Colorado Women's Bar Association CWBA IN THE NEWS

CWBA Message in Remembrance of Mary T. Hoagland, one of our Founding Mothers

Kim Sporrer, APR — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 20:13:20 GMT

The CWBA joins the Denver legal community and Mary Hoagland’s family in grieving the loss of one the CWBA’s founding mothers, and one of the greats among the CWBA’s storied history.

Click here to read our message.

(Video produced May 2019 for the CWBA by Denver Promo Studios: Laressa Watlington and Daniel Watlington)

CWBA Message in Remembrance of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Kim Sporrer, APR — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 19:01:48 GMT

CWBA Message in Remembrance of
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The CWBA joins the nation in grieving the loss of one of the greatest
and most impactful jurists of our time, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Shannon Stevenson Receives 2020 Ms. JD Honors Woman of Inspiration Award

Kim Sporrer, APR — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 23:24:20 GMT

Congratulations to CWBA Past President Shannon Stevenson, a partner at Davis Graham & Stubbs, for receiving the 2020 Ms. JD Honors Woman of Inspiration Award! We are so proud of you for earning this national recognition. #leadersinlaw #CWBApride

Colorado Women’s Bar Association Announces 2019 - 2020 Board Leadership

Kim Sporrer, APR — Thu, 30 May 2019 03:16:40 GMT

DENVER (May 29, 2019) — The Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA), a nonprofit organization focused on advancing and promoting women in the legal profession and the welfare of all women in Colorado, announces its 2019 – 2020 Board Leadership.

The CWBA’s 2019 - 2020 President is Sarah J. Parady of Denver who was sworn in May 18, 2019 for a one-year term as the organization’s 42^nd President. Sarah is a partner at Lowrey Parady, LLC, where she practices plaintiff’s-side employment and civil rights law.

Sarah joined the CWBA Board of Directors in 2014. She received her J.D. (Order of the Coif) from New York University School of Law. After law school, she received a Skadden Fellowship to build a foreclosure prevention program at Colorado Legal Services. Sarah is a past President of the Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Association and a former law clerk to the Honorable Carlos F. Lucero of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2018, she received Case of the Year awards from the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association and the Plaintiff Employment Lawyers Association for two different cases.
- Sarah Parady succeeds Catherine “Cat” Shea who remains on the board as Immediate Past President. Cat is an Assistant Regulation Counsel for the Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. In that capacity, Cat investigates attorney discipline and disability and magistrate matters.
- President-Elect for 2019 - 2020 is Miranda Hawkins, a shareholder at Goddard Hawkins, P.C., where she specializes in estate planning, trust and estate administration, and estate and gift tax planning.
Other CWBA Executive Committee Members for 2019 - 2020 include the following:
- Vice President: Gina Glockner, who has been practicing law since 2004. With bar licenses in Colorado, New York and Connecticut, she specializes in complex civil litigation where she represents individuals, businesses and large corporate entities in professional liability matters, health and business-related law, as well as regulatory, compliance and licensing issues.
- Secretary: Kathryn Starnella, who is Special Counsel at Wells, Anderson & Race LLC, where she handles trial-level defense litigation and civil appeals in federal and state court in the areas of civil rights, employment law, products liability, insurance defense, and other commercial litigation. In 2018, Kathryn served as president of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association.
- Treasurer: Abby O’Connor, an Associate at Harper Hofer & Associates, specializes in litigation support services - forensic accounting, economic damages, and valuation analysis. She is a CPA, Certified in Financial Forensics, and Accredited in Business Valuation.
- Historian: Elizabeth Meck, a Vice President at The Northern Trust Company where she handles all aspects of estate and personal trust administration. She also works closely with individuals and families to identify and implement estate planning, business succession, and wealth transfer planning objectives.

Additional members elected to serve on the 2019 - 2020 Board of Directors are listed on our website at www.cwba.org/board.

ADVANCING WOMEN AS LEADERS IN THE LAW –
ABOUT THE COLORADO WOMEN’S BAR ASSOCIATION

The Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA) is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing and promoting the welfare of all women in Colorado since 1978. Dedicated to advancing women as leaders in the law, the CWBA brings together lawyers and legal professionals from all levels of experience for networking events, professional education, an annual convention, and community service projects focused on helping women help themselves. With nearly 1,500 members, the CWBA is the largest diversity bar association in Colorado and is one of the biggest and most influential women’s bar associations in the country. To learn more, visit www.cwba.org.

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The National Law Review: Colorado Passes Comprehensive Equal Pay Law

Kim Sporrer, APR — Fri, 24 May 2019 01:07:31 GMT

Colorado Passes Comprehensive Equal Pay Law

https://www.natlawreview.com/article/colorado-passes-comprehensive-equal-pay-law

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Colorado Governor Jared Polis has signed what is one of the toughest enhanced state pay equity laws to date. Colorado has become the ninth state in the country to pass an equal pay law that is more demanding than federal law. The new law goes into effect on January 1, 2021.

Just before the close of the legislative session on May 22, and after months of debate and considerable amendment, two Republicans joined Colorado Senate Democrats in passing the “Equal Pay for Equal Work Act” (SB 19-085). It shares similarities with other enhanced state equal pay laws, including provisions on pay equity, pay history, and pay transparency. However, unlike other states, the Colorado law contains unique notice requirements.

Unique to Colorado

The Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act includes the following two notice requirements, which are found in no other state equal pay law:

Employers must make reasonable efforts to announce, post, or make known all opportunities for promotion to all current employees on the same calendar day.
Employers must disclose in each posting for each job opening the hourly or salary compensation, or a range of the hourly or salary compensation, and a general description of all benefits and other compensation offered.

