Top Divorce Lawyers Near Me in Denver Area

Zachary A. Chapman became licensed to practice law in Colorado in 2011, obtaining his license in Nebraska shortly after. Prior to becoming licensed, he earned his BA in Psychology and Political Science from University of Colorado at Boulder, a school that he followed since attending their football games with his father at a young age. Following this, he pursued his legal educated at the University of Wyoming College of Law, earning his Juris Doctorate in 2011.

With practical experience advising hundreds of clients and serving as first chair on more than 50 trials, Heather Strack brings a depth of expertise that’s increasingly rare in the field of family law.. Her practice focus canvasses all aspects of domestic relations matters, including:. Heather has helped clients tactically navigate nearly every conceivable scenario and construction of fact patterns in state court and prides herself not only on advancing client objectives but supporting them through trying times. Heather was named a Colorado Super Lawyer Rising Star in the area of family law in 2017, 2018 and 2019.. Before bringing her talents to Faegre Baker Daniels’ matrimonial and family law practice, Heather worked as an associate attorney at Griffiths Law PC (formerly Gutterman Griffiths PC). Prior to that, she worked as an attorney for The Harris Law Firm PC, Colorado’s largest family law firm. She got her start as a judicial fellow to Colorado Supreme Court Justice Monica Márquez.

While in law school, Mr. Conley focused on family law. He was a member of the university's law clinic and helped low income clients with their family law cases. He was an associate editor of the American Bar Association's Family Law Quarterly, and completed all the domestic relations classes offered. After law school, Mr. Conley worked with a small practice litigator, a mid-size firm, and then with a larger law firm in downtown Denver. Although Mr. Conley has been involved in several areas of law, including commercial litigation, employment law, and banking law, family law is his area of experience and the reason he started his own practice more than 20 years ago. Conley Law, LLC  focuses on divorce and family law-related matters. In such cases, he has represented clients at every stage of a case from the initial interview through the conclusion of an appeal.

Todd joined Peak Legal Services, LLC as a partner in November 2016. Todd has been a licensed attorney in good standing to practice in all Colorado courts since 2001. He has tried cases throughout metro Denver and beyond, from Burlington to Eagle, and Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. Doug and Todd met more than ten years ago as adversaries in a serious felony trial. They have longstanding mutual respect for each other’s professionalism, experience and demeanor. They are pleased to have the opportunity to work together to obtain the best results for clients of Peak Legal Services, LLC.. Todd graduated from the University of North Dakota in 1998 and moved west for law school, graduating from the University of Utah. After falling in love with Colorado, he and his wife moved to Denver immediately after graduation. After passing the bar in October 2001, Todd began working for a solo practitioner in Denver on criminal defense, legal malpractice and bankruptcy matters. However, Todd soon found he is most passionate about defending clients in criminal cases who must face the power of the State.. Todd honed his trial and litigation skills in criminal cases. He then branched out several years ago to family law, working at a high-profile domestic relations firm for nearly 10 years. During that period, Todd also tried more then 30 criminal cases, both felonies and misdemeanors, and represented family law clients in countless contested hearings throughout Colorado.. Todd enjoys the story telling aspect of a trial practice, relishing the opportunity to explain his client's situation to either a judge or jury and to collaborate with, advise and zealously represent clients to achieve best possible result. Todd also is highly experienced and knowledgeable in guiding clients through the labyrinthine procedures of family law. This includes, for example, working with Child and Family Investigators and Parental Responsibility Evaluators to help his clients see their children as much as possible. Todd also has extensive expertise working preparing his clients for participating in Business Valuations and property Appraisals to minimize or maximize their property settlements.. Todd is committed listening to you and helping you with your legal issues and achieving the best possible outcome given your case and your specific goals.

This firm is dedicated to providing high quality criminal defense and family law representation.  I have spent my entire career in a courtroom representing clients in front of judges and juries in both criminal and family law (divorce/child custody) matters.  You can expect our firm will take the time to assess your goals to help you determine which course of action is right for you.  Our firm’s philosophy is for individual attention not assembly line representation.

