Former U.S. Air Force Defense Counsel Annie Sturges has joined the Taft, formerly Sherman & Howard, Denver office. With a background in criminal litigation, Sturges is transitioning her practice to focus on labor and employment matters and will represent clients in federal and state employment-related claims.

“I’m looking forward to shifting my practice to labor and employment,” said Sturges. “This is a unique opportunity to leverage my experience as a litigator in a new field while still advocating for the best outcomes for my clients.”

During her time in the Air Force, Sturges served as an Air Force deputy chief district defense counsel and senior defense counsel. She supervised junior defense attorneys and defended service members in serious criminal and administrative matters.

“We’re excited to welcome Annie to the firm as we continue to grow our labor and employment team in the Mountain West,” said Pat Miller, Taft’s Mountain West Employment Law leader. “Her background as part of the Air Force legal team brings valuable insights that will strengthen the service we provide to our clients.”

“Before deciding to join the firm, I was already familiar with Sherman & Howard’s deeply rooted history in Colorado,” said Sturges. “The firm’s reputation, supportive culture, and commitment to work-life balance made it a natural fit, especially now, following its merger with Taft and the strength of their combined platform. It’s the ideal place to build on my labor and employment experience and grow in a practice area I’m passionate about.”

Sturges earned her J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Bloomington and Bachelor of Arts degrees in legal studies and English from the University of California, Berkeley. While in law school, she represented clients impacted by domestic violence for the Indiana University Protective Order Project and competed in and judged the Sherman Minton Moot Court Competition.

Effective Jan. 1, 2025, Sherman & Howard combined with Taft, creating a firm powered by more than 1,000 attorneys from Washington, D.C. to the Mountain West. The combination enables both firms to deepen their benches of attorneys and strengthen their service offerings.

Since the merger, Taft’s Denver office has experienced significant growth. With the addition of Sturges, the firm welcomed five accomplished litigators, Aaron Bradford, Stephen Segall, Tara Williams, Joe Daniels, and Kristen Frost, FinTech attorneys Rick Levin and Bobby Wenner, and tax attorney Chris Haunschild.

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About Taft

As a modern law firm with a non-headquartered operating model, Taft is fully committed to delivering the highest level of service to today’s organizations and individuals. The legal performance of Taft attorneys is recognized nationally, with inclusion in the Am Law 100, Chambers USA, U.S. News Media Group Best Law Firms, Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, and more. Learn more at Taftlaw.com.