Key Provisions

The new law protects against discrimination because of sex (including gender identity) or sex in combination with another protected status. Employers may not pay an employee of one sex less than an employee of another sex for substantially similar work.

However, an employer can avoid legal liability under the new law if it demonstrates that the entire difference in compensation is based on at least one of the following:

A seniority system;
A merit system;
A system that measures earning by quantity or quality of production;
The geographic location where the work is performed;
Education, training, or experience to the extent that they are reasonably related to the work in question; or
Travel, if a regular and necessary condition of the work performed.

The new law creates a private right of action for employees. A successful plaintiff may recover up to three years of back pay and liquidated damages in the amount of the back pay, unless the employer can show the “act or omission giving rise” to the pay violations was made in good faith.

“Mini-Safe Harbor”

Similar to equal pay laws in Massachusetts and Oregon, the Colorado law provides an incentive for employers to conduct proactive self-evaluations of their compensation practices. While not a complete defense against lawsuits, employers may use evidence of a “thorough and comprehensive pay audit” with the “specific goal of identifying and remedying unlawful pay disparities” to avoid an award for liquidated damages.

Pay History

Colorado joins eight other states with statewide salary history bans applicable to both public and private employers.

Under the new Colorado law, employers may not:

Seek the wage history of a prospective employee;
Rely on the wage history of a prospective employee to determine a wage rate; or
Discriminate or retaliate against a prospective employee for failing to disclose wage history.

Pay Transparency

Finally, the new law prohibits employers from preventing their employees from discussing compensation information with others, or requiring any employee to sign a waiver that prohibits his or her ability to do the same.

ARTICLE BY

Laura A. Mitchell James D. Mackey Jackson Lewis P.C. Pay Equity Advisor

Law Week Colorado's 2019 Top Women Lawyers

Kim Sporrer, APR — Sat, 11 May 2019 22:48:30 GMT

Meet Law Week Colorado's 2019 Top Women Lawyers, who all but one are CWBA members! Congratulations to Past President Alison Zinn of Lathrop Gage, Charlotte Sweeney of Sweeney Bechtold, Regina Rodriguez of Hogan Lovells, Kelley Duke of Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, PC, Lauren Varner of Varner Faddis Elite Legal, LLC, and Rita Connerly of Fairfield & Woods.

Read about each of their extraordinary accomplishments in this week's issue. https://lawweekcolorado.com/section/news/features/ and click here to see the video: https://vimeo.com/335244224

CWBA Equal Pay Efforts in NCWBA April Newsletter

Kim Sporrer, APR — Wed, 01 May 2019 04:49:52 GMT

The CWBA’s work on equal pay was highlighted with an article in the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations (NCWBA) April newsletter.

CWBA President Profile in July 2018 Issue of Colorado Lawyer

Kim Sporrer, APR — Sun, 22 Jul 2018 00:31:35 GMT

Colorado Women’s Bar Association Announces 2018 - 2019 Board Leadership

Kim Sporrer, APR — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 18:11:12 GMT

Colorado Women’s Bar Association Announces

2018 - 2019 Board Leadership

DENVER (June 4, 2018) — The Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA), a nonprofit organization focused on advancing and promoting women in the legal profession and the welfare of all women in Colorado, announces its 2018 – 2019 Board Leadership.

The CWBA 2018 - 2019 President is Catherine “Cat” Shea of Denver who was sworn in on May 19, 2018 as President for a one-year term. Cat is an Assistant Regulation Counsel for the Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. In that capacity, Cat investigates attorney discipline and disability and magistrate matters.

Cat joined the CWBA Board of Directors in 2010 and is a member of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations. She is also a member of the Colorado Bar Association’s Ethics Committee and Professionalism Coordinating Council. Cat is a 2015 graduate of the Colorado Bar Association’s Leadership Training Program (COBALT) and served as Chair of its Sessions Committee for 2016-17. She received her undergraduate degree from Western Kentucky University and her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

Cat succeeds Wendy Weigler who remains on the board as Immediate Past President. Wendy is Of Counsel with Winzenburg, Leff, Purvis & Payne, LLP, where her practice focuses on community association law, including the representation of condominium communities and homeowners associations throughout Colorado.

President-Elect for 2018 - 2019 is Sarah Parady, a partner at Lowrey Parady, LLC, where she practices plaintiff’s-side employment and civil rights law.

Other CWBA Executive Committee Members for 2018 - 2019 include the following:

Vice President: Alison Zinn, CWBA 2014 - 2015 Past President and a partner at Lathrop Gage where she is a trial attorney focused on trust and estate litigation and elder law. She also serves on the Colorado Attorney Regulation Committee, and on the Executive Counsel for the Colorado Bar Association.

Secretary: Megan Garnett, who is an associate attorney with Polsinelli LLP where her practice focuses on general commercial litigation, with experience in representing clients involved in the energy industry as well as professional malpractice cases. Megan also serves as a committee member in the Colorado IP Inn of Court, as a mentor to a college student in Law School Yes We Can, and on the American Bar Association House of Delegates as the Denver Bar Association liaison.
Treasurer: Gretchen Moore, a Tax & Accounting Associate at Harper Hofer & Associates, LLC. Gretchen provides tax planning, tax preparation, and litigation support services related to tax and accounting.

Historian: Miranda Hawkins, a partner at Goddard & Hawkins, P.C., specializing in estate planning and administration. She is a Fellow of the American Bar Association and serves on the Board of Directors of the Denver Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association.