Thank you for taking the time to consider me to help you.. My passion is family law and serving our clients.. I have been practicing family law almost 20 years and have honed my practice to help clients better determine their desired end result and successfully complete divorce with the least amount of financial and emotional stress possible.. While this takes determination on the part of the client - to want to get through the legal part of the divorce in the most expeditious way - with our team approach to your divorce, custody, child support or post-decree issues, we can achieve this for you.. I am a Colorado native, attended Creighton University for my undergraduate and legal education.  My Colorado legal career has included dependency and neglect work as parent counsel as well as guardian ad litem to represent the best interests of children, to high-end asset cases throughout Colorado.. We have offices in Avon, Boulder, Castle Rock, Cherry Creek, Steamboat and Thornton, Colorado.. I look forward to helping you and achieving a path to your new future or resolution and peace for your family.

Taylor Jordan is an Attorney who focuses on representing clients in divorce, child support, spousal maintenance, and other family law matters. Taylor’s practice is driven in part by her ability to connect and empathize with clients while providing the experienced counsel they need to navigate turbulent times.. Taylor grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and was inspired at a young age by her mother, who is also an attorney, to pursue a career that would allow her to help and advocate for people facing difficult situations. Her passion for advocacy, compassionate approach, and own personal experience as a child of divorced co-parents made focusing on family law a natural fit.. In her practice, Taylor prides herself on providing quality representation by educating clients about the complex legal process, advising them on the best routes to achieve desired outcomes, negotiating settlements when possible, and defending their interests in court when necessary. She believes it’s important for attorneys, especially those in family law, to wear many hats and she values her role as advocate, advisor, and support system for clients facing major turning points in their lives.

Tara’s practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on personal injury and family law.  She is passionate about helping others and serving her community.. Unexpected events such as divorce or injury can turn lives upside down.  Tara understands how difficult and disruptive those can be.  She is aggressive and zealous in protecting the rights of others.. As a law student, Tara worked with low income families at the USD Legal Clinics.  Her clients consistently regarded her as a compassionate, patient and professional advocate with superb listening skills and attention to detail.  Tara takes pride in providing personalized services to each of her clients.. A Colorado native, Tara began working at the firm as an intern in 2002.  While attending college and completing her Master’s degree, she worked as a Legal Assistant.  Tara joined the firm as an attorney in 2012.. In her spare time Tara enjoys sports, travelling, reading, and volunteering.. Jurist Doctorate, University of San Diego School of Law (2012). International Masters of Business Administration, University of Denver, Daniels College of Business (2009). BS, Business Administration, University of Denver (2008). Professional Associations and Memberships. Community Affiliations. Bar Admissions

