General Information

Year founded: 2001
This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.
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Overview

Content is provided by the firm.

The attorneys of Otteson Shapiro are nationally recognized for understanding our clients’ businesses, in-depth knowledge of the law, responsiveness to client needs, and cost-effective representation.

In the area of financial restructuring and bankruptcy, we assist lenders (both institutional and non-institutional lenders), creditors, receivers, trustees, debtors, and lessors and tenants with all aspects of debt workout and restructures, bankruptcy and general insolvency, creditor rights, and other performance problems including forced sales and asset dispositions.

In our practices relating to the financial services industry, we assist with federal and state regulatory issues, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, capital structuring, financial and lending transactions, litigation and dispute resolution, anti-money laundering, compliance solutions and vendor management.

In the area of mergers and acquisitions, our transactional attorneys are adept at successfully navigating the big-picture issues at stake in a transaction and structuring transactions to achieve optimal results in a timely fashion. Our transactional attorneys have experience in a broad range of industries.

The following are examples of recent notable transactions involving Otteson Shapiro:

  • Represented LegacyTexas Financial Group, Inc. the parent company of LegacyTexas Bank, in its $2.1 billion merger with Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. the parent company of Prosperity Bank. The merger closed in November, 2019 and created the third largest bank by deposits in the state of Texas. It was the second largest bank merger in the state’s history.
  • Represented MidWestOne Financial Group, Inc. as legal counsel in its May, 2019 acquisition of ATBancorp. The value of the total deal consideration was approximately $152.9 million.
  • Represented Guaranty Bancorp, the holding company for Guaranty Bank and Trust Company, in its merger with and into Independent Bank Group, Inc., the holding company for Independent Bank. The $1 billion deal closed on January 1, 2019.
  • Represented Trust Company of America (TCA) in its $275 million acquisition by E*Trade Financial (NASDAQ:ETFC).

Our insurance recovery attorneys assist policyholder clients in both first-party (property) and third-party (liability) claims relating to property damage, construction defects, design defects, title claims, errors and omissions, director’s and officer’s liability, financial institution bonds, surety bonds and life insurance.

Otteson Shapiro's real estate attorneys assist clients in the acquisition, sale, leasing and financing of all types of real estate, as well as most types of real estate litigation, including sale disputes, title issues and title insurance claims to mechanics lien and construction defect litigation.

The firm is proud to have been included multiple times on the “Best Law Firms” list from U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®.

Rankings

Otteson Shapiro LLP is nationally ranked in 4 practice areas and metro ranked in 8 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.

Read how Best Law Firms ranks firms

National Rankings

Tier 3
Tier 3 for Banking and Finance Law
Tier 3 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 3 for Financial Services Regulation Law
Tier 3 for Litigation - Banking and Finance

Metro Rankings

Colorado
Tier 1 for Banking and Finance Law
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Insurance Law
Tier 1 for Litigation - Banking and Finance
Tier 1 for Real Estate Law

