Desta Asfaw was honored last night with the 2024 Richard Marden Davis Award at a dinner in her honor, marking a celebration of her outstanding service to the legal community, along with her civic and charitable leadership.
The Davis Award is presented annually, in partnership with the Denver Bar Association and the Davis family, “to a Denver lawyer who is 40 years old or younger and combines excellence as a lawyer with civic, cultural, educational, and charitable leadership.” The award was created in memory of Richard Marden Davis, one of the founders of Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP, who devoted himself tirelessly to the profession and the community. Each honoree “best exemplifies the character and promise of Richard Davis at that stage in his career.” Each recipient follows in the footsteps of luminaries who have continued to serve the Denver legal community.
“Desta embodies the very essence of the Davis Award—merging professional excellence with a commitment to civic engagement and uplifting the community,” said Davis Graham co-managing partner Kristin Lentz. “We are proud to honor her with the Davis Award, and we wish her every continued success in her career.”
Desta is a partner at Holland & Hart LLP, where she focuses her practice on sophisticated estate, wealth transfer, and wealth preservation planning solutions for her clients, including high-net-worth individuals, families, and closely held businesses. Prior to joining Holland & Hart LLP, Desta served as a judicial extern for the Denver District Attorney’s office and was also an extern for the Honorable Judge Craig B. Shaffer of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. Desta earned her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School, where she served as the vice president of the Black Law Students Association.
This year’s award holds particular significance for Desta, as she is the first lawyer in her family, continuing to break barriers and inspire future generations. Throughout her career, Desta has been recognized for her outstanding achievements and unparalleled expertise. She was recently named to the Denver Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 List and included in the Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) Guide for Private Wealth Law – Colorado from 2021 to 2024.
Desta’s commitment to community service is reflected through her active participation on several nonprofit boards, including the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver; the University of Colorado Law School, Law Alumni Board; The Denver Foundation Black Resilience in Colorado Fund Advisory Committee; and the Denver Zoo Board of Governors. In recognition of her achievements, Desta’s good friend the Honorable Joe Neguse, U.S. Representative for Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District, attended the event to engage in a fireside chat with Desta, emphasizing the importance of her work and influence within the community.