Suzanne was born in a cabin in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. She comes from a fifth-generation Colorado family, with a background in community, family, environmentalism, business, alternative dispute resolution and academia. She has studied and worked from Colorado to Vermont, Paris to Alaska, San Francisco to Seattle, earning her bachelors chemistry and biology from Fort Lewis College, her law degree from Seattle University School of Law and Masters in Science and Law from Vermont Law School.. Suzanne has spent most of her life in Colorado and Alaska, practicing law, building businesses, engaging community, helping people build better lives. Her fundamental philosophy is that life can be wonderful, often it takes deep work, but the journey is better made when taken with innovative perspective, strength, integrity and diligence. To that end, she works closely with clients to understand the context of their lives and needs to help them determine their goals and arrive at their destinations with as much potential and resilience as possible.. Suzanne has owned and operated multiple businesses and is committed to the innovative use of entrepreneurship. She has worked with individuals, corporations, educational organizations and business incubators to help people bring their best ideas to successful fruition.. Suzanne’s legal experience started in 1993 when she worked for the best environmental lawyer in Colorado for two years in Denver. The firm amassed multimillion dollar judgments and settlements for Colorado citizens, helping to clean up Colorado. She moved to Alaska where she eventually opened her own law firm, keeping Alaska wild and its citizens safe. She worked on land use cases, native issues, domestic issues, business development and more. She won two cases before the Alaska Supreme Court securing both land use provisions and the ability for litigants who work for the common good to recover attorneys’ fees.. Suzanne then moved her growing family to the northern most tip of Alaska where she represented the North Slope Borough, a local government that covered 90,000 square miles with an annual budget of $360,000,000. NSB territory included remote Alaskan villages as well as the Prudhoe Bay oilfields and the Artic National Wildlife Reserve. She helped the NSB navigate issues including regulations, capital projects, facility upkeep, housing, human resources, healthcare, risk assessment and was the point person for all municipal contracting. Yes, she did get to fly around in helicopters and planes to visit the villages and residents, count bowhead whales, and experience the polar ice cap. She saw multiple polar bears and walrus, snowy owls and caribou.. After five years Suzanne moved back to Colorado and reopened her law firm representing people in business, domestic issues and community organizing. She eventually was offered an amazing job in the San Luis Valley directing a burgeoning nonprofit land trust to build its wildlife and regenerative agriculture program. This land trust was funded by a historic hot springs that served 27,000 day visitors a year, which she also managed.. From there Suzanne was hired by the Western Colorado University’s Masters in Environmental Management Program to teach business and nonprofit development, leadership and collaboration, environmental law and more. To facilitate this, She was provided with a gorgeous 350 acre ranch along the Tomiche Creek where the mission was to build enterprise around regenerative agriculture, green building, renewable energy and wildlife. For their masters projects, her students developed the programs that built the new non-profit Coldharbour Institute.. In Fort Collins, for three years Suzanne served family law clients with the highest of legal services, including complex financial, business and child related issues. Her thirty years of experience allowed her to help her clients navigate a better future.. In her 40 years of legal and business experience, Suzanne has represented diverse groups of clients in Colorado and Alaska. She is dedicated to helping build a healthy, positive, diverse and joyful future for all of us.. Family, wilderness, and community engagement feed Suzanne’s soul.

Steven M. Visioli is a Denver-based Attorney and Litigator specializing in Divorce, Complex Asset Division, Child Custody, Support Enforcement, and Other Family Law Issues. He joined GEM Family Law, LLC, as their Senior Litigation Counsel after years of training with skilled litigators and building his own practice. He is committed to providing clients with strategic and situation-specific representation for any divorce or custody needs, including maintenance (alimony), property division, child support, and relocation. Family law issues can often arise at the most emotionally traumatizing times in your life and will absolutely be overwhelming if you don't have a team watching your back and fighting for your interests. GEM Family Law, LLC, is prepared to handle all of the complex circumstances of your divorce or domestic relations case.

Sara M. Cates is a partner with the law firm of Bloch & Chapleau, LLC. Ms. Cates’ practice is primarily dedicated to representing men in high conflict divorces and parenting time disputes. Consequently, a majority of Ms. Cates’ practice involves complex financial issues including business valuations, asset and debt division, spousal maintenance and child support, as well as defense of protection orders and parenting time restrictions.  Ms. Cates also focuses on representing clients in same-sex relationships, and has published several articles in Out Front Magazine concerning Civil Unions, second parent versus same parent adoptions, and the changing landscape of same sex marriage in Colorado.. Ms. Cates is an active member of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations, and is admitted to practice before the State and County Courts in Colorado.   For her undergraduate education, Ms. Cates received her B.A. in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas in 2005. Ms. Cates graduated cum laude and received her J.D. from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas in May of 2008 and was admitted to the Colorado Bar in October 2008. Ms. Cates joined Bloch & Chapleau, L.L.C. in 2008 shortly after taking the bar exam and became a Member Attorney of Bloch & Chapleau, LLC in January of 2013.. As a parent herself, Ms. Cates is focused on guiding her clients through one of the most difficult times in their life with honesty and compassion while maintaining her role as an aggressive advocate.

