Title: Corporate Attorney and Shareholder
Company: Buchalter
Location: Denver, Colorado, United States
Betty Carter Arkell, Corporate Attorney and Shareholder at Buchalter, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements and leadership in Corporate Finance and Mergers and Acquisitions.
Ms. Arkell is a corporate attorney and shareholder at Buchalter, a full-service business law firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Serving in her position since 2023, she works from the firm’s Denver, Colorado, office. In this capacity, she represents companies across the technology, health care and manufacturing sectors, as well as investors. Ms. Arkell’s responsibilities include handling mergers and acquisitions, drafting and negotiating purchase agreements, and providing general outside counsel to privately held companies.
Recognized for her expertise in corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions, and for serving as trusted counsel to growing businesses, Ms. Arkell is also known for her commitment to supporting clients beyond legal advice, including strategic growth advice and introductions to potential financing sources. Her reputation as a leading corporate and securities lawyer in the region is a source of pride, especially given her achievements in a field where women remain underrepresented.
Before joining Buchalter, Ms. Arkell was an equity shareholder at Robinson Waters & O’Dorisio, P.C., in Denver from 2020 to 2023. During her tenure, she continued to build her practice in corporate law, representing both companies and investors while furthering her involvement in the venture capital industry. Ms. Arkell also excelled as a partner at Dorsey & Whitney LLP in the Greater Denver area between 2018 and 2020. There, she provided legal counsel to growth-oriented entrepreneurs and investors on complex transactions.
Ms. Arkell’s longest tenure was with Holland & Hart LLP in Denver, where she served as a partner from 1994 to 2018. For over two decades, she established herself as a prominent figure in the Rocky Mountain legal community, guiding numerous clients through significant business milestones. Ms. Arkell began her legal career at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Denver during the early 1980s. At that time, two individuals from Chicago approached the firm to establish Colorado as a venture capital hub. Invited to lead this initiative, Ms. Arkell was instrumental not only in providing legal support but also in developing the venture capital business throughout Denver and the broader Rocky Mountain region. Her leadership during this formative period set the trajectory for her distinguished career and ongoing involvement in the industry.
Highly educated, Ms. Arkell holds a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She also earned a Master of Arts in political science and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Colorado. Ms. Arkell was admitted to practice by the Colorado Bar Association.
Throughout her five decades in law, Ms. Arkell has been an active member of several professional organizations, including the Colorado Bar Association, the Denver Bar Association and the American Bar Association. She is also a past chair of the Colorado Bar Association’s business law section and a past president of the Colorado Association of Corporate Counsel.
Beyond her legal practice, Ms. Arkell has demonstrated significant civic engagement through board service on numerous organizations dedicated to entrepreneurship, technological advancement and community well-being. She currently serves on the board of directors for the National Association of Corporate Directors. Ms. Arkell also remains affiliated with the Venture Capital Authority for the state of Colorado, the Bridge Entrepreneurs Network Colorado, formerly Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network, and, among other organizations, the Colorado Technology Association. Additionally, she is active on the board of advisers for the Ludeman Family Center for Women’s Health Research at the University of Colorado.
Ms. Arkell’s professional excellence has been recognized with numerous awards, including repeated recognition by Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers across multiple categories, and recognition in Chambers USA as one of America’s Leading Lawyers. Furthermore, she was honored to receive the Bob Newman Lifetime Achievement Award from the Colorado Technology Association in 2023. Ms. Arkell attributes much of her success to mentorship, particularly from a visionary leader she met during college who later became head of Kirkland & Ellis LLP’s Denver office.
Looking ahead, Ms. Arkell aims to continue supporting companies, particularly startups, in their growth journeys while deepening her engagement with nonprofit organizations throughout the community. She also remains devoted to mentoring junior attorneys, providing them with opportunities for responsibility so they can develop their own practices while learning from her experience. Ms. Arkell’s ongoing dedication reflects both her passion for advancing business innovation and her commitment to civic leadership.
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