Department Chair

Carrie E. Johnson

Carrie E. Johnson

Shareholder

Background

Strategic litigator with a collaborative approach oriented toward solving her clients’ most difficult problems. Expertise in resolving pre-litigation disputes, complex commercial litigation and government investigations. Helps clients resolve business disputes while minimizing financial impact.

Co-chair of the firm's Litigation Department, Carrie Johnson focuses on litigation related to complex contract, corporate governance, fiduciary duty, fraud and securities issues. In particular, she has extensive expertise in managing both internal and external crises for businesses and their owners, using her business acumen and proven instincts to create and execute multifaceted strategies.

Carrie’s proactive approach to litigation gives her the ability to navigate complex disputes integral to the future of her clients’ businesses, underscored by her steady hand in guiding clients through these often stressful, difficult circumstances.  She works creatively to resolve her clients’ most pressing problems by building relationships with clients and opposing counsel alike.

Along with her complex commercial litigation work, Carrie has a robust appellate practice, often appearing before state and federal appellate courts. She lends her appellate expertise to the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, for which she acts as the co-chair of the Amicus Curiae Subcommittee. 

In addition to co-chairing the Litigation Department, Carrie also serves as Brownstein’s ESG co-chair and previously co-chaired the firm’s Women’s Leadership Initiative and Summer Associate Committee. 

Representative Matters

Recent Experience

  • Filed an amicus brief on behalf of Intellectual Ventures Management and individual inventors in the U.S. Supreme Court in the Microsoft Corporation v. i4i Limited Partnership patent case. At issue was the appropriate standard of proof in a patent validity challenge. In the brief, amici argued that the statutory presumption of patent validity and long-standing precedent support the application of the existing "clear and convincing" standard. Further, given the importance of innovation and investment to the U.S. economy, a change in the standard would disturb the careful balance Congress has created and diminish the value of patents. Brownstein attorneys worked with co-counsel at Susman Godfrey on the preparation of the brief. On June 9, 2011, the Supreme Court upheld the application of the "clear and convincing" standard in an 8-0 decision.

  • Serves as independent fiduciary counsel to the board of directors of a $45 billion public pension fund.

Insights & Publications

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., 2009, The George Washington University Law School, with honors
  • B.A., 2006, University of Nebraska, with highest honors
  • Undergraduate Studies, 2006, University of Granada (Granada, Spain)

Admissions

  • Colorado

Memberships

Colorado Bar Association

Colorado Women's Bar Association

Community Involvement

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

Former Board of Directors, EarthLinks, Inc.

Recognition

AWARDS:

Best Lawyers in America, 2023-2025

Colorado Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2015-2023

Finalist, GenXYZ Top 25 Young Professionals, ColoradoBiz, 2022

IMPACT Denver, 2016

Thurgood Marshall Scholar