Sahar Safi is a Colorado native who is passionate about helping individuals navigate the course of their family law matter. Licensed in Colorado, Sahar attended the University of Colorado School of Law where she was a CBA/DBA Diversity in the Legal Profession Scholarship Recipient, and was also named an Outstanding Asian Pacific American Law Graduate. She earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Denver in International Studies, focusing on Development and Human Rights, in addition to graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree from the same university where she majored in Political Science and International Studies. Sahar has had externships at the Colorado Supreme Court and the Immigrant Legal Center of Boulder County, and was most recently the Family Law Court Program Coordinator for the Denver Bar Association’s Metro Volunteer Lawyers before shifting to private practice.  She is currently with the firm of Hogan Omidi, P.C. Sahar is fluent in Dari, and in her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling with her family, and learning about other cultures.

Recognized as a Top 10 family lawyer in Colorado for the past 10 years.. Over 26 years of trial experience.  Successfully represented thousands of clients in Colorado and other western states.  Specialize in contested divorce, child custody, relocation and adoption/termination cases.. J.D., The George Washington University Law School, distinction for trial advocay.. Economics, cum laude, University of Colorado at Denver. I live Denver with my beautiful wife, Fabiola, and my youngest of four children.   Denver native!

Phil is licensed to practice before all state courts of Colorado and Georgia as well as the United States District Courts for the District of Colorado and the Northern District of Georgia. He focuses his practice on complex high-stakes family law matters, and also has extensive experience in probate/estate litigation, real estate litigation, commercial litigation, and appellate practice.. Phil is a trial lawyer. He has tried multiple jury and bench trials and has argued cases in front of the Colorado Supreme Court, the Colorado Court of Appeals, the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Illinois Appellate Court, the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, and the state trial courts of Colorado, Georgia and Illinois.. Phil is a member of the Trial Practice and Techniques Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Family Law. Phil serves on the Professionalism Coordinating Council of the Colorado Bar Association which works to implement the Principles of Professionalism among members of the Bar and improve the professional conduct of lawyers and judges. Phil is a Master of the Bench in the Rhone Brackett Inn of Court.. Phil was a U.S. Army Scholarship recipient.  Upon graduation from VMI, Phil was named Distinguished Military Graduate “on the basis of high scholarship, evidence of high moral character, military aptitude, and demonstrated leadership ability.” Phil served as an Army officer for eight years. He received the National Defense Service Medal (Desert Shield/Desert Storm) for his active duty service during the Persian Gulf War.

Paige Gleason is a highly skilled and dedicated family law attorney with a reputation for delivering exceptional advocacy, strategic negotiation, and unwavering client support. As one of the founders of The Reputation Law Group, an all-woman-owned and operated firm, Paige is committed to redefining the legal experience for individuals navigating complex family matters.. A graduate of the University of Vermont with a degree in political science, Paige earned her law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in just two and a half years—a testament to her drive and work ethic. Following law school, she gained invaluable experience clerking for a District Court judge in Fairbanks, Alaska, before moving to Denver to focus exclusively on family law.. With a career dedicated entirely to divorce and family law, Paige is a Certified Parent Coordinator/Decision Maker (PCDM) and a trained mediator, equipping her with the tools to resolve high-conflict cases with skill and sensitivity. She excels in litigation, mediation, and negotiation, ensuring her clients receive both strong advocacy and pragmatic solutions tailored to their unique needs.. Recognized for her excellence in the field, Paige has been named one of the Top 100 Family Law Attorneys in Colorado by the Association of American Trial Lawyers and honored as a Lawyer of Distinction. A lifelong learner, she continually hones her legal expertise to provide cutting-edge representation in an ever-evolving legal landscape.. Paige approaches every case with a balance of tenacity and compassion, understanding that family law matters are deeply personal and often emotionally charged. Whether in the courtroom or at the negotiation table, she is a fierce advocate for her clients, guiding them toward resolutions that protect their interests and pave the way for a stable future.. When not in the office, she enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her dogs.  Paige enjoys traveling and exploring different parts of Colorado.