Highlighted Client Comments

All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
Financial Services Regulation Law
I have worked directly and substantively with John Podvin, one of Shapiro Bieging Barber Otteson's banking regulatory lawyers. John's industry knowledge and experience are top shelf, and his client attentiveness and dedication to service of their interests is unmatched. I strongly endorse him and his firm.
David Siegal – Mintz Levin
Banking and Finance Law
We consider Shapiro Bieging Barber Otteson to be our "go-to" law firm for all corporate needs. We are a $1 billion-plus community bank located outside of Colorado, and Shapiro Bieging Barber Otteson helps us in nearly all of our regulatory matters, corporate structure and capital issues, shareholder interaction, mergers and acquisitions, non-bank subsidiaries, real estate matters, and general contracts and agreements. They know our state, our geography, our regulators and our competition. They are well-versed in all the aforementioned areas, and they not only are responsive and understanding, but they also care about our bank and our people. I can't recommend them highly enough.
Tony George, President – Kitsap Bank
Commercial Litigation
As a Court Appointed Receiver I need counsel on some cases. I primarily work with Duncan Barber of Shapiro Bieging Barber Otteson. His ability to understand the case and what needs to be done is what makes him so efficient with his billing time. The complaints he drafts spell out all the relevant matters, and he gets the Judge to understand the real issues in the case. I would absolutely recommend this firm.
Eric Grothe, President – The Receiver's Inc.
Banking and Finance Law
John Podvin at Shapiro Bieging Barber Otteson in Dallas is one of the top attorneys in Dallas for bank regulatory advice.
Scott Night, Partner – Haynes & Boone, LLP
Insurance Law
We had a construction defect case going in multiple directions, with numerous carriers and needed a firm to bring the case back in line. Steve Shapiro and his group at Shapiro Bieging Barber Otteson were instrumental in getting all parties to the table, working together for the betterment of the case and protecting our firm in the process. They handled all the insurance negotiations for us throughout the entire settlement process. Their knowledge and understanding of insurance law is outstanding, they do an excellent job managing the process and the monies spent utilizing them was well worth it. I would highly recommend them and wouldn't consider utilizing anyone else.
Dan Zahtila – Black Roofing, Inc.
Insurance Law
Shapiro Bieging Barber Otteson, and Steve Shapiro, are a delight to work with. Our companies have relied on their subject matter expertise and strategic insight to achieve positive outcomes, and we give them our highest recommendation.
Jeffrey Bashaw – Hadley Properties
Financial Services Regulation Law
Shapiro Bieging Barber Otteson is my go-to firm for the financial services industry and bank regulatory issues. They are true experts in the area of compliance with bank regulations and, as importantly, bank regulators. They are small, focused, and responsive. They answer the phone when I call. Time and again, they have provided immediate and thoughtful advice based on their years of experience, and they help me and my clients develop and implement strategic solutions. If you believe in hiring lawyers, not law firms, this is a law firm full of lawyers you will want to hire.
Arnold Spencer – Coinsource
Financial Services Regulation Law
I would put Shapiro Bieging Barber Otteson up against any firm in Financial Services Regulation. They have relationships with the regulatory agencies and have incredible expertise in helping to apply Financial Services Regulatory law. They punch above their weight in that they are a smaller firm with excellent professional staff and a great grasp of financial service regulation..
Tony George, President – Kitsap Bank

Rankings

National Rankings

Tier 3
Tier 3 for Banking and Finance Law
Tier 3 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 3 for Financial Services Regulation Law
Tier 3 for Litigation - Banking and Finance

Regional Rankings

Colorado
Tier 1 for Banking and Finance Law
Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 1 for Insurance Law
Tier 1 for Litigation - Banking and Finance
Tier 1 for Real Estate Law
Dallas/Fort Worth
Tier 1 for Financial Services Regulation Law
Tier 2 for Banking and Finance Law
Tier 3 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Tier 3 for Commercial Litigation
Tier 3 for Litigation - Bankruptcy

Practice Areas

The below are areas of legal specialty volunteered by the firm and do not designate a specialty in which a Best Law Firms ranking is held.
  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Financial Services Regulation Law
  • Insurance Law
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Real Estate Law

Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®

Otteson Shapiro LLP has 9 lawyers recognized for individual performance in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. By receiving this Best Lawyers recognition from their peers for their professional excellence, these lawyers made Otteson Shapiro LLP eligible for evaluation for Best Law Firms rankings. For almost two decades, Best Lawyers has awarded these singular accolades, making them the foundation of our Best Law Firms awards. Read more about our Best Lawyers process here.
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Client Comments

All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
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Demographics

Partners
Male: 7
Female: 1
White / Caucasian: 8
Of Counsel (but not partners)
Male: 4
Female: 1
White / Caucasian: 5
Associates
Male: 1
Female: 2
White / Caucasian: 3
Other Lawyers
Male: 2
Female: 2
White / Caucasian: 4
Attorney Management / Department Heads
Male: 3
Female: 1
White / Caucasian: 4
Paralegals
Female: 2
White / Caucasian: 2
Non-Legal Employees
Female: 5
White / Caucasian: 5

Main Location

Office Locations

Management and Personnel

Partner, Director Financial Services Group
Christian E. Otteson
Managing Partner
Stephen B. Shapiro

Contacts

Partner, Director Financial Services Group
Christian E. Otteson 720.488.5425
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