At Holland & Hart, one of our guiding principles is the special obligation of firm attorneys to participate in public service activities without expectation of compensation. After 35 years representing a range of stakeholders—from secured lenders, unsecured creditors, to asset purchasers, and landlords—in complex bankruptcy and receivership proceedings as well as financial restructurings, Risa now exclusively focuses on providing pro bono legal services to individuals and organizations on a variety of issues.
Throughout her career, Risa has been deeply committed to dedicating her legal expertise to serve those who cannot afford representation. Most recently, she served as co-counsel for Robin Farris in successfully petitioning Colorado Governor Jared Polis to commute Ferris’ sentence and securing her release from the Colorado State Parole Board. Farris was the first Black woman in more than 30 years to receive gubernatorial clemency in Colorado, ending her sentence of life in prison without parole after 32 years of incarceration.