Of Counsel: Harrington, Brewster, Mahoney, Smits. E-mail:. "I diligently, passionately and assertively represent my clients in family law cases. They have entrusted me with an important part of their lives, and that fact is always first and foremost in my mind as I work on their case. My goal is to effectively and aggressively represent every one of my clients and make sure they understand each step of the legal process.". "A party in a family law case deserves counsel who will strategize, communicate regularly, and actively work with the client directly during all aspects of his case. I make this promise, and fulfill it, throughout my representation of my client.". Education:. University of Colorado School of Law, J.D., 2003. University of Wyoming, B.A., 2000, with Honors. Biography:. Josh was born in Fort Collins, Colorado and grew up on a family farm just outside of Loveland, Colorado, where he learned to appreciate the value and importance of hard work and self-motivation. Josh's three brothers, baby sister and two great parents have contributed to Josh's decision to practice family law, and represent clients in an effort to empower them to move forward with a family structure that will keep their children in a thriving environment.  A Colorado native, Josh enjoys the high quality of life, opportunity, and environment that Colorado offers.. Josh began representing parties in family law matters in 2004, and is a highly regarded Denver divorce attorney. Josh recognizes that a dissolution of marriage, or litigation concerning parenting time, are highly emotional and negative times for families. Josh has worked hard to reduce the contention and hostility in family law cases, without backing off of his clients' important objectives and desires for their case.. Josh has successfully represented hundreds of clients through a difficult time in their lives to achieve positive results in their cases. Josh's proven approach is to listen to the needs and goals of his clients, and then pursue those goals as if they were his own. Every family is different, each with its own unique needs and characteristics. Josh has always been on top of making sure that each of his clients knows that Josh is completely committed to their case and ensuring that they understand each step of the legal process.. Memberships: Colorado Bar Association, Denver Bar Association, Larimer Bar Association.

Nate is a partner at Cooper Ramp Cage Bucar Lewis, LLC. Nate began his legal career as an attorney in New York, practicing primarily in family law, while also handling business matters and contract disputes. After moving to Colorado, he has focused his career exclusively on the practice of family law, including divorce and post decree matters. Nate also offers mediation and arbitration services for family law cases.

My practice focuses on all areas of family law, including adoption, divorce/dissolution, parenting time/parental responsibilities (custody), child support, maintenance, pre-nuptial and post-marital agreements, and parental relocation cases. I also manage my trusts and estates practice and can provide wills, trusts, powers of attorney (medical and financial), living wills, and final directives for clients at a flat fee rates.. Harrington Brewster Mahoney Smits, P.C. has one of the leading reputations in Colorado for helping families through conflict and maximizing peaceful outcomes. One of the ways we do this is by providing collaborative representation for divorcing couples. Collaborative law assists parties in settling family conflicts without Court intervention. This approach consistently helps parties come out of conflict with more positive family dynamics compared to traditional litigation. I have completed an intensive interdisciplinary collaborative training and am excited to provide this service to families.

Morgan Paterson is an associate attorney at Epstein Patierno, LLP She represents clients in divorce litigation, adoptions, child custody disputes, and modifications of child support and parental responsibilities.. Morgan grew up in California’s Silicon Valley and graduated from the University of California in Davis where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science before obtaining her Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law. Between her undergraduate and law school, Morgan taught Science classes at her local high school. During her time at Santa Clara University, Morgan served as a judicial clerk at the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara for the Honorable Joseph H. Huber in the family law and domestic violence division. While in law school, Morgan received a CALI award for her paper discussing Child Prostitution in India in her International Law course and volunteered with Fresh Lifelines for Youths (FLY) teaching legal classes to at-risk youths in east San Jose, CA.. In her free time, Morgan enjoys traveling with her husband, finding new restaurants, reading, and exploring the great outdoors of Colorado.

Linda Kapsak is an associate attorney practicing family law. Linda has a passion for helping families in the most difficult times of their lives, and strives to make the process as painless as possible for clients. She is a zealous but measured advocate, and greatly values her position as an ally for her clients. Linda has practiced extensively in the area of Family Law and handled divorces, Allocations of Parental Responsibilities, grandparent visitation, post-decree disputes, collaborative divorce, and all manner of family-related legal issues. She earned the Family and Juvenile Law Certificate from the University of Colorado Law School and has spent her legal career helping families and children and is passionate about not only helping her clients to achieve their goals, but also to work with them to find truly manageable solutions for them and their families.. Linda offers both full representation -- wherein she will manage your case for you and with your guidance -- as well as unbundled representation, which is a less expensive type of assistance that allows you to manage your case while having an attorney to consult as often or as little as you like. Please consult with Littman Family Law for more information on your options!. Linda also offers her services to co-parents as a Parenting Coordinator and Decision Maker, which she believes to be an invaluable resource for co-parents who recognize the importance of improving their relationship for their kids and taking responsibility for their own role in making that improvement happen.. Linda graduated from the University of Colorado Law School in May of 2016. In addition to her work at Littman Family Law and Mediation Services, she is active in the Colorado Bar Association’s Family Law Section and Young Lawyers Division, is a member of the Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee, and volunteers with Metro Volunteer Lawyers and the Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center.. Linda is from New Jersey and spends most of her time appreciating all the wonders Colorado has to offer. She also enjoys baking, snowboarding and exploring Colorado.. Virtual Consultations Available

Laura L. Lichter, Founder/Managing Partner, se habla español. Laura Lichter is national President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”), the premier bar association of immigration lawyers and law professors in the U.S. She has been an elected member of AILA’s national leadership for over a decade and has served as the association's top liaison to the key immigration enforcement bureaus of the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is responsible for immigration investigations, prosecution, detention and removal operations, and the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR), which oversees the nation’s immigration court system. Ms. Lichter is AILA’s liaison to the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration and serves on the Federal Bar Association’s Immigration Law Section Advisory Board. Ms. Lichter recently served on the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) Task Force on ICE’s Secure Communities program, reporting to findings on the ICE enforcement initiative to DHS Secretary Napolitano. Based in Denver, she is the former Chair of AILA’s Colorado Chapter. Ms. Lichter’s practice focuses on the representation of foreign nationals in removal proceedings, contested family and naturalization applications, administrative appeals, and related federal district and appellate court litigation. A nationally-recognized mentor and immigration law expert, Ms. Lichter is a respected author who lectures throughout the United States on cutting edge immigration issues. Her commitment to community outreach, education, pro bono representation of indigent clients, and access to counsel has been demonstrated through various awards, projects, and related initiatives. Ms. Lichter is an avid equestrian, runner, and part-time farmer.

Kyle, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Broxterman Alicks McFarlane PC, started the firm after her time in private practice with a family law firm in Lone Tree. She graduated from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law with a focus on trial advocacy, where she simultaneously obtained her degree while working for the Public Defender’s Office and then transitioned to the District Attorney’s Office. She also spent time at the Attorney General’s Office working on the Justice Review Project, which used DNA evidence to exonerate those who had been wrongfully convicted. Kyle also worked in the Criminal Defense Clinic at the University of Denver, where she honed her sharp knowledge of the Rules of Evidence that translate so well in her family law litigation practice. Kyle was in fact selected as a member of the top ranked (9th in the country) National Trial Team for her skills in the courtroom, and competed across the country in various mock trial competitions. She was a member of the Moot Court Board, the Student Trial Lawyers Association, the Trial Advocacy board, and taught mock trial skills to High School students. Kyle is well versed in the area of motions practice and studied with the Supreme Court Chief Justice Nancy Rice.. Overtime, and perhaps unsurprisingly in light of this background, her family and divorce law practice has grown to focus on high conflict dissolution, allocation of parental rights, domestic violence, and post-decree matters and complex financial litigation including trusts, high assets, business valuations and income analysis. While Kyle is undeniable in the courtroom, and is a tenacious and formidable trial attorney, she is also a ready negotiator who often brings would be-trials to an early close by facilitating between parties.

Kristi Wells’ practice focuses exclusively on complex issues such as dividing trusts, enforcing and challenging pre-marital agreements, dealing with closely held business interests, taxation, benefits and executive compensation in Colorado divorces. Kristi has written and lectured extensively on domestic relations topics as well as having been a tax commentator for NPR’s Morning Edition. Most recently, Kristi published a two-part article for the Colorado Lawyer entitled A Primer on Executive Compensation in a Colorado Divorce – Parts 1 and 2, May and June 2022. She also co-authored The Executive Compensation Handbook: Stock Option Awards, Restricted Stock Grants, Cash Bonuses, Incentives and Other Non-qualified Deferred Compensation in Divorce, published by the American Bar Association. Kristi currently serves as Chair of the Family Law Section Executive Council.

Knicky Van Goetz is an Senior Associate Attorney at Colorado Legal Group. She appreciates the unique elements of each individual’s circumstances and tailors each case towards reaching client-specific goals in the best way possible.. While Knicky strictly practices family law, her foray into law began as criminal defense attorney, requiring daily court appearances on both misdemeanor and felony cases. This opportunity to represent client’s freedoms of liberty naturally progressed into a passion to protect client’s family rights. While confident in the courtroom, Knicky recognizes the value of negotiation and mediation to reach a favorable outcome for her clients.. While attending University of Denver Law School, Knicky was selected by DU faculty to practice law through the university’s Criminal Defense Clinic. Moreover, she served as an elected advocate for her peers as Vice President of the Student Bar. She also co-founded the Immigration, Refugee, and Asylum Coalition, and spearheaded a research-based legal publication calling for an end to police brutality and other civil rights abuses.. Prior to attending law school, Knicky received her Bachelor’s degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Colorado. When she is not at work, Knicky enjoys exploring Colorado’s beautiful wilderness by camping and hiking with her family and dogs Clyde and Kashmir.

Keith C. Smith leads the firm’s Tribal & Federal Indian law practice, and he practices family law as well. Keith has been practicing Tribal and Federal Indian law since he received his juris doctorate degree from the Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law in 1997. As such, his experience in Tribal and Federal Indian law is unparalleled to many working in the field. In addition to practicing Tribal and Federal Indian law, Keith’s practice also includes domestic relations (family law), land issues, business law, employment matters, general civil litigation, and minor criminal offenses. Mr. Smith currently represents the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise for employment matters, and several individual clients for various matters ranging from family law, employment law and businesses for their needs. Keith also represents native non-profits such as, American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) and the First Nation Development Institute.. Prior to establishing the firm, Mr. Smith held a position as an adjunct professor of law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, where he taught Federal Indian Law, Family Law, and Contracts, and as an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Keith continues to present as a guest lecturer and speaker at numerous venues, such as the University of Colorado, University of Denver, Arizona State University, Metro State College, Colorado State University, American Indian College, Dine College, National Indian Education Association, National Conference, Indigenous Bar Association, British Columbia, and many others.. Prior to serving as a professor, Keith served as in-house counsel and senior administration director for the American Indian College Fund (“AICF”). While serving as in-house counsel, Keith advised the AICF on all legal matters facing the AICF and was instrumental in the creation and establishment of employee and management procedures. He also provided contract supervision for construction projects for 31 tribal colleges and universities in the United States - an approximate $31 million project. Each year, Keith assisted the AICF in providing counsel for each of the colleges belonging to the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (“AIHEC”), during legislative hearings with the U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C. He later accepted a position as Director of the Indian Legal Program at the Arizona State University College of Law, where he worked to further develop the law school's Federal Indian Law curriculum and helped nurture and maintain many relationships with American Indian tribal nations. In addition, he managed the school's recruitment efforts of enrolling native law students and was an active member of law school's admission's committee.. Immediately following law school, Keith served as a staff attorney for the Navajo Nation’s DNA Peoples' Legal Services firm in Farmington, New Mexico. While at DNA Peoples' Legal Service, he worked in the areas of family law, including the Indian Child Welfare Act, contracts, consumer law and landlord/tenant; he worked with issues regarding the Navajo Housing Authority, representing tenants.. Keith received his Bachelor of Arts undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. While in law school, Keith clerked for the Chief Justice of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community where he drafted and wrote the Community's Domestic Violence Code. The Code was enacted in 1997. He also authored, “Best Practices for Defending Tribal Membership Cases,” in 2013. He also received the distinction of being named a Chief Manuelito Scholar throughout college and law school.