held fiduciary roles (trustee, conservator, special administrator, and personal representative) throughout his practice and has written articles and taught classes for the legal community and public on topics such as Estate Planning, Estate Litigation, Special Needs Planning, Medicaid, Guardianships, and Conservatorships. David served as Deputy Public Administrator for the 18th Judicial District from 2002 to 2010. He is a member of the Trust & Estates and Elder Law Sections of the Colorado Bar Association and of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). David speaks fluent Spanish.

Peter T. Harris • OF COUNSEL

Peter received his JD from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and BA from Michigan State University. He joined the firm in 2003; and handles probate litigation, including contested guardianship and conservatorship proceedings, as well as the prosecution and defense of fiduciary theft cases. He has practiced before all trial courts in the Denver metro area and the state Court of Appeals. Peter is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the Denver Bar Association and the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association.

Stephanie Schrab • ATTORNEY

Stephanie received her JD from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where she was a Chancellor’s Scholar and an officer of the Elder Law Society. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Colorado Denver, with a minor in Multidisciplinary Research Methods obtained through the University Honors and Leadership Program.

Having joined the firm in 2020, Stephanie brings a passion for law driven by personal experience. As the sibling of an individual with a significant developmental disability, she has first-hand knowledge of the issues these individuals and their families face in navigating the judicial system. Stephanie’s extensive volunteer background also includes service on behalf of individuals with disabilities and serious illnesses. Her practice focuses on estate administration, guardianships and conservatorships, special needs trusts, and other probate matters. Stephanie is a member of both the Elder Law and Trust and Estate Sections of the Colorado Bar Association (including serving as Treasurer for the Trusts and Estates Practitioner Support Committee for the 2023-2024 bar year), the Arapahoe County Bar Association, and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association. She was also selected to the 2023 Colorado Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers.

Andrew "AJ" Gwirtsman • ATTORNEY

Andrew “AJ’ Gwirtsman joined the firm in 2023 after spending the first few years of his career in general practice, doing mostly family and criminal defense law, as well as helping clients with their estate planning and business formation needs. AJ received his BA in History from Colorado College and his JD from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

AJ primarily handles probate litigation, estate planning and estate administration. AJ is a member of the American Bar Association, Colorado Bar Association, and Denver Bar Association.

Adam DiGiorgio • PARALEGAL

Adam has worked as a paralegal for more than 6 years, and his experience at Solem Law has inspired him to become a lawyer. He started law school in DU Law's Part-Time program in 2024 and will graduate in 2028. After that, he plans to pass the bar.

Kelli Herrin • LEGAL ASSISTANT/PARALEGAL

Kelli joined the firm in 2023. She graduated Cum Laude from Arapahoe Community College with an AAS in Paralegal Studies in May of 2024.

Kelli is a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants and Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association

Fay Green• FRONT DESK COORDINATOR

Fay Green joined the firm in 2023 as front desk coordinator.

Se habla Espanol.

Solem-Law_Denver-Lawyer_Nathan-Williams.

Nathan Williams • IN MEMORIAM • PARTNER

Nathan was both a CPA and an Attorney. He obtained his undergraduate degree at Miami University (Ohio), and began his career as an accountant in Chicago before relocating to Denver to attend the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law where he earned both his J.D. degree and LLM in taxation.

In addition to probate litigation (including trusts and estates, will contests, conservatorship and guardianship matters), Nathan was an experienced estate planner and estate administrator. He was a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the Denver Bar Association, and the Colorado Society of CPAs.

Dear Colleagues & Clients,

Partner and friend, Nathan Williams, Esq. passed away unexpectedly on May 16th, 2021. He will be greatly missed.

Sincerely,

Solem Woodward McKinley, P.C.

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