Sarah Smyth O’Brien

Sarah Smyth

O’Brien

Overview

Sarah is a member of Butler Snow’s Tort, Transportation and Specialized Litigation Group.

Industry

Experience

  • Ms. O’Brien has represented clients in state and federal court as well as arbitration in a broad range of complex civil litigation matters, including insurance bad faith, third-party insurance claims, construction litigation, commercial litigation, and premises liability cases.  Ms. O’Brien has experience in all phases of complex litigation, including trial and arbitration.
  • Representative Experience
    • Defended insurers in complex bad faith and statutory delay cases as well as third-party cases, in which extensive monetary damages were claimed, in federal and state court as well as arbitration.
    • Assisted insurers in claims investigation for SIU, including taking of Examinations Under Oath.
    • Preparation of coverage opinions in variety of areas.
    • Obtained a defense verdict for contractor in a construction defect arbitration involving claimed damages of over $10 million.
    • Assisted team with successful appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court of key damage issues in product liability matter.
    • Obtained summary judgment for clients in federal and state court.

Distinctions

  • Martindale-Hubbell®
    • AV®– Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
  • Best Lawyers in America®
    • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2021-2025
    • Insurance Law, 2023-2025
    • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2024-2025
    • Litigation - Insurance, 2024-2025
    • Commercial Litigation, 2024-2025

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2002
  • U.S. District Courts
    • Colorado: District of Colorado

Education

  • University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, J.D., Order of St. Ives, 2002
    • Preventive Law Journal
  • University of Wyoming, B.S., Political Science, 1997
  • Clerkship, Honorable Justice Gregory Hobbs, Jr., Colorado Supreme Court, Denver, CO, 2002-2003

Associations

  • American Bar Association
    • Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
    • Forum on Construction
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • Faculty of Federal Advocates
  • Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
  • Downtown Denver Partnership
    • Member, Experience Council
  • Associated General Contractors
    • Member, Legislative Committee
  • Judge William E. Doyle American Inn of Court
  • Denver Bar Association
  • Colorado Women’s Bar Association
  • Colorado Home Builders Association

Papers, Presentations & Publications

Civic Involvement

  • Volunteer work for Encompass Hospice of Colorado

Sarah Smyth

O’Brien

Overview

Sarah is a member of Butler Snow’s Tort, Transportation and Specialized Litigation Group.

Industry

Experience

  • Ms. O’Brien has represented clients in state and federal court as well as arbitration in a broad range of complex civil litigation matters, including insurance bad faith, third-party insurance claims, construction litigation, commercial litigation, and premises liability cases.  Ms. O’Brien has experience in all phases of complex litigation, including trial and arbitration.
  • Representative Experience
    • Defended insurers in complex bad faith and statutory delay cases as well as third-party cases, in which extensive monetary damages were claimed, in federal and state court as well as arbitration.
    • Assisted insurers in claims investigation for SIU, including taking of Examinations Under Oath.
    • Preparation of coverage opinions in variety of areas.
    • Obtained a defense verdict for contractor in a construction defect arbitration involving claimed damages of over $10 million.
    • Assisted team with successful appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court of key damage issues in product liability matter.
    • Obtained summary judgment for clients in federal and state court.

Distinctions

  • Martindale-Hubbell®
    • AV®– Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
  • Best Lawyers in America®
    • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, 2021-2025
    • Insurance Law, 2023-2025
    • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2024-2025
    • Litigation - Insurance, 2024-2025
    • Commercial Litigation, 2024-2025

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado, 2002
  • U.S. District Courts
    • Colorado: District of Colorado

Education

  • University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, J.D., Order of St. Ives, 2002
    • Preventive Law Journal
  • University of Wyoming, B.S., Political Science, 1997
  • Clerkship, Honorable Justice Gregory Hobbs, Jr., Colorado Supreme Court, Denver, CO, 2002-2003

Associations

  • American Bar Association
    • Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
    • Forum on Construction
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • Faculty of Federal Advocates
  • Colorado Defense Lawyers Association
  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM)
  • Downtown Denver Partnership
    • Member, Experience Council
  • Associated General Contractors
    • Member, Legislative Committee
  • Judge William E. Doyle American Inn of Court
  • Denver Bar Association
  • Colorado Women’s Bar Association
  • Colorado Home Builders Association

Papers, Presentations & Publications

Civic Involvement

  • Volunteer work for Encompass Hospice of Colorado