Kenzo Kawanabe

Practice Areas

Kenzo Kawanabe is an acclaimed trial lawyer with substantial experience representing clients in high-stakes cases. In the firm’s first year alone (2023-24), he tried three multi-week cases to judgment. He was one of the lead trial lawyers to obtain a groundbreaking $60 million trial victory against Mead Johnson, the maker of Enfamil.

Kenzo is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (former State Chair) and International Society of Barristers, and he teaches at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. Kenzo has served as counsel for companies across industries and issues including intellectual property, real estate, construction, mass torts, and environmental matters. His prior trials include complex commercial disputes, products liability, constitutional claims for equitable public-school finance, corporate fiduciary duty disputes, CERCLA, construction defects, and trademark infringement. Previously, Kenzo was a partner at a venerable, 100-year-old Denver law firm, where he practiced for 25 years representing clients from Fortune 500 companies to technology startups.

As a fourth-generation Coloradan, Kenzo engages deeply in community service. He serves on the Boards of Colorado Legal Services, Colorado State University System, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice - D.C. He was on the Board of Advisors for the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, and served as board chair for the Colorado Lawyers Committee, Boettcher Foundation, and Denver Foundation (one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the U.S.). Additional board service includes Sakura Foundation, Colorado Nonprofit Development Center, Community Resource Center, and Barton Institute for Community Action.

Kenzo was the first-ever General Counsel for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. He is an American Bar Association Fellow, Colorado Bar Association (past board and Fellow), Denver Bar Association (Executive Committee), and Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado (past president).

Kenzo has received widespread recognition for his experience which includes being named America’s Top 200 Lawyers by Forbes Magazine, Chambers USA “Band 1” litigator in the region, Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year for Bet-the-Company Litigation”, and Colorado Super Lawyers Top Ten for over a decade.

Kenzo clerked for Chief Justice Mary J. Mullarkey of the Colorado Supreme Court. He graduated from Georgetown University Law Center, and was a Boettcher Scholar at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Career

Clerked for Chief Justice Mary J. Mullarkey of the Colorado Supreme Court.

Partner at venerable 100-year-old law firm, Davis Graham, where he worked for 25 years.

Founding partner of Olson Grimsley.

Professional Memberships

Kenzo is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers (former State Chair) and International Society of Barristers, and he teaches at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.

Kenzo was the first-ever General Counsel for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. He is an American Bar Association Fellow, Colorado Bar Association (past board and Fellow), Denver Bar Association (Executive Committee), and Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado (past president).

Personal

As a fourth-generation Coloradan, Kenzo engages deeply in community service. He serves on the Boards of Colorado Legal Services, Colorado State University System, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice - D.C. He was on the Board of Advisors for the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, and served as board chair for the Colorado Lawyers Committee, Boettcher Foundation, and Denver Foundation (one of the oldest and largest community foundations in the U.S.). Additional board service includes Sakura Foundation, Colorado Nonprofit Development Center, Community Resource Center, and Barton Institute for Community Action.

Kenzo has received widespread recognition for his experience which includes being named America’s Top 200 Lawyers by Forbes Magazine, Chambers USA “Band 1” litigator in the region, Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year for Bet-the-Company Litigation”, and Colorado Super Lawyers Top Ten for over a decade.

Education

Awards