Additional members elected to serve on the 2018 - 2019 Board of Directors are listed on our website at www.cwba.org/board.

ADVANCING WOMEN AS LEADERS IN THE LAW –
ABOUT THE COLORADO WOMEN’S BAR ASSOCIATION

The Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA) is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing and promoting the welfare of all women in Colorado since 1978. Dedicated to advancing women as leaders in the law, the CWBA brings together lawyers and legal professionals from all levels of experience for networking events, professional education, an annual convention, and community service projects focused on helping women help themselves. With nearly 1,900 members, the CWBA is the largest diversity bar association in Colorado and is one of the biggest and most influential women’s bar associations in the country. To learn more, visit www.cwba.org.

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PHOTO ATTACHED: Catherine “Cat” Shea, CWBA President 2018 - 2019

CWBA Encourages Women to Fill Judicial Ranks

Kim Sporrer, APR — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 18:22:38 GMT

Article in Law Week Colorado -- March 7, 2018
http://lawweekcolorado.com/2018/03/cwba-encourages-women-fill-judicial-ranks/

Justice Monica Márquez can remember her dismay that many news headlines focused on her identity as a gay Latina after she received her appointment to the Colorado Supreme Court. But in time, she realized the historical gravity of her appointment and understood she could relate to diverse communities in ways her colleagues could not as effectively. She said she is often asked to speak publicly and has met members of the Latino, LGBTQ and rural communities that way.

“As an ambassador of our legal system, the diversity that I bring as a justice is an asset because I can connect with so many different communities,” Márquez said Tuesday at the CWBA’s Storming the Bench panel discussion, in which she and other female jurists urged women to pursue judgeships. “I get to see firsthand in their faces what a difference it makes for them to meet a Supreme Court justice who reflects some part of their experience.”

She added she understands she does not fit the archetype of a Supreme Court justice, which has helped her realize the importance of diversity on the bench. It carries extra importance now, during a time when many people seem to have dwindling trust in government institutions, she said.

Including Márquez, 11 female panelists including judges, nominating commission members and Gov. John Hickenlooper’s chief legal counsel, gave some of their top advice for judicial hopefuls.

Click the link to get access to the full story.

Colorado Women’s Bar Association Announces 2017-2018 Board Leadership

Kim Sporrer, APR — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 19:11:34 GMT

DENVER (June 6, 2017) — The Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA), a nonprofit organization focused on advancing and promoting women in the legal profession and the welfare of all women in Colorado, announces its 2017-2018 Board Leadership.

The CWBA 2017-2018 President is Wendy E. Weigler of Denver who was sworn in on May 20, 2017 as President for a one-year term. She joined the CWBA Board of Directors in 2008 and is a member of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations. She also served two terms on the Board of the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations, where she was on the Executive Committee and chair of the Awards Committee.

Wendy Weigler is Of Counsel with Winzenburg, Leff, Purvis & Payne, LLP, following a merger with Lansky, Weigler & Porter, P.C., a women-owned law firm Wendy founded in 2006. Wendy’s practice focuses on community association law, including the representation of condominium communities and homeowners associations throughout Colorado. She received her undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Albany in 1991 and her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1994. Wendy is a frequent lecturer on condo and HOA law and has published several articles in industry publications.

Wendy succeeds Sarah Chase-McRorie who remains on the board as Immediate Past President. Sarah is Senior Legal Counsel for Matrix Financial Solutions, Inc. a Broadridge company, and oversees the legal department for the business unit based in Denver.

President-Elect for 2017-2018 is Catherine “Cat” Shea, an Assistant Regulation Counsel for the Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. In that capacity, Cat investigates attorney discipline and disability and magistrate matters.

Other CWBA Executive Committee Members for 2017-2018 include the following:

Vice President: Jessica Brown, CWBA 2015-2016 Past President and a partner in Gibson Dunn's Denver Office specializing in employment law and class action litigation.
Secretary: Ryann Fogel, who is currently taking a break from the active practice of law to raise her two sons. Since graduating from the University of Denver College of Law in 2009, Ryann has worked in various legal positions, most recently as an Associate at McConnell Fleischner & Houghtaling, where her law practice consisted of professional liability defense, typically in legal malpractice actions.
Treasurer: Gretchen Moore, a Tax & Accounting Associate at Harper Hofer & Associates, LLC. Gretchen provides tax planning, tax preparation, and litigation support services related to tax and accounting.
Historian: Diane Wozniak, an attorney in Baker Hostetler’s litigation group. Diane specializes in family law with a focus on Colorado families with complex financial estates.

Additional members elected to serve on the 2017-2018 Board of Directors are listed on our website at www.cwba.org/board.

ADVANCING WOMEN AS LEADERS IN THE LAW –
ABOUT THE COLORADO WOMEN’S BAR ASSOCIATION

The Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA) is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing and promoting the welfare of all women in Colorado since 1978. Dedicated to advancing women as leaders in the law, the CWBA brings together lawyers and legal professionals from all levels of experience for networking events, professional education, an annual convention, and community service projects focused on helping women help themselves. With more than 1,600 members, the CWBA is the largest diversity bar association in Colorado and is one of the biggest and most influential women’s bar associations in the country. To learn more, visit www.cwba.org.

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Law Week Colorado: Colorado Women’s Bar Association Holds Annual Judicial Reception

Kim Sporrer, APR — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 17:23:13 GMT

http://lawweekcolorado.com/2017/03/colorado-womens-bar-association-holds-annual-judicial-reception/

Members of Colorado’s judiciary were honored March 2 during the Colorado Women’s Bar Association Judicial Committee’s Annual Judicial Reception in Denver. The event was hosted by Davis Graham & Stubbs.

