Kevin C. Havelda

Kevin joined Wick & Trautwein, LLC in September 2022 and became a Member (partner) in January 2024. He helps clients navigate challenging issues across a broad range of complex and simple litigation, including commercial litigation, employment litigation, physician and medical provider licensure complaints, insurance defense litigation, and general civil litigation. Kevin also has extensive experience litigating restrictive covenant disputes in Colorado and Kentucky. From his experience as a trial lawyer, Kevin understands firsthand that creative solutions are required to solve both challenging and simple disputes, and that advocacy does not end in the courtroom.

Prior to joining the firm, Kevin worked as a litigation and employment attorney at Johnson Muffly & Dauster, P.C. Before moving to Fort Collins, he practiced at Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell LLP, a nationally recognized civil trial firm in Denver, where he focused on commercial litigation, employment litigation, malpractice defense litigation, and insurance defense litigation as a trial lawyer. During this time, Kevin was named to the Best Lawyers in America List for Employment Litigation and Rising Stars for 2022. Earlier in his career, Kevin served as an inaugural law clerk to the Honorable Claria Horn Boom of the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky. Before his clerkship, Kevin was an associate in the Lexington, Kentucky office of Frost Brown Todd LLC, where he practiced in the areas of commercial litigation, employment litigation, and insurance litigation.

Kevin attended law school at the University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law, where he was awarded the Faculty Cup at graduation for his efforts inside and outside of the classroom. Before law school, he served as a Teach For America Corps Member in post-Katrina Greater New Orleans and was a founding teacher of a charter school in Brooklyn, New York, following his Teach For America commitment. During this time, he obtained a Master’s in Education. Kevin graduated from Centre College in Kentucky, where he was a member of the men’s varsity soccer team.

In his spare time, Kevin enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, as well as their dog and horse, who serves as an inefficient lawn mower. He takes full advantage of all that Fort Collins has to offer, including distance and trail running, road biking, and playing soccer.

Bar Associations and Memberships

• Larimer County Bar Association
• Larimer County Bar Association, CLE Committee

Community Involvement

• Poudre School District Board of Education, Director, District B (2023-2027)
• Kentucky YMCA Youth Association, External Advisor and Pro Bono Volunteer
• Teach For America, Member, Alumni Board, Appalachia Region
• Leadership Lexington, Lexington Chamber of Commerce, Class of 2018, Leader of State of the Classroom Community Project
• Member, Executive Steering Committee, 2019
• Melissa Moore Murphy, Judicial Campaign for Fayette County District Court, Judicial Campaign Committee Member, January 2018-April 2018

Published Works

• “How Not to Get on the Employment Law Naughty List – Colorado Employment Law Updates (including updates to new non-compete law)” CLE Presentation To LCBA, December 2022

Recognition & Awards

• The Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch, Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2023
• The Best Lawyers in America®, Ones to Watch, Litigation – Labor and Employment; Commercial Litigation, 2024

Education

University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law, J.D., 2015

Hunter College, City University of New York, M.S., 2012

Centre College, B.A., 2008

Admissions

• Kentucky
• Colorado
• U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky
• U.S. District Court District of Colorado
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit