James Cordes, JD
Counties served: Denver, Arapahoe, Douglas, Boulder, Jefferson, Adams, Broomfield, Summit, Pitkin
Attorney, Mediator, arbitrator
Kinnett & Cordes
140 E. 19th Avenue, Suite 600,
Denver, CO 80203
720-864-1303
About ME
James is a collaborative attorney, mediator and arbitrator who has practiced family law exclusively since graduating from law school in 2010. While an experienced litigator, James is a strong believer in reaching fair resolutions without resorting to trial. Parties greatly underestimate the acrimony, stress and uncertainly that a trial will bring to their lives. A stranger in a black robe making decisions about your life for the next decade (or more) after 3 to 6 hours of hearing is a nerve-wracking process. Often, the emotional wounds inflicted by the litigation process (cross examination during an adversarial hearing) are also difficult to heal. This effect becomes compounded when children are involved. Drawing upon his experience as a mediator, James understands his clients’ needs while providing effective, honest and high-level legal advice to reach fair resolutions.
He has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2017 and is a contributing author to the Colorado Lawyer.
EDUCATION
B.A., University of Colorado, Boulder, 2006
J.D., University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2010
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Colorado Collaborative Divorce Professionals
Sotomayor Inn of Court
Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee, Board Member, 2020-2021
CBA Family Law Section, Young Lawyers, Committee Member, 2016
Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section
Denver Bar Association
COLLABORATIVE TRAININGS Taken
Introduction to Collaborative Practice, 2020
Advanced Collaborative Training, 2022
Advanced Collaborative Training: Settlement Strategies for Families with Mental Health and High Conflict Challenges, 2023
Presentations Given
Presenter, The Art of Collaboration: Real-Life Examples of Resolution Through Collaborative Law, Family Law Institute, 2024
Presenter, PC/DM Appointments – Views and Strategies from the Professionals, Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee, 2024
Presenter, Screening Collaborative Law Cases, CCDP Intro to Collaborative Training, February 2024
Moderator, 2024 MDIC Judicial Officers Panel, Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee, 2024
Presenter, Collaborative Law and Other Cooperative Paradigms: Expansive Solutions, CBA Family Law Section, 2023
Presenter/Moderator, HB 1178 Q&A with Jaime Watman, JD, Metro Denver IDC, September 2023
Presenter, Screening Collaborative Law Cases, CBA/CLE Level 1 Collaborative Training, December 2022
Presenter, Screening Collaborative Law Cases, CBA/CLE Level 1 Collaborative Training, June 2022
Panelist, The Ethics of Hybrid Models: Creative Ways to Settle Cases and Alternatives to Traditional Evaluations, Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee, May 2022
Moderator, Collaborative Law Intakes, Colorado Collaborative Divorce Professionals, April 2022
Panelist, The Higher the Conflict, the Higher the Stakes – Practical Tools and Methods to Manage High Conflict Cases and Clients, CBA/CLE, March 2022
Presenter, Enforcement Measures in Family Law: Contempt is Not Always the Best Answer, CBA/CLE, 2020, September 2020
Presenter, Family Law Basic Skills CLE | Protection Orders in Family Law: Grounds, Procedure and Practical Advice, February 2020
Presenter, Annual Family Law Institute | Attorney’s Fees, Liens, and Malpractice: Strategies and Ethical Considerations, August 2017
Presenter, Annual Family Law Institute | Child Support Essentials, August 2012