Since 1987, the committee has held the annual judicial reception to honor one judge who has conducted extraordinary work on the bench.

This year’s recipient of the bar’s Judicial Excellence Award was 19th District Judge Julie Hoskins. The judge was awarded a plaque during the ceremony where she was recognized for her work on the bench.

CWBA president Sarah Chase-McRorie said Hoskins was the bar’s first choice for the prestigious award due to her mentorship, fairness and extraordinary achievements on the bench.

CWBA HONORS SEN. ROLLIE HEATH FOR WORK ON BEHALF OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Kim Sporrer, APR — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 18:43:13 GMT

DENVER (NOV. 23, 2016) – The Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA) is honoring Senator Rollie Heath as its 2016 Legislator of the Year for his leading role on issues supporting women and children, including closing the pay gap for women.

The award will be given at the CWBA’s Annual Legislator Appreciation Breakfast on Dec. 6, 2016 at 7:30 a.m. at the Denver Athletic Club, 1325 Glenarm Place in Denver. Sen. Heath, D-Boulder, will deliver the keynote address.

Throughout his dedicated eight years of legislative service, Senator Heath served as a stalwart champion on issues impacting women and children. From sponsoring legislation to creating multiple workforce pathways, stimulating job growth and enhancing small business development to his driving efforts to increase state support for K-12 and higher education funding, Senator Heath consistently understood the interrelated value of these components working in tandem to increase every citizen’s ability to reach their individual goals and aspirations.

In 2016, Sen. Heath sponsored legislation to establish a Pay Equity Commission to focus on closing the pay gap. In 2013, the latest year for which data are available, Colorado women working full time earned 80 percent of what men working full time did. Though the pay equity legislation was unsuccessful in 2016, the CWBA and like-minded legislators continue to work to close the pay gap.

Heath has a long history as a public servant and businessman, including serving as an officer in the U.S. Army; co-founding the manufacturing company Ponderosa Industries; and winning election to the Colorado Senate in 2008. Heath’s business experience contributed to his sense that pay equity is important.

“You make sure that everyone has an equal opportunity,” he said. “And once they get into the workforce you would hope that they get paid what they deserve based on merit.”

Heath will leave the Colorado Legislature in January because of term limits but plans to continue his public service in the area of education.

“The most important role of government is educating folks,” he said.

”Pay equity is not just a women’s issue, it is a community issue that requires a community-wide effort and leaders like Senator Rollie Heath,” said Sarah Chase-McRorie, President of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association. “While there is still so much work ahead to fight gender-based pay discrimination, Senator Heath’s support of pay equity has highlighted women as equal and critical players in Colorado’s economy and gives pay equity advocates like the CWBA stronger footing to continue the fight.”

The Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA) is the largest specialty bar association in Colorado and has the mission of advancing women as leaders in the law. It not only promotes the rights of women in the legal profession but outside the law and across the entire state of Colorado. The CWBA’s activities include lobbying on behalf of women and children.

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PHOTO ATTACHED: Sen. Rollie Heath

EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Event Details:
Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016
7:30 – 8:45 AM
Denver Athletic Club, 1325 Glenarm Place, Denver
$65 per person | $220 for group of four

All proceeds from this fundraiser support the CWBA Lobbyist Fund, therefore no portion of ticket sales or other donations are tax deductible.

The Denver Post: How high is the glass ceiling for women in Colorado politics?

Kim Sporrer, APR — Mon, 22 Aug 2016 16:49:10 GMT

http://www.denverpost.com/2016/08/22/how-high-is-the-glass-ceiling-for-women-in-colorado-politics/

Colorado Biz article: Colorado's Persistent Pay Gap for Women

Kim Sporrer, APR — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 19:08:06 GMT

The July/August issue of ColoradoBiz Magazine included a piece about Colorado's persistent pay gap for women. Two of the thought leaders featured in the article include our President Sarah Chase-McRorie and CWBA member Charlotte Sweeney. ‪#‎equalpay‬

Click here to read the article.

CWBA Announces 2016-2017 Board Leadership

Kim Sporrer, APR — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 14:14:11 GMT

NEWS RELEASE

Colorado Women’s Bar Association Announces

2016-2017 Board Leadership

DENVER (June 2, 2016) — The Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA), a nonprofit organization focused on advancing and promoting women in the legal profession and the welfare of all women in Colorado, announces its 2016-2017 Board Leadership.

The CWBA 2016-2017 President is Sarah Chase-McRorie of Golden who was sworn in on May 21, 2016 as President for a one-year term. She joined the CWBA Board of Directors in 2009 and is also a member of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations.

Sarah Chase-McRorie is Senior Legal Counsel for Matrix Financial Solutions, Inc. a Broadridge company, and oversees the legal department for the business unit based in Denver. Matrix is one of the nation’s largest providers of back-office, trust, custody, trading and mutual fund settlement services for financial institutions. Her practice focuses on the financial services industry and the corporate retirement and institutional services business. Sarah is a graduate of Colorado State University and California Western School of Law. Sarah is a member of the Broadridge Women’s Leadership Forum and the Association of Corporate Counsel’s Emerging Leaders Group; and, sits on the planning committee for the Libations for Life fundraising event for the CU Women’s Cancer Clinics.

Sarah succeeds Jessica Brown who remains on the board as Immediate Past President. Jessica is a partner in Gibson Dunn's Denver Office specializing in employment law and class action litigation.

