Lisa R. Shellenberger, JD
Counties served: Adams, Broomfield, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, Larimer, Weld
Attorney
Setter Roche Smith & Shellenberger, LLP
1860 Blake Street, Suite 500, Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 255-3588 Fax: 720-293-9822
About ME
Lisa R. Shellenberger is a Managing Partner at Setter Roche Smith & Shellenberger LLP and leads the firm's Litigation Division. Widely recognized as one of Colorado's premier family law attorneys, Lisa has earned recognition from Super Lawyers throughout her career. She is regularly invited to teach attorneys and judges across Colorado on trial advocacy, family and juvenile law litigation, and emerging developments in the law.
Lisa represents clients in high-stakes family law matters where significant wealth, business interests, privacy, and family dynamics converge. Her practice also includes adoptions, guardianship proceedings, and ICWA matters. In her family law practice, Lisa handles sophisticated divorce and post-decree matters for ultra-high-net-worth individuals and others with significant financial interests. Her work includes closely held and family-owned businesses, trusts and trust income, executive and deferred compensation, separate-property tracing, business valuation, and premarital agreements.
Her approach is defined by discretion, preparation, and strategic insight. Lisa brings substantial training and experience in settlement negotiation and collaborative divorce, allowing her to pursue efficient, private resolutions when possible. When litigation is necessary, she draws on deep courtroom experience, having successfully tried hundreds of cases.
Lisa also serves on judicial committees appointed by the Colorado Supreme Court, helping develop and refine procedures governing family and juvenile law proceedings. In addition to her family law practice, she advises clients on juvenile law, probate, and tribal-law matters, particularly where those areas intersect with family dynamics, jurisdictional questions, or multigenerational family interests. She also provides consulting and expert witness services in family law, juvenile law, ICWA, and international jurisdictional matters.
EDUCATION
B.A., Truman State University
J.D., University of Colorado
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Colorado Collaborative Divorce Professionals
Colorado Bar Association, Family Law Section
Colorado Bar Association, Juvenile Law Section
Denver Bar Association
Adams Broomfield Bar Association
Federal Indian Bar Association
Family Law, Juvenile Law, and Probate Inn of Court
COLLABORATIVE TRAININGS Taken
Introduction to Collaborative Practice; February 2024
Presentations Given
Presenter, “Careers in Indian Law,” University of Colorado Law School – November 9, 2023
Presenter, “Understanding ICWA and the Supreme Court Decision,” Metropolitan State University of Denver & University of Denver Law School – November 2, 2023
Presenter, “Diversity in Judicial Internships & Externships,” Colorado Supreme Court – October 6, 2023
Presenter, “Java with Judges – Judicial Diversity,” State Court Administrator’s Officer, Colorado Judicial Department – March 16, 2023
Presenter, “Multicultural Considerations for CFI and PRE Experts,” Colorado Bar Association Family Law Spring Update – May 26, 2022
Presenter, “Application of ICWA in Probate Cases,” National College of Probate Judges Conference – May 20, 2022
Presenter, “The Indian Child Welfare Act and its Impact on Family Law Cases in Colorado,” Colorado Bar Association Multidisciplinary Committee – March 1, 2022
Presenter, “An Overview of the Applicability of ICWA in Colorado’s Private Legal Actions Involving Non-Biological Parents; A Guideline on Arguing for and Complying with the ICWA,” Colorado Domestic Relations and Probate Institute – June 2019 & June 2021
Colorado Bar Association, Regular Presenter in areas of Family Law, Juvenile Law, and ICWA, 2017-2023
Colorado State Court Administrator’s Office, Various ICWA-related Trainings to Court Personnel
Adams County District Court of Colorado, Various ICWA-related Trainings to Court Personnel
Presenter, Adams County District Court & Adams County Department of Human Services, Indian Child Welfare Act Training, 2018
Presenter, Social and Health Issues to Consider for Marijuana Legalization on Tribal Lands, Law Seminars International, 2015
Co-Author, Opposing Viewpoints: Native Americans, Cengage Learning, 2012