The history of Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, PC is filled with interesting and determined attorneys. Our highest priority has always been to represent the firm's integrity, dedication, discipline and competence, both individually and institutionally, in dealings with clients, the courts, our adversaries, and the community. Founded in 1926, Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, PC has become one of the oldest and most respected law firms in Denver by committing the skills and ambition of its attorneys and staff to serving client needs efficiently and effectively.
Throughout our history, these fundamental values have guided our lawyers in their service to clients, as marked by the following several key events and attorney contributions to the community.
Clarence L. Ireland and Roy Blackman form their own law firm in downtown Denver. Clarence's cousin, Gail L. Ireland, soon joins the firm and the firm is named Ireland and Ireland. Both Clarence and Gail Ireland each won elections to serve as Attorney General for the State of Colorado.
Benjamin F. Stapleton, Jr. and Wilbur M. "Wib" Pryor return to Denver after World War II and join the firm. Ben and Wib each practice law at Ireland Stapleton for the next five decades as the firm develops into one of the elite firms in Denver. Ben, the son of Denver's legendary Mayor Ben Stapleton, served leading roles in that time as Honorary French Consul for Denver, in leading roles for the Denver YMCA, the Institute for International Education, the Denver Symphony and the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Ben was also involved with the first ownership groups to bring professional sports to Denver, the Denver Bears baseball club and the Denver Broncos football club. During Wib Pryor's career at the firm, he served as the Assistant Attorney General on a part-time basis, was an Officer and Director of Aspen Highlands Ski Area, and was on the Board of Directors of Mountain State Bank until his retirement.
In the firm's first appearance before the United States Supreme Court, Ben Stapleton successfully argued 62 Cases, More or Less, Each Containing 6 Jars of Jam, Assorted Flavors, Net Wt. 5 lbs. 3 oz., Shipped by the Pure Food Manufacturing Company, Denver, Colorado, v. United States of America, 340 U.S. 593 (1951), an important decision in the application of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938.
Monte Pascoe joined the firm and became deeply involved in the Denver community, through educational, charitable, and political organizations. Monte's contributions include serving as Chairman of the Democratic Party of Colorado from 1973 through 1977; as the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources under Governor Dick Lamm; and serving as the President of the Board of Trustees for the Colorado School of Mines. Monte ran for public office twice, for mayor of Denver in the 1980s and for Denver School Board in the 1960’s, as a proponent of desegregation in one of the more heated campaigns in the history of Denver.
Ireland Stapleton attorneys argued and won Aspen Skiing Co. v. Aspen Highlands Skiing Corp., 472 U.S. 585 (1985), a landmark United States Supreme Court anti-trust case, which remains one of the most hotly debated cases in the anti-trust field.
Ireland Stapleton attorneys argued and won Central Bank of Denver v. First Interstate Bank of Denver, 511 U.S. 164 (1994), another landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court, this one in the field of securities regulation. In this case, Ireland Stapleton argued the court to decide that a private plaintiff cannot maintain an aiding and abetting suit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1974.
Ireland Stapleton attorneys argued Sutton v. United Air Lines, 527 U.S. 471 (1999). Sutton is an important case construing the Americans with Disabilities Act and is the sixth case argued by Ireland Stapleton before the United States Supreme Court.
Monte Pascoe passes away. To honor Monte's legacy, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper establishes the Monte Pascoe Civic Leadership Award and bestows the first such award on Monte posthumously.