President-Elect for 2017-2018 is Wendy Weigler, who is Of Counsel with Winzenburg, Leff, Purvis & Payne, LLP, following a merger with Lansky, Weigler & Porter, P.C., a women-owned law firm Wendy founded in 2006. Wendy’s practice focuses on community association law, including the representation of condominium communities and homeowners associations throughout Colorado.

Other CWBA Executive Committee Members for 2016-2017 include the following:

Vice President: Alison E. Zinn, CWBA 2014-2015 Past President and a partner at Lindquist & Vennum, LLP. Alison is a trial attorney who focuses her practice on trust and estate litigation, particularly wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, probate fiduciaries, beneficiary disputes, removal proceedings, and pursuit of non-probate assets.
Secretary: Catherine (Cat) Shea, an Assistant Regulation Counsel for the Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. In that capacity, Cat investigates and prosecutes attorney discipline and disability, law examiner, magistrate, and judicial matters at trial and in appellate proceedings.
Treasurer: Gretchen Moore, a Tax & Accounting associate at Harper Hofer & Associates, LLC. Gretchen provides tax planning, tax preparation, and litigation support services related to tax and accounting.
Historian: Janet Drake, CWBA Past President 2005-2006 and a Senior Assistant Attorney General in the Special Prosecutions Unit at the Colorado Attorney General’s office.

Additional members elected for the 2016-2017 Board of Directors are listed on our website at www.cwba.org/board.

ADVANCING WOMEN AS LEADERS IN THE LAW -
ABOUT THE COLORADO WOMEN’S BAR ASSOCIATION

The Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA) is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing and promoting the welfare of all women in Colorado since 1978. Dedicated to advancing women as leaders in the law, the CWBA brings together lawyers and legal professionals from all levels of experience for networking events, professional education, an annual convention, and community service projects focused on helping women help themselves. With more than 1,100 members, the CWBA is the largest specialty bar association in Colorado and is one of the biggest and most influential women’s bar associations in the country. To learn more, visit www.cwba.org.

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Greeley Tribune: Fundraiser set Tuesday for A Woman's Place

Kim Sporrer, APR — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 21:09:16 GMT

Greeley Tribune article: Residents are encouraged to make a “vow against domestic violence” this month in a new fundraiser for A Woman’s Place. The nonprofit agency, which helps battered women and their children in Weld County, will host a fundraising event from 5:30-7 p.m. tonight at Cranford Cove Tea Tavern, 823 10th St. in downtown Greeley. Light appetizers and a cash bar will be available.

Those interested can bring cash donations or make donations through A Woman’s Place gift registries at Amazon.com, Bed Bath and Beyond and Target. Residents can either shop online and have items shipped to the shelter or bring them to Cranford Cove. The gift registries are in the form of wedding registries, through which A Woman’s Place administrators have checked off several needed items for the women’s shelter in Weld.

“We need everything from women’s undergarments to cleaning items,” said Karol Patch, executive director for A Woman’s Place. “We’re a 29-bed shelter and we go through a lot of toilet paper and trash bags. We’re constantly cleaning, and flu season is upon us. “In addition, we provide a full-service kitchen for clients to feed their families and we keep that constantly stocked,” Patch said.

Patch said the shelter is growing with the population. Through September, the shelter provided aid to 404 clients. Through all of last year, the agency provided help to 417 residential and nonresidential clients, Patch said. As of Monday, the 29-bed shelter has 28 full beds. “It ebbs and flows, but we usually get full, then we have some down time to breathe, and we haven’t had that since April,” Patch said.

The event is a part of Domestic Violence Awareness month. If organizers are successful, they plan to continue the gift registry through wedding season next spring to not only seek donations but educate residents about healthy relationships. The event tonight is sponsored by the Weld County chapter of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association.

A Woman’s Place has three “gift” registries through which residents can donate by buying necessary items for the women’s shelter. To access those registries, go to: » www.amazon.com/wedding. Under Find a Registry, enter a last name of “AWP.” » www.bedbathandbeyond.com. Under Find a Registry, enter First Name, “Greeley”; Last Name, “AWP”; or enter registry No. 542681025. » www.target.com/wedding. Under Find a Registry, enter “AWP” as the first name and “A Woman’s Place” as the last name. For more, call (970) 351-0476.

Governor Hickenlooper Proclaims April 13, 2015 As Women's Professional Advancement Day

Kim Sporrer, APR — Wed, 15 Apr 2015 03:03:09 GMT

We are grateful to have the support of the Governor's Office for our "Stand Up For Women: Comedy Night & Benefit Event for CWEE"! Jamie Van Leeuwen, PhD, Senior Advisor to Governor Hickenlooper, attended the event to read the Proclamation declaring Monday, April 13, 2015 as Colorado Women's Professional Advancement Day!

Read the proclamation here:
2015 04-13-15 State of Colorado Proclamation.pdf

Colorado Women's Bar touts Grit & Growth as path to equity - Denver Business Journal

Kim Sporrer, APR — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 21:22:49 GMT

By Caitlin Hendee Digital Producer / Social Engagement Manager- Denver Business Journal

For women in the law industry, there's a key difference between those who are more likely to succeed and those who are likely to fail, says Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell LLP partner Kathryn Reilly.

For the women who want to succeed in such a highly-competitive (and also highly-stressful) career, failure means much more than things not going as expected, Reilly says. Rather, it means accepting failure as a necessity to learn and grow, and not relying solely on innate talent.

Reilly is one of the keynote speakers and panelists at the Colorado Women's Bar Association's upcoming "Grit Project: True Grit and a Growth Mindset" event in Boulder.

