Heather Carson Perkins

Executive Partner

Overview

Heather Perkins is a member of the firm’s executive leadership team and a seasoned first-chair trial lawyer who litigates complex disputes in federal, state and arbitration proceedings. She has deep experience in commercial, franchise and distribution, trade secret, and product liability matters, and advises major clients in the health care, medical device, fitness, food and beverage, manufacturing, and agribusiness industries. She also counsels her clients on litigation risk management, including risk assessment and exposure.

Heather has also successfully sought and defended against motions for preliminary injunction or other interim emergency relief on behalf of franchisor and manufacturing clients.

Related Legal Services

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Colorado

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Clerkships

U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, Hon. Edward W. Nottingham, 1998-2000

Education

University of Colorado Law School
J.D. Dean's List, Order of the Coif, Law Review (associate editor) (1998)

University of Colorado Boulder
B.S. cum laude, Dean's List (1993)

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives
  • Validity and Effectiveness of Post-Termination Non-Compete Clauses
    Panelist, International Distribution Institute, June 2023
  • Litigating in the COVID Era
    Co-presenter, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, October 2021
  • 2019 Annual Developments
    Co-presenter, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, October 2019
  • Annual Franchise and Distribution Law Developments, 2019
    Co-author, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, October 2019
  • Enforcing System Standards – A Franchisor’s Prerogative? 
    Co-author and presenter, American Bar Association Forum on Franchising, October 2018
  • Caught in a Trap: Dealing With Customer and Patron Claims Under the TCPA and ADA Against Franchisors and Franchisees
    Co-presenter, ABA Forum on Franchising, 2017
  • Judicial Update
    Co-presenter, International Franchise Legal Symposium, 2017
  • Is This Really the End? Dealing With Renewal and Nonrenewal of Franchise Relationships
    Co-presenter, International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, 2015
  • Franchising & Distribution Currents
    35 Franchise Law J. 105, Summer 2015
  • Defendants Need Proactive Perspective
    Law Week Colorado, February 2014

Leadership & Community

Pro Bono

Perkins has served on the Board of Trustees of the Legal Aid Foundation, which provides support to Legal Aid in Colorado, since 2016 and has served as chair of the Board of Trustees since 2021. In that capacity, she works closely with the executive director of both the Foundation and Colorado Legal Services on issues related to provision of legal services to low-income Coloradoans. Perkins has also represented veterans seeking benefits through pro bono work with the National Veterans Legal Services Program and has previously volunteered for the legal clinic at the Sister Carmen Community Center. 

Professional Associations

  • University of Colorado Boulder — Law Alumni Board Member, 2024-25
  • American Bar Association — At-Large Member, Forum on Franchising Governing Committee, 2021-present
  • The Franchise Lawyer — Editor-in-Chief, 2016-19
  • Franchise Law Journal — Associate Editor, 2015-16; Articles Editor, 2014-15

Civic Activities

  • Legal Aid Foundation — Board of Trustees Chair, 2021-present (Vice Chair, 2019-21; Member, 2016-19)
  • Mile High Montessori — Community Leadership Board 

Firm Leadership

  • Executive Leadership Team, 2023-present
  • Board Member, 2020-23
  • Faegre Baker Daniels — Management Board, March 2018-20; Denver Office Leader, 2013-18

Honors

  • Chambers USA — Colorado, Litigation: General Commercial, 2020-24
  • Best Lawyers® — Commercial Litigation, 2023-25; Franchise Law, 2023-25 (Lawyer of the Year, 2025)
  • Franchise Times — Legal Eagles, 2022
  • Colorado Women's Bar Association Foundation — 'Raising the Bar' Honoree, 2022
  • Colorado Super Lawyers — Civil Litigation: Defense, 2016-24
  • Martindale-Hubbell — Peer Review Rating: AV® Preeminent
  • Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2020-23
  • Faegre Baker Daniels — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2017, 2015, 2019