Cara Thornton is a Shareholder in the Firm’s Denver office and a member of the Litigation practice group. Ms. Thornton is a skilled litigator with more than twenty years of experience who regularly handles complex litigation cases from inception through appeal with an emphasis on complex business, commercial, employment, and intellectual property litigation, in state and federal courts and arbitrations nationwide. She provides clients with strategic advice on trademark applications and brand management and protection, files and prosecutes trademark applications, and represents clients in trademark disputes before the TTAB and in federal court.

Ms. Thornton also regularly serves as outside general counsel to startups through mid-size businesses in a variety of industries including advising clients with respect to day-to-day legal issues, risk management, employment-related matters, and formation and dissolution, and oversees the negotiation and drafting of corporate documents including those pertaining to the protection and management of proprietary information and trade secrets.

Prior to joining Buchalter, Ms. Thornton was a partner with a Chambers ranked boutique litigation and transactional firm in downtown Denver. From 2006 to 2009, Ms. Thornton served as an Assistant Attorney General of Yap State, Federated States of Micronesia, where she advised the Governor on legislative and policy issues and handled the State’s civil litigation.

Awards and Honors

  • Named a Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation – 2025

Professional Involvement

  • Colorado Bar Association, Executive Council, Litigation Section
  • Colorado Women’s Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Denver Bar Association
  • Yap State Bar Association

    • 01

      Nov

    • Cara Thornton Featured in MG Magazine

      Press

    • Shareholder Cara Thornton was featured as a Leading Female Attorney in the MG Magazine spread “Ladies Who Litigate”. To view the full feature, please click […]

    • 01

      Nov

    • Cara Thornton Quoted in MGBizDaily

      Press

    • An ironclad lease can help marijuana companies avoid eviction in state-legal markets MGBizDailyNovember 1, 2021 By: Margaret Jackson “Being evicted is a death sentence for […]

  • Obtained a complete defense verdict following trial on behalf of a former CEO and business owner and the business on claims including theft of trade secrets, violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 U.S.C. § 1030), violation of the Unlawful Access to Stored Communications Act (18 U.S.C. § 2701), conspiracy to violate the Colorado Organized Crimes Act, among others. Prevailed on counterclaims, obtaining a judgment in excess of $10MM in damages, plus attorney fees and costs, which was affirmed on appeal.
  • Successful prosecution of claims by entity and its owner against former business partner regarding breaches of duties and theft relating to a hemp cultivation and a flash frozen marijuana business, obtaining multi-million dollar judgement. Successfully defended against all counterclaims.
  • Successful prosecution resulting in favorable settlement on the eve of trial on behalf of oil company in case alleging claims of breach of contract, civil theft, and fraud due to millions of dollars in false invoicing for transportation services.
  • Successful defense of claims and prosecution of counterclaims, including breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation brought against landlord by cannabis companies who were denied licensing for a marijuana infused products facility, resulting in a half million dollar award for damages, attorney fees, and costs.
  • Obtained complete defense verdict on summary judgment, affirmed by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, on behalf of a private health care innovations and technologies company accused of breach of contract.
  • Successful defense on motions leading to favorable settlement of claims alleged by billion-dollar entity against former contractor including five filed complaints and nearly twenty causes of action.
  • Successful defense and favorable resolution of claims of fraud, civil conspiracy, civil theft, and breach of fiduciary duty, among others, related to entities and associated trusts with landholdings valued in excess of $50MM on behalf of corporate and individual clients in consolidated litigation involving parties in the United States, Russia, Panama, and elsewhere.
  • Successful defense on motions of publicly traded company against claims of breach of a Letter of Intent.
  • Successful defense of claims and prosecution of counterclaims, including breach of contract and negligent misrepresentation brought against landlord by cannabis companies who were denied licensing for a marijuana-infused products facility, resulting in a half million dollar award to Fortis’ client in damages, attorney fees and costs.
  • Obtained permanent injunction and favorable economic settlement on behalf of an international corporation in the prosecution of trademark infringement, including the sale of counterfeit goods, under the Lanham Act.
  • Successful defense on motions of CEO of publicly traded medical manufacturer of medical imaging equipment against federal securities class action lawsuit by shareholders.
  • Successful defense on motions of high-ranking government officials against allegations of fraud in the awarding of government contracts.
  • Analyzed and advised with respect to restructuring of more than twenty closely held real estate holding companies for succession planning.
  • Drafted and implemented the first wage reform legislation in more than thirty years, as well as legislation establishing Yap State’s first marine conservation park.

Ms. Thornton earned her J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from Hollins University.

  • Colorado
  • United States District Court for the District of Colorado
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • Federated States of Micronesia

Additional Specialties

  • General Counsel
  • Risk Management