The event will take place April 8 at the University of Colorado Boulder Wolf Law Building. Its goal is to help women in law succeed at a time when about 47 percent of associates are female, but make up just 17 percent of leadership positions in the industry.

"Motivation is absolutely critical," Reilly said. "The grit and growth mindset … gives women practical tools to define success in their own way and apply their grit to succeed."

A study published in 2013 in the Women Lawyers Journal found that there is a significant relationship between grit (determination) and success for women in the profession, and it's that research that Reilly said will make a difference for women trying to obtain leadership roles in the industry.

"Women lawyers have a lot of room for improvement when it comes to maintaining a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset," Reilly said, describing a "fixed" mindset as one that believes only innate intelligence and talent determine success.

"[The] growth mindset understands that intelligence and talent are expandable ... and that you can become more talented and much smarter," she added.

Reilly said applying the growth mindset in her own career, such as when she started as a mid-level associate at a large Denver law firm with little experience in the industry, has helped her climb her way to her current position as partner.

"I hadn’t done many depositions ... My colleagues had much more experience and I was really intimidated," Reilly said. "The fixed mindset is really a voice in your head that says you don’t want to do it … but I did it and by the end of the year I was good at it, and that was because I kept trying."

Reilly said the Grit Project event is designed to help young female lawyers learn how to apply the philosophy in their own lives.

"[We want] to provide students with practical tips on how to apply them everyday ... what to do when you get into the nitty gritty of situations you face every day," Reilly said.

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/broadway_17th/2015/04/colorado-womens-bar-touts-grit-growth-as-path-to.html?ana=e_du_pap&s=article_du&ed=2015-04-17&u=K9Fq9B0zfdoQa8TjK0JmTQ090d2c3b&t=1429305643

Law Week Colorado: Specialty Bars Roundtable - The Power of Inclusive Organizations

Kim Sporrer, APR — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 17:30:00 GMT

Law Week Colorado by Tony Flesor

In the past decade, diversity and inclusiveness have become frequent topics of discussion among law firm leaders, corporate counsel and legal academics, and for good reason. The legal industry lags behind every other profession in creating inclusive environments that invite, promote and retain women and minorities.

Colorado’s legal community has been at the forefront of the discussion about how to change that. Local attorneys suggest there’s still a long way to go before we’ll see a sea change, but as the leadership of the specialty bar associations can attest, their organizations are helping to make inroads for future generations.

The group of leaders recently met for a discussion of their own experiences as well as the work their organizations do for their communities and Colorado’s legal community as a whole.

Roundtable participants included Karen Hester, executive director for the Center for Legal Inclusiveness; Liz Krupa, vice president of Sections and Committees at Hispanic National Bar Association; Oliver McKinstry, president‑elect of Colorado Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Bar Association; Neeti Pawar, president of South Asian Bar Association of Colorado; Andrea Wang, president of the Asian Pacific Bar Association in Colorado; and Alison Zinn, president of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association.

Law Week Colorado: Bar Associations Voice Judicial Support

Kim Sporrer, APR — Mon, 22 Sep 2014 15:00:00 GMT

Law Week Colorado - by Hannah Garcia

The Judicial nomination process in Colorado relies on a "merit selection" plan and has since 1966, designed to remove political motives by avoiding elections. Although it's not a democratic system, it strives to be a pluralistic one.

Specialty bars in the state have added another layer of scrutiny to the judge selection process for years. When a district or state judicial vacancy opens, the applications of interested attorneys are forwarded to a nomination commission within the district, which whittles the list down and typically sends three final nominees to the governor's office. The nomination commissions comprise three attorneys and four non-attorneys with no more than four members belonging to one political party.

The process is similar for Denver county judgeships, except nominees go to Mayor Michael Hancock.

After receiving the final nominees, the governor then has 15 days to investigate and make an appointment. Within those 15 days, specialty bars including the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado, the Colorado Women's Bar Association, the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and the Colorado GLBT Bar Association aid in that investigatory phase with their own due diligence. Each has their own review process, differing in scope and intensity, but all say it's a vital part of the process.

Click here for the full article.

Law Week Colorado - by Hannah Garcia

The process is similar for Denver county judgeships, except nominees go to Mayor Michael Hancock.

After receiving the final nominees, the governor then has 15 days to investigate and make an appointment. Within those 15 days, specialty bars including the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado, the Colorado Women's Bar Association, the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association and the Colorado GLBT Bar Association aid in that investigatory phase with their own due diligence. Each has their own review process, differing in scope and intensity, but all say it's a vital part of the process.

Click here for the full article.

Denver Business Journal: Women's Bar Association chief Alison Zinn wants more female law grads to stay in field

Kim Sporrer, APR — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 15:30:00 GMT

Denver Business Journal - by Heather Draper

Attorney Alison Zinn is a woman on the move. And she wants other women to move with her — up the legal ladder.

Zinn, the new president of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, can tick off — from memory — a checklist of her goals for the organization in the next year.

It’s not short.

She’s driven to keep more women in the legal profession, as statistics show that women don’t stay in the profession at the rate their male colleagues do.

Zinn likes the words “excite,” “empower” and “embrace” to describe the work she’ll do to build on the momentum the CWBA has created toward its mission of protecting and promoting the welfare of all women in Colorado.

“I want us to embrace each other on the issues that unite us, and make our membership more inclusive,” said Zinn, a senior associate at Wade Ash Woods Hill & Farley, specializing in litigation involving wills, trusts and probate fiduciaries.

