An assistant general counsel at Denver International Airport is stepping up to fill the vacant general counsel role at the world's third-busiest airport.

Everett Martinez replaces Scott McCoy, who stepped down Jan. 1 after CBS4 in Denver reported that he had repeatedly slapped another in-house lawyer's face and yelled at the "shocked" colleague during a holiday gathering for executives.

Although McCoy denied the allegations, he said he resigned to "diffuse the situation and avoid distraction from the airport's many other worthwhile projects." He acknowledged in a statement that his attempt to lead a "role-playing exercise" on police de-escalation practices during the party went sideways.

Martinez has 15 years of legal experience and has been with the Denver City Attorney's Office since 2016. He became the airport's assistant general counsel four years later.

In his new role, Martinez will oversee 18 attorneys and legal professionals supporting Denver International, which had 58.8 million passengers last year. Martin also will hold the title executive vice president.

In a statement, Martinez said representing Denver International has been "a dream come true," after touring the airport during its construction in 1993.

"I am honored to be selected to lead such an exciting enterprise," he said.

Denver International Legal, a section within the Denver City Attorney's Office, negotiates real estate transactions, drafts contracts, secures bond financing, litigates and defends legal claims, and ensures legal and regulatory compliance with federal, state and local laws.

"Everett Martinez is a creative, forwarding‐thinking leader who has been critical to [Denver International's] success over the last six years, and we are excited for him to serve as general counsel," Denver City Attorney Kristin Bronson said in a statement.

"He is an experienced attorney who is also a devoted mentor to junior attorneys and a significant contributor to our equity, diversity and inclusion goals," she added.  

Before joining Denver International, Martinez worked a total of nine years at the law firms Kutak Rock, Peck, Shaffer & Williams and Greenberg Traurig.