This past weekend Michael O’Donnell, the chair of Denver-based Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell, was inducted as the 72nd president of the American College of Trial Lawyers. No more than 1% of the lawyers in any U.S. state or Canadian province make up the fellows in the elite North American trial advocacy group.

O’Donnell, whose national trial practice includes work for GE and Michelin, is the first lawyer from Colorado to hold the post. Yesterday the Litigation Daily caught up with him to discuss the role and his plans for the coming year. He anticipates taking 40 or 50 trips this year to meet with fellows, including members of the U.S. Supreme Court who are all honorary fellows. The following has been edited for length and clarity.