CWBA has grown to nearly 800 members, making it the largest specialty bar association in the state. The organization wants to grow to 1,000 members within a few years. “We want to keep growing and being impactful and influential,” Zinn said.

She had a big part in leading efforts this spring to refresh CWBA’s brand. In the first few weeks of her new leadership role, Zinn and her committee members revamped the quarterly newsletter, hired a part-time marketing director to increase awareness and encourage growth and helped organize a mixer with other “minority/specialty” bar associations to foster more collaboration and diversity.

She’s also developing a new way to track women applying for judicial appointments, as one of her biggest passions is getting more women on the bench.

“We keep hearing from government officials that the ‘pipeline’s low on women’ for judge appointments,” she said. “But what does that mean? There’s no data out there to explain that.”

CWBA is working with officials in Gov. John Hickenlooper’s office and others to help women identify themselves as judicial candidates and help them with the application process. And also to collect data on who is applying.

Zinn said CWBA has had a recurring theme of women “getting benched,” but she wants to change that notion to “storming the bench.”

“It has more of active connotation,” she said.

The other thing CWBA will continue to focus on is community service, said Zinn, who is involved with several nonprofits in metro Denver.

“I joined the women’s bar because it was an easy way to do community service,” she said. “I know other members felt the same way. It’s humbling what our profession does to give back.”

Photo by Kathleen Lavine | Denver Business Journal

Heather Draper covers banking, finance, law and sports business for the Denver Business Journal and writes for the "Finance Etc." blog.

Denver Business Journal - Heather Draper

Attorney Alison Zinn is a woman on the move. And she wants other women to move with her — up the legal ladder.

Zinn, the new president of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, can tick off — from memory — a checklist of her goals for the organization in the next year.

It’s not short.

She’s driven to keep more women in the legal profession, as statistics show that women don’t stay in the profession at the rate their male colleagues do.

She’s also developing a new way to track women applying for judicial appointments, as one of her biggest passions is getting more women on the bench.

“We keep hearing from government officials that the ‘pipeline’s low on women’ for judge appointments,” she said. “But what does that mean? There’s no data out there to explain that.”

Zinn said CWBA has had a recurring theme of women “getting benched,” but she wants to change that notion to “storming the bench.”

“It has more of active connotation,” she said.

The other thing CWBA will continue to focus on is community service, said Zinn, who is involved with several nonprofits in metro Denver.

“I joined the women’s bar because it was an easy way to do community service,” she said. “I know other members felt the same way. It’s humbling what our profession does to give back.”

Photo by Kathleen Lavine | Denver Business Journal

Heather Draper covers banking, finance, law and sports business for the Denver Business Journal and writes for the "Finance Etc." blog. Denver Business Journal - Heather Draper

Attorney Alison Zinn is a woman on the move. And she wants other women to move with her — up the legal ladder.

Zinn, the new president of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, can tick off — from memory — a checklist of her goals for the organization in the next year.

It’s not short.

She’s driven to keep more women in the legal profession, as statistics show that women don’t stay in the profession at the rate their male colleagues do.

She’s also developing a new way to track women applying for judicial appointments, as one of her biggest passions is getting more women on the bench.

“We keep hearing from government officials that the ‘pipeline’s low on women’ for judge appointments,” she said. “But what does that mean? There’s no data out there to explain that.”

Zinn said CWBA has had a recurring theme of women “getting benched,” but she wants to change that notion to “storming the bench.”

“It has more of active connotation,” she said.

The other thing CWBA will continue to focus on is community service, said Zinn, who is involved with several nonprofits in metro Denver.

“I joined the women’s bar because it was an easy way to do community service,” she said. “I know other members felt the same way. It’s humbling what our profession does to give back.”

Photo by Kathleen Lavine | Denver Business Journal

Heather Draper covers banking, finance, law and sports business for the Denver Business Journal and writes for the "Finance Etc." blog. Denver Business Journal - Heather Draper

Attorney Alison Zinn is a woman on the move. And she wants other women to move with her — up the legal ladder.

Zinn, the new president of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, can tick off — from memory — a checklist of her goals for the organization in the next year.

It’s not short.

She’s driven to keep more women in the legal profession, as statistics show that women don’t stay in the profession at the rate their male colleagues do.

She’s also developing a new way to track women applying for judicial appointments, as one of her biggest passions is getting more women on the bench.

“We keep hearing from government officials that the ‘pipeline’s low on women’ for judge appointments,” she said. “But what does that mean? There’s no data out there to explain that.”

Zinn said CWBA has had a recurring theme of women “getting benched,” but she wants to change that notion to “storming the bench.”

“It has more of active connotation,” she said.

The other thing CWBA will continue to focus on is community service, said Zinn, who is involved with several nonprofits in metro Denver.

“I joined the women’s bar because it was an easy way to do community service,” she said. “I know other members felt the same way. It’s humbling what our profession does to give back.”

Photo by Kathleen Lavine | Denver Business Journal

Heather Draper covers banking, finance, law and sports business for the Denver Business Journal and writes for the "Finance Etc." blog.

Denver Business Journal - Heather Draper

Attorney Alison Zinn is a woman on the move. And she wants other women to move with her — up the legal ladder.

Zinn, the new president of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, can tick off — from memory — a checklist of her goals for the organization in the next year.

It’s not short.

She’s driven to keep more women in the legal profession, as statistics show that women don’t stay in the profession at the rate their male colleagues do.

She’s also developing a new way to track women applying for judicial appointments, as one of her biggest passions is getting more women on the bench.

“We keep hearing from government officials that the ‘pipeline’s low on women’ for judge appointments,” she said. “But what does that mean? There’s no data out there to explain that.”

Zinn said CWBA has had a recurring theme of women “getting benched,” but she wants to change that notion to “storming the bench.”

“It has more of active connotation,” she said.

The other thing CWBA will continue to focus on is community service, said Zinn, who is involved with several nonprofits in metro Denver.

“I joined the women’s bar because it was an easy way to do community service,” she said. “I know other members felt the same way. It’s humbling what our profession does to give back.”

Photo by Kathleen Lavine | Denver Business Journal

Heather Draper covers banking, finance, law and sports business for the Denver Business Journal and writes for the "Finance Etc." blog.

Denver Business Journal - Heather Draper

Attorney Alison Zinn is a woman on the move. And she wants other women to move with her — up the legal ladder.

Zinn, the new president of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, can tick off — from memory — a checklist of her goals for the organization in the next year.

It’s not short.

She’s driven to keep more women in the legal profession, as statistics show that women don’t stay in the profession at the rate their male colleagues do.

She’s also developing a new way to track women applying for judicial appointments, as one of her biggest passions is getting more women on the bench.

“We keep hearing from government officials that the ‘pipeline’s low on women’ for judge appointments,” she said. “But what does that mean? There’s no data out there to explain that.”

Zinn said CWBA has had a recurring theme of women “getting benched,” but she wants to change that notion to “storming the bench.”

“It has more of active connotation,” she said.

The other thing CWBA will continue to focus on is community service, said Zinn, who is involved with several nonprofits in metro Denver.

“I joined the women’s bar because it was an easy way to do community service,” she said. “I know other members felt the same way. It’s humbling what our profession does to give back.”

Photo by Kathleen Lavine | Denver Business Journal

Heather Draper covers banking, finance, law and sports business for the Denver Business Journal and writes for the "Finance Etc." blog.

Denver Business Journal - Heather Draper

Attorney Alison Zinn is a woman on the move. And she wants other women to move with her — up the legal ladder.

Zinn, the new president of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, can tick off — from memory — a checklist of her goals for the organization in the next year.

It’s not short.

She’s driven to keep more women in the legal profession, as statistics show that women don’t stay in the profession at the rate their male colleagues do.

She’s also developing a new way to track women applying for judicial appointments, as one of her biggest passions is getting more women on the bench.

“We keep hearing from government officials that the ‘pipeline’s low on women’ for judge appointments,” she said. “But what does that mean? There’s no data out there to explain that.”

Zinn said CWBA has had a recurring theme of women “getting benched,” but she wants to change that notion to “storming the bench.”

“It has more of active connotation,” she said.

The other thing CWBA will continue to focus on is community service, said Zinn, who is involved with several nonprofits in metro Denver.

“I joined the women’s bar because it was an easy way to do community service,” she said. “I know other members felt the same way. It’s humbling what our profession does to give back.”

Photo by Kathleen Lavine | Denver Business Journal

Heather Draper covers banking, finance, law and sports business for the Denver Business Journal and writes for the "Finance Etc." blog.

Denver Business Journal - Heather Draper

Attorney Alison Zinn is a woman on the move. And she wants other women to move with her — up the legal ladder.

Zinn, the new president of the Colorado Women’s Bar Association, can tick off — from memory — a checklist of her goals for the organization in the next year.

It’s not short.

She’s driven to keep more women in the legal profession, as statistics show that women don’t stay in the profession at the rate their male colleagues do.

She’s also developing a new way to track women applying for judicial appointments, as one of her biggest passions is getting more women on the bench.

“We keep hearing from government officials that the ‘pipeline’s low on women’ for judge appointments,” she said. “But what does that mean? There’s no data out there to explain that.”

Zinn said CWBA has had a recurring theme of women “getting benched,” but she wants to change that notion to “storming the bench.”

“It has more of active connotation,” she said.

The other thing CWBA will continue to focus on is community service, said Zinn, who is involved with several nonprofits in metro Denver.

“I joined the women’s bar because it was an easy way to do community service,” she said. “I know other members felt the same way. It’s humbling what our profession does to give back.”

Photo by Kathleen Lavine | Denver Business Journal

Heather Draper covers banking, finance, law and sports business for the Denver Business Journal and writes for the "Finance Etc." blog.

Colorado Women's Bar Association Announces 2014-2015 Board Leadership

Kim Sporrer, APR — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 16:00:00 GMT

The Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CWBA), a nonprofit organization focused on advancing and promoting women in the legal profession and the welfare of all women in Colorado, announces its 2014-2015 Board Leadership.

The CWBA 2014-2015 President is Alison E. Zinn of Denver who began her one-year term on May 17, 2014. She joined the CWBA Board of Directors in 2009 and is also a member of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations.

Alison Zinn is a Senior Associate Attorney at Wade Ash Woods Hill & Farley, P.C. in Denver where she focuses on litigation involving wills, trusts, and probate fiduciaries. Her practice also includes guardian ad litem court appointments as well as contested and uncontested guardianship and conservatorship proceedings for the elderly, disabled, and children.

Named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2013 and 2014, Zinn was also a 2013 finalist for the Gary McPherson Outstanding Young Lawyer Award from the Colorado Bar Association. She earned her undergraduate degree from University of Colorado, Boulder and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.

Through personal and professional philanthropic efforts, Zinn has been involved with Colorado Legal Services, Dressed For Success, Family Star, The Gathering Place, Habitat For Humanity, Komen Foundation, Denver and Boulder SafeHouses and Project Safeguard. She was featured in 5280 Magazine in December 2013 for her significant leadership and service contributions in Colorado. Read more...