Michelle L. Harden

Michelle L. Harden is Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner of Messner Reeve LLP, a nationally recognized litigation attorney, and an accomplished law firm executive. With more than two decades of legal experience and a distinctive background in healthcare, she has built a multifaceted career encompassing complex civil litigation, professional liability defense, healthcare law, crisis management, and strategic business counseling.

A seasoned trial attorney, Michelle represents corporations, healthcare institutions, physicians, nurses, and other professionals in high-stakes disputes involving catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, complex personal injury claims, and multidistrict and multiplaintiff litigation. Her practice extends beyond the courtroom to include regulatory investigations, professional licensing and disciplinary proceedings, risk management, and business disputes. She regularly represents healthcare professionals before the Colorado Medical Board, Colorado Board of Nursing, and other licensing and credentialing authorities.

Michelle’s background distinguishes her among trial attorneys. Before earning her law degree, she worked as a nurse and nurse-paralegal, developing firsthand knowledge of clinical practice, healthcare operations, and the complexities of medical decision-making. This experience provides a valuable foundation for her work defending healthcare professionals and institutions and advising clients on regulatory compliance, patient safety, and litigation risk.

In addition to her healthcare practice, Michelle advises businesses across multiple industries, including retail, restaurants, hospitality, and other commercial enterprises. She has overseen litigation nationwide for a publicly traded company and serves as outside general counsel to business clients. Her experience includes food safety, employment-related matters, data privacy, HIPAA compliance, corporate investigations, and crisis prevention and response. Known for her practical judgment and business-oriented approach, she works closely with clients to develop effective strategies that align legal objectives with broader operational and commercial priorities.

As Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner of Messner Reeves, Michelle plays a central role in the firm’s leadership, operations, and strategic direction. Having joined the firm following her graduation from law school in 2005, she has been an integral part of its growth and development. Her leadership reflects a commitment to professional excellence, collaboration, mentorship, and cultivating an environment in which attorneys and professional staff can thrive.

Michelle’s professional accomplishments have earned recognition from several of the legal profession’s leading publications and organizations. She was selected to Forbes’ inaugural America’s Best-In-State Lawyers list in 2025 for litigation and has been consistently recognized by The Best Lawyers in America, Colorado Super Lawyers, and 5280 Magazine. She has been named among Colorado’s Top 100 Super Lawyers and Top 50 Women Super Lawyers and was selected as Best Lawyers’ 2027 Denver Lawyer of the Year for Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants.

In 2020, Michelle received the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association Professionalism Award, an especially meaningful distinction recognizing exemplary professionalism and civility across the plaintiff and defense bars. She was also recognized as a Notable Woman in Law by BizWest in 2021 and has maintained Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent peer-review rating since 2014.

Beyond her legal practice and executive responsibilities, Michelle is actively engaged in professional and community organizations. She serves on the Board of the Zarlengo Foundation and on the board of the Patrick Surtain II Foundation. Her professional affiliations include the American Bar Association, Colorado Bar Association, American Health Law Association, Defense Research Institute, Colorado Defense Lawyers Association, and National Retail and Restaurant Defense Association, among others.

Michelle earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado School of Law in 2005 and graduated magna cum laude from Colorado Christian University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 2001. She is admitted to practice in Colorado, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.

Throughout her career, Michelle has combined the perspective of a healthcare professional, the advocacy of an experienced trial lawyer, and the strategic vision of a business leader. Her work reflects a sustained commitment to achieving meaningful results for clients, advancing the legal profession, and strengthening the organizations and communities she serves.