James E. Ringenberg

AREAS OF EMPHASIS: 
Jim Ringenberg’s concentrations are in the fields of commercial and business transactions. These include for example, formation and development of businesses, contract negotiations, resolution of business disputes and loan workouts. He also has in-depth “hands-on” knowledge of real estate and development matters. Mr. Ringenberg has extensive experience in banking and bankruptcy, and represents multiple national banks.

AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Banking & Finance Law
Business & Commercial Law
Business Organizations
Contracts
Debtor/Creditor
Real Estate Law

BACKGROUND: 
Jim graduated summa cum laude from Ball State University in his native Indiana and earned his law degree from Georgetown University in 1977. He practiced law in Michigan before joining the firm in 1980.Jim is a member of the Colorado and Larimer County Bar Associations and is fluent in German.

COMMUNITY SERVICE: 
Jim has been chairman of the Fort Collins/Loveland Christian Businessmen’s Committee for roughly 30 years. He has also served as chairman of the board of several charitable corporations. Jim is a co-founder and advisor to Face the Challenge, a nonprofit corporation which provides medical care and surgery to children in third-world countries. He has traveled extensively in China in connection with Face the Challenge and seeks to link medical and scientific resources from the U.S. with those who are in the greatest need of care. He is involved in assisting international educational institutions and charitable organizations in China and their counterparts in the United States.

BAR ADMISSIONS: 
Michigan, 1977
Colorado, 1980
U.S. Federal Court, 1980

EDUCATION: 
Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C., 1977
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, 1974
B.A., Bachelor of Arts
Honors: Summa Cum Laude
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS: 
Colorado Bar AssociationMember
Larimer County Bar AssociationMember
Fort Collins/Loveland Christian Businessmen’s CommitteeChairman

PRO BONO ACTIVITIES:
Co-Founder and Advisor, Face the Challenge Medical Non-Profit

LANGUAGES:
German

FRATERNITIES/SORORITIES:
Delta Sigma RhoTau Kappa Alpha

 

Richard D. Beller

BACKGROUND:

Richard Beller offers our clients more than 23 years of experience as a commercial litigator.  He has tried cases in numerous state courts in Colorado and California, in bankruptcy court, and in arbitration.  Richard’s primary focus is business litigation, including partnership disputes, breach of contract and other commercial disputes, investment fraud, banking, real estate, mechanics’ lien and construction litigation, and creditor representation in bankruptcy proceedings.  He also represents employers in employment matters.  Richard enjoys handling civil appeals, and has written appellate briefs to the California Supreme Court, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Colorado Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Tenth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel.

Richard also advises the firm’s clients regarding business, banking, and real estate transactions.  He assists clients with purchase and sale agreements, loan agreements, workouts, commercial leases, setting up business organizations, and real estate investments, including foreclosure investments.

Before joining our firm in 2002, Richard practiced in Los Angeles with O’Melveny & Myers, LLP from 1994-2001, handling a wide variety of complex commercial litigation, including insurance coverage litigation, bankruptcy litigation, mass tort lawsuits, corporate fraud, antitrust, toxic tort litigation, and intellectual property litigation.

AREAS OF PRACTICE:

Business Litigation
Banking Litigation, including foreclosures
Creditor Representation in Bankruptcy Workouts, and Adversary Proceedings
Employer advice and representation in litigation and in regulatory investigations.
Appellate Advocacy and Brief-Writing

REPRESENTATIVE CASES:

  • Successfully defended commercial breach of contract claim at trial, with a complete defense verdict, as well as victory on counterclaims for unpaid contract amounts.
  • Successfully pursued real estate claims against lender, establishing the priority of seller-carryback loans.
  • Successfully obtained and collected judgment for lost profits from corporate fraud and misrepresentation at arbitration.
  • Helped establish appellate case law protecting churches from interference with employment decisions under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  Seefried v. Hummel, 148 P.3d 184, 188 (Colo. App. 2005) (Colorado Court of Appeals case affirming trial court’s dismissal of legal claims arising within the “constitutionally protected context” of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution because they occurred during a church meeting that concerned the investigation, discipline and discharge of former pastors).
  • Helped define early appellate case law regarding the arbitration of bankruptcy disputes under the Federal Arbitration Act.  In re Nat’l Gypsum Co., 118 F.3d 1056 (5th Cir. 1997).
  • Helped establish appellate case law in California defining the attorney-client privilege of trustees. Wells Fargo Bank v. Superior Court, 22 Cal. 4th 201, 206, 91 Cal. Rptr. 2d 716, 720, 990 P.2d 591, 594 (2000).

PERSONAL:
Richard lives in Fort Collins with his wife, Heather, who is also an attorney, and their four children.  In his spare time, Richard enjoys spending time with his family in the outdoors.  He especially enjoys bouldering, rock climbing, mountain biking, and skiing.

BAR ADMISSIONS:
Colorado
U.S. District Court District of Colorado
U.S. District Court Central District of California
California (inactive)

EDUCATION:
1994 — University of Texas School of Law, Juris Doctor, with honors.
1990 – Baylor University, Master of International Journalism
1989 — Bachelor of Arts in journalism and foreign service

PUBLISHED WORKS:
Analyzing the Relationship Between International Law and International Politics in China’s and Vietnam’s Territorial Dispute Over the Spratly Islands, 29 Tex. Int’l L.J. 293, 1994

 

John D. Ringenberg

BACKGROUND:
John Ringenberg focuses on the fields of business litigation, creditor disputes, landlord-tenant law, and commercial transactions.  Before joining Ringenberg & Beller, P.C., John clerked for Justice Hill of the Wyoming Supreme Court.  John also worked for the Larimer County District Attorney’s Office as a Judicial Intern where he gained significant experience in court.

John is a native of Fort Collins.  He graduated from the University of Wyoming School of Law in 2014.  While at law school, John served as the student government’s treasurer, took part in legal clinics, and completed multiple externships.

AREAS OF PRACTICE:
Banking & Finance Law
Business Litigation
Business Organizations
Real Estate Law
Creditor Representation in Bankruptcy

PERSONAL & COMMUNITY SERVICE:
John enjoys being active with his wife and family through traveling, hiking, and other outdoor activities as well as helping out his local community.  He has coached high school mock trial which he believes provides a great opportunity for local high school students to get a taste of practicing law.  John has also coached boys’ youth basketball for the City of Fort Collins for four seasons at the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade levels.  While in law school, John volunteered his time for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program.  During John’s undergraduate studies, he volunteered with the Restorative Justice Program in Fort Collins.

BAR ADMISSIONS:
Colorado
Wyoming
U.S. District Court of Colorado
U.S. District Court of Wyoming

EDUCATION:
The University of Wyoming School of Law, December 2014 – Juris Doctor

  • Prosecution Assistance Clinic – provided oral argument with accompanying brief to the Wyoming Supreme Court while working closely with offices of the Wyoming Attorney General

Colorado State University, May 2012 – Bachelor of Science
• Honors Graduate in Business Administration
– Concentration in Finance, Specialization in Investment Analysis
– Honors Thesis: Regulation on Stimulus Money and the Federal Reserve Since 2008
– Minors in History and Political Science

AFFILIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:

  • Larimer County Bar Association
  • Larimer County Bar Association – Young Lawyers Division
  • Colorado Bar Association
  • Wyoming State Bar
  • Wyoming State Bar – Young Lawyers Section

OTHER EXPERIENCE:
National Institute for Trial Advocacy – December 2015
• Deposition Skills: Rocky Mountain Program
Summer Trial Institute at University of Wyoming College of Law – August 2014