Cole Finegan

Philip Cole Finegan II (born 1956) is an American lawyer who served as the United States attorney for the District of Colorado from 2021 to 2024. He served as Denver's city attorney and chief of staff to then Denver mayor John Hickenlooper from 2003 through 2006. He was also the regional managing partner of the Americas for Hogan Lovells and managing partner of the law firm's Denver office.

Early life and education

Finegan was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and attended Cascia Hall Preparatory School. He attended the University of Notre Dame from 1974 to 1978, earning a degree in English. After graduating, Finegan worked full-time as chief legislative assistant and then chief of staff to U.S. Representative James R. Jones of Oklahoma, chair of the House Budget Committee. While working, Finegan also attended Georgetown University Law Center and graduated in 1986. He served as a member of The Tax Lawyer law review.

Political career

While working for U.S. Representative James R. Jones, Finegan managed his 1984 re-election and his bid for the U.S. Senate in 1986. Finegan was campaign manager for mayoral candidate Norm Early, who lost the 1991 election to Wellington Webb. He was one of four Colorado finance co-chairs for President Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado

On September 28, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Finegan to be the United States attorney for the District of Colorado. On November 4, 2021, his nomination was reported out of committee by voice vote. On November 19, 2021, his nomination was confirmed by the United States Senate via voice vote. He resigned on May 31, 2024, to return to the private sector.

Legal career

Brownstein Hyatt Farber

Tom Strickland and Andy Loewi recruited Finegan in early 1987 to join Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck (then Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Madden), a national law firm based in Denver. From 2014 to 2020, Finegan served as the managing partner for the Americas for Hogan Lovells. as Lawyer of the Year 2013; and was also named one of the most influential people in Denver by 5280 magazine.

The Anschutz Corporation

Finegan is executive vice president and general counsel of The Anschutz Corporation.

Affiliations

Finegan chaired the board of directors of the Downtown Denver Partnership, and served on the board for Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, The Children's Hospital, The Denver Foundation, Colorado Black Chamber of Commerce, and Teach for America. He also served as a member of the Colorado Forum and Quarterly Forum.

Finegan also served on the board for Denver Public Schools Foundation board of directors and is also a past member of the Colorado I Have A Dream Foundation. the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado board of directors, In the higher education sphere, he served on the State Board of Agriculture, the State Board of Colleges, and the Auraria Higher Education Center board.