National law firm Wilson Elser has hired Henry L. Solano, formerly an acting secretary of labor appointed by President Clinton, and a U.S. attorney for the District of Colorado, as a partner. He is based in both the firm’s New York City and Denver offices. Most recently, Mr. Solano was a partner in Dewey & LeBoeuf’s New York City office.
“Henry’s accomplishments speak volumes to his outstanding professionalism and skill as a counselor, litigator and trial attorney,” said Daniel J. McMahon, chairman of the firm. “The breadth and depth of Henry’s experience, as well as the insight he has derived from his positions in the public sector give him a unique perspective with which to advise clients on a wide array of issues.”
Mr. Solano has extensive litigation experience in both the public and private sectors. He started his career as an assistant attorney general in Colorado and held numerous positions including U.S. attorney and solicitor of labor of the U.S. Department of Labor, the third highest ranking position in that department. While in these posts, he developed specialized and enhanced trial and appellate practices that improved criminal prosecution and worker and workplace protection policies and enforcement initiatives.
In his public career, he also served as executive director of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies where he intervened in the savings and loan crisis, converting more than 80 percent of the state-chartered financial institutions to federal FDIC/ FSLIC protection. This action limited the closure of state savings and loan institutions and reduced account-holder losses.
In 2001, Mr. Solano shifted his career to private practice, and became a partner with Dewey & LeBeouf, where he focused on litigation, labor, employment and benefits/ERISA law. He often represented Fortune 100 companies in due diligence and governance reviews and investigations, as well as litigation in multiple state and federal jurisdictions.
Adding to his career highlights, he has represented sovereign governments before the U.S. Supreme Court, including those of Saudi Arabia and 14 Latin American countries. Moreover, he taught graduate courses on public policy at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and in 2009, he served as interim president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense Education Fund.
Throughout the years, Mr. Solano has always made community service leadership a priority. He has served on the boards of directors of the Mile High United Way, the National Hispana Leadership Institute, the National Latino Children’s Institute, the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the Denver Housing Authority, Colorado Public Television (CPT 12), the Colorado Board of Social Services and the Denver Women’s Commission. Recently, he was elected to the board of the Denver Regional Transportation District.
Mr. Solano has been listed in Hispanic Business Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Hispanics, received an Outstanding Alumni award for Public Sector Service from the University Of Colorado School Of Law, and was awarded an honorary doctor of law degree from the University of Denver for contributions to the community and his professional achievements.
Mr. Solano earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering, emphasizing aerospace and mechanical engineering from the University of Denver (1973) and his juris doctor degree from the University of Colorado (1976).
