About CDLA

CDLA is a statewide organization that is nearly 800 members strong, is dedicated to the defense of civil actions and the promotion of fairness and integrity in the civil justice system.

The organization is comprised of attorneys who defend the interests of business and individuals in civil litigation. CDLA members benefit from access to resources and tools for legal professionals who strive to provide superior and balanced service to their clients. CDLA is host to five substantive committees whose focus is to develop ongoing and critical dialogue about areas of practice.

Some of our membership benefits include:

Resources and tools to help grow your practice
Access to listserves, including archival post search
CLE seminars covering a variety of relevant, current topics
Annual conferences
Webcasts
Network with 790+ like-minded defense practitioners.

CDLA has served the defense bar for over 30 years and focuses on five main goals:

Education: Teach and develop our members in order to improve the skills of the defense law practitioner.
Justice: Strive for improvement in the civil justice system.
Balance: Act as a counterpoint to the plaintiff's bar and seek balance in the minds of potential jurors and on all fields where disputes are resolved in the justice system.
Economics: Assist members in dealing with the economic realities of the defense law practice, including the competitive legal marketplace.
Professionalism and Service: Urge members to practice ethically and responsibly, extending beyond the interest of the client to the good of society as a whole.

Upcoming Events

Everything Everywhere All at once: Ethical Considerations for Every Attorney in Every Situation

October 28, 2025, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Presented by Jane Cox, Recht Kornfeld
To Register, Click Here

Defending Fido: A primer on building a defense to dog bite lawsuits.

October 30, 2025, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Presented by:
Jen Friedberg - American Family Staff Counsel
Steve Phillips - Johnson Bakken Greely Smith, PC

To Register for the Webinar, Click Here

The Oath We Take, and Professionalism in the Modern Era

November 6, 2025, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Denver District Court Judge, Hon. J. Eric Eliff
To Register, Click Here

Trial Tips: Electronic Evidence, Effective Storytelling, and Connecting with Jurors

November 20, 2025, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Presented by Katherine Kelley Otