Chris is an experienced appellate advocate with a passion for law and politics.
His practice lies at the intersection of private and public law. On the private side, he represents clients in state and federal court, primarily on appellate issues. He offers a rare perspective: an appellate attorney who’s been to trial dozens of times, first-chairing both jury and bench trials. Chris knows first-hand what trial litigation is like, and he brings that experience to his appellate work. He’s successfully handled matters at the US Supreme Court, the Tenth Circuit, the Colorado Supreme Court, the Colorado Court of Appeals, and other intermediate appellate courts across the country.
On the public side, print and broadcast media regularly turn to Chris for his legal analysis on the judiciary, constitutional law, elections, and the Colorado state government. He’s been quoted over 70 times in the last few years in a variety of outlets including The Washington Post, The Associated Press, The Denver Post, The Colorado Sun, 9News, Next With Kyle Clark, and Colorado Public Radio. He’s also an adjunct professor of election law at DU’s Sturm College of Law. Chris works with individuals, nonprofits, and for-profits as they navigate their relationship with the government.
Prior to joining Holland & Hart, Chris was an assistant attorney general at the Colorado Department of Law, where he represented statewide elected officials, including the Governor and Secretary of State, in constitutional litigation. He also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Roger L. Gregory on the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.