Partner
Jon N.
Banashek
Jon Banashek is a partner at Berg Hill Greenleaf & Ruscitti LLP, where he spent years on the firm’s management committee, currently heads up the criminal practice group, and sits on the firm’s ethics committee. Jon’s expertise extends into complex civil litigation, and he is often engaged or referred by other lawyers to jump into ‘difficult’ cases. He has practiced for more than 25 years and specializes in strategically guiding motivated clients around or through stormy seas through client connection, rigorous preparation, and tireless advocacy. Jon represents Colorado-connected clients throughout the world.
Jon’s love of challenge and adventure carries through to his personal life, where he pushes his envelope running, skiing, and wildernessing as much as he can. Jon grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and the “show-me” concept seems to be burned into his DNA.
Experience
Criminal Defense
Jon represents individual and corporate defendants in federal and state courts in a wide variety of matters, including white collar, street crimes (murder, assault, sexual assault, vehicular homicide and assault, domestic violence, theft, drug manufacturing, and sale), protection orders, from investigation, through trial, appellate and post-conviction work. In addition, he handles administrative proceedings such as professional licensure and other collateral consequences for lawyers, doctors, nurses, etc.
Civil Litigation
Jon practices in state and federal courts. His caseload includes complex commercial contracts, trust and estate, insurance coverage and bad faith, fraud, securities fraud, corporate governance, breach of fiduciary duties, civil theft, banking, real estate, dram shop, premises liability, and construction. Recently, Jon represented a group of investors who started a national grocery chain. He negotiated settlements with the bankruptcy estate, a Fortune 100 investor, and commercial landlords in a number of different states. He has been admitted pro hac vici on cases in New York, Delaware, California, Massachusetts, Montana, and Arizona. Jon also has considerable experience in water law litigation and appeals.
International Law
For the past several years, Jon has spent a significant portion of his time working on disputes, transactions, and liquidations in England, Jersey, Italy, Malta, Jamaica, BVI, Cayman Islands, Montenegro, Spain, Holland, and other jurisdictions. Jon has hired and worked with local counsel, accountants, liquidators, and other professional advisors, marshalling resources to protect his clients’ interests.
Personal Injury
In the area of personal injury, Jon has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in cases involving serious injury and death in vehicular and workplace accidents and related insurance coverage disputes. Jon has also handled medical malpractice and product liability suits.
EDUCATION & ADMISSIONS
JURIS DOCTOR
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, 1995
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, 1992
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
1995
U.S. District Court, Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals
1995
Colorado
1995
Professional Associations
Colorado Bar Association, Board of Governors 2007 – 2011
Colorado Bar Foundation, Fellow 2011 – Present
Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Association, Member 1995 – Present; Boulder Chapter Co-Chair 2004 – 2010
Boulder County Bar Association, Criminal Law Section 1995 – Present
Boulder County Bar Foundation, Fellow 2010 – Present
Pro Bono
Congregation Har HaShem; Board of Trustees, 2011 – 2013
Congregation Har HaShem; Campaign Committee, 2007 – 2009
Congregation Har HaShem; Ritual Committee, 2009 – 2011
Teens, Inc.; Board of Directors/Advisory, Board Member, 1998 – 2003
Mountain People’s Cooperative; Board of Directors, 1996 – 1998
Seminars
“Guardianships and Conservatorships When They Intersect with Criminal Cases” CLE Presentation, Denver, CO, March 9, 2016
University of Colorado Guest Lecturer, Trial Advocacy, 2014 – 2016
“Appealing Administrative Findings of Child Abuse / Neglect and the Colorado TRAILS Database,” presentation given at the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar monthly meeting, Boulder, Colorado, July 6, 2010
Moderator, Search and Seizure Law, Lorman Education, 2008
Search and Seizure Law, Lorman Education, 2004 – 2007
Criminal Record Sealing, Boulder County Bar Association, 2003 – 2005
Publications
PUBLISHED WORK
Polygraph Examinations: Admissibility and Privilege Issues, Colorado Lawyer,
Vol. 31
PUBLISHED CASES
Burlington Ditch Reservoir & Land Co. v. Metro Wastewater Reclamation Dist., et al., No. 09CA133, 2011 WL 2139902 (Colo. May 31, 2011)
Honors & Awards
Boulder County Bar Association; Young Lawyer of the Year, 2000

In the News

“FACES of Criminal Defense Law”
From left to right: Jon N. Banashek, Jason T. Pink, Kathleen Alt | View to profile here (pages 54-55) Partners, Jon Banashek, Jason Pink and Kathleen Alt, are recognized as "FACES of Criminal Defense Law" in the September/October issue of Colorado Biz, FACES of...
Jon Banashek Hosts AVID Field Experience for Students
On Thursday, April 11, 2019, BHGR Partner, Jon Banashek, hosted the Centaurus High School Senior AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) class for a field experience. The students met with Mr. Banashek and then traveled to the Boulder County Justice Center,...
Blog

Cheers to 25 Years of Teamwork
. Partner Jon Banashek and legal assistant Liz Ridenour began their journey together at Banashek & Strauss in 1998. Four years later, when Jon joined the team at Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti, he brought Liz with him, where they have been working ever since. In a...

“FACES of Criminal Defense Law”
From left to right: Jon N. Banashek, Jason T. Pink, Kathleen Alt | View to profile here (pages 54-55) Partners, Jon Banashek, Jason Pink and Kathleen Alt, are recognized as "FACES of Criminal Defense Law" in the September/October issue of Colorado Biz, FACES of...

Legal Insight: Sealing Criminal Records in Colorado
In August 2019, Colorado expanded eligibility for file sealing. The new laws apply to all cases, including cases from before 2019. “Sealing” a record prevents any member of the public from seeing the case record. The record is not destroyed, but for all public...
Firm Happenings

Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti Sponsors the 2024 Construction SuperConference
Our team is en route to Hollywood, Florida, to attend the 2024 Construction SuperConference. This is the firm's third year sponsoring this national construction event, and we are thrilled to see our colleagues and friends over the next few days. Attending this year's...

Understanding the EEOC’s Proposed “Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace” and How Your Business Should Respond
The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is seeking public comment on its proposed “Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace” through November 1, 2023. The proposed guidance provides a legal analysis of standards for harassment and...
What is Civil Litigation? An Overview of the Civil Litigation Process
This article provides general information only. It is not legal advice. Individuals or entities considering legal action should consult with an attorney to understand the unique aspects of their case and the court systems in which their cases may be filed or pending....