Denver lawyer Michael Burg has been named president of the American Trial Lawyers Association for 2010.

He is founder and shareholder of Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine PC.

The American Trial Lawyers Association is a national organization with invitation-only membership made up of attorneys determined to be the top 100 trial lawyers from each state.

"As a trial lawyer for the last 34 years, I firmly believe that trial lawyers can make a real difference in people's lives," Burg said in a prepared statement. "The public needs to be aware that trial lawyers are there to make sure that large corporations, banks, insurance companies and individuals are held accountable when they act in a negligent or willful manner."

Burg's one-year term began Feb. 15.

Since founding Burg Simpson in 1977, Burg has been involved in mass tort cases including lawsuits involving Yaz/Yasmin, NSF, Ortho Evra, Vioxx, Zyprexa, Phen-Fen, Rezulin, PPA and Propulsid. He is co-lead-counsel in lawsuits by investors who say they were defrauded through the use of collateralized debt obligations.