Joe Layzell is an associate in the firm’s Litigation, Investigations, and Trials Practice Group. He launched his legal career by clerking for the Honorable Kelly H. Rankin at the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming. During his two-year clerkship, Joe had the rare opportunity to work closely with the Honorable Rankin both as Chief U.S. Magistrate and during his transition to a District Judge in spring 2024. This invaluable experience allowed Joe to gain comprehensive insight into litigation at every phase—from discovery through trial—equipping him with the skills to navigate cases from start to finish.
Throughout his clerkship, Joe was exposed to a wide variety of legal subjects, giving him the versatility to handle diverse issues for his clients. He has applied this perspective in a variety of contexts and has proven a successful advocate in the courtroom during complex preliminary injunction proceedings, trial, arbitration, other hearings, and motion practice. His practice focuses on breach of contract, restrictive covenant, trade secret, and other employment litigation.
Joe’s strong commitment to advocacy is driven by the competitive edge he honed as a Division I student-athlete. This athletic background instills confidence in high-stakes litigation and a unique understanding of the challenges athletes and sports organizations face. With this perspective, Joe is able to balance the interests of both the organization and the athlete, offering effective, tailored solutions to resolve complex issues. He has used this perspective to represent both athletes and sports organizations at the youth to professional level in a variety of sport and entertainment matters.
Outside of the office, Joe remains involved with sports and plays rugby for a club team in Denver. He is also a member of the advisory board for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He is inspired by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s commitment to research and ensuring those affected have access to every opportunity and the resources they need.
