John P. Craver has been a shareholder at White and Steele since 1987 and was president of White and Steele from 2009-2017. His trial experience covers numerous areas of civil litigation, and he has tried approximately 60 jury trials. He began his practice primarily as a workers’ compensation lawyer defending employers and insurance companies. During the past twenty years, John has focused his practice in the area of insurance bad faith.
John has frequently lectured and also testified as an expert witness in coverage and extra-contractual claims. John has demonstrated an ability to control damages in catastrophic cases. In the last few years, John has successfully defended cases involving death, paralysis, drunk driving, and insurance bad faith. He has spoken for continuing legal education programs in Colorado, Wyoming, and nationally on claim handling. He has advised insurance companies in regard to claims practices and handling. In recent years, John has litigated several multi-million-dollar exposure cases on behalf of large personal and commercial line carriers. He has also been involved with several high public profile cases.
John also offers services as a neutral mediator or arbitrator.
In June of 2005, John was honored as one of three finalists to the Best of the Bar, Personal Injury Defense by the Denver Business Journal and Denver Bar Association. He has also been recognized as a Colorado Super Lawyer for the past 17 years and 5280 Magazine for the past 7 as a top injury defense lawyer.
Michael J. Daugherty was born in Arcadia, California.
Mike joined White and Steele in 1987 and became a shareholder in 1996. His practice focuses on representation of individuals and businesses in both risk management and litigation in Colorado state and federal courts. His broad litigation experience includes the defense of both insureds and self-insured businesses in all types of casualty claims including wrongful death claims, automobile litigation, premises liability, UM/UIM claims, matters related to the hospitality and food and beverage industry, liquor liability, and sports and recreation.
Kevin grew up in Ocean City, Maryland. He attended Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree. Kevin went on to attend law school at the University of Richmond, T.C. Williams School of Law in Richmond, Virginia, where he received his J.D., Cum Laude.
Prior to joining White and Steele, Kevin was a partner of a general practice litigation firm in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where he focused on the representation of businesses and individuals in a wide variety of civil matters, with particular emphasis on providing his clients with effective guidance through litigation. Kevin has represented clients in significant and high-exposure matters across the country, including advising on such issues as recreational liability defense, personal injuries and wrongful death claims, premises liability, product liability, real property disputes, business litigation, construction defect claims, employment matters, and civil rights actions.
Kevin joined White and Steele as Of Counsel in April 2024, and continues his active litigation practice. Kevin regularly represents clients in all his practice areas. In connection with his defense of clients against recreational liability claims and his representation of clients within the ski industry, Kevin was accepted for membership into the Association of Ski Defense Attorneys in 2020 and was elected to serve on its Board of Directors in 2024.
Kevin has been named to “Super Lawyers” Rising Stars list from 2015-2024. Kevin was named to “America’s Top 100 Attorneys” in 2017. Kevin was accepted for membership in the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) in 2024.
Keith R. Olivera became associated with White and Steele in January 1995 and was named a shareholder in December 2003. He is currently one of the managing shareholders of the firm. His practice involves insurance defense litigation, including claims/cases involving uninsured/underinsured coverage, statutory delay, bad faith, auto liability, homeowners´ liability, commercial liability disputes and ski litigation. As both lead counsel and local counsel, Keith has defended numerous class action cases involving automobile insurance coverage issues and Colorado law.
Keith provides in-house seminars to insurance carriers regarding major changes in Colorado law affecting automobile insurance carriers.
He has been involved in a number of cases defending ski areas, ski area employees and individual skiers as defendants. Keith has been a member of the volunteer ski patrol at Winter Park Resort for over 30 years and has also received a National Appointment from the National Ski Patrol.
