Perkins Coie Partner Karen Samuels Jones Wins Community Leader of the Year Award

DENVER (May 6, 2010) – Perkins Coie announced today that Karen Samuels Jones was recognized as the Brian Vogt Community Leader of the Year, a distinguished award given by the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce.  The Community Leader of the Year award is given to an individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to the Chamber and the South Metro Community at large. Those who are eligible include owners or employees of a business, non-profit or government agency. 

"We are so proud of Karen," said Denver office managing partner Robert Miller.  "She gives so much to our community and to our clients.  I can't think of a more qualified recipient for the Community Leader of the Year award." 

Karen is a real estate partner in the Denver office of Perkins Coie.  She focuses her practice in the areas of real estate, leasing and construction, resort and permanent lending. Karen is a recognized specialist in complex real estate secured transactions, acts as local counsel to various out-of-state attorneys and firms and lectures frequently on secured lending and distressed real estate finance topics.

Karen is also a very active member of her community.  Recently, Karen worked with legislators to propose and draft amendments for House Bill 1288 which focuses on the Broker's lien law.  She regularly volunteers to review and edit various provisions of the new zoning code for the City of Centennial's Land Development Code Rewrite Project which affects land along Dry Creek Road. Karen has also served as a Colfax Marathon volunteer and regularly supports and raises money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. 

Karen's other offices, honors and activities include: 

• Past Chair of the Chamber (2005-06), the Economic Development Group (2001-03), Women In Leadership (2006-07), 2007 Women In Leadership Volunteer of the Year, active member since 1992
• Current President of CREW Denver (2009-10) (an organization whose mission is the promotion and success of Women in Commercial Real Estate Fields), active member since 1998
• Community activist - working on numerous local and national political campaigns since 1976
• Listed in Chambers USA "America's Leading Lawyers" as recommended in real estate, 2003-present
• Listed as one of the top 25 women lawyers in Colorado by Colorado SuperLawyers, 2007 and listed in Colorado SuperLawyers 2006-2010
• Wife and mother of 2 daughters (who are in training to become community leaders)

The Community Leader of the Year award was given out on Wednesday, May 5th during the Chamber's 25th Annual Small Business of the Year Awards which were held at Comedy Works South. The other finalists considered for the award were: Lloyd G. “L.G.” Chavez, Jr., John M. Hughes and Jeff G. Wasden.

Perkins Coie has been recognized for its accomplishments in the legal profession, its commitment to diversity and excellent client service. In January, the firm was recognized by FORTUNE magazine, for the eighth consecutive year, as being one of the "100 Best Places to Work." In addition, the firm was recently named as on of the "2010 Top Ten Family Friendly Firms" by Yale Law Women, for the second consecutive year, the firm was named one of the "2009 Best Law Firms for Women" by Working Mother magazine and national consulting firm Flex-Time Lawyers LLC and also earned the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's top rating of 100 percent in the 2009 and 2010 Corporate Equality Index. The firm also received the Corporate Partnership Award for Supporting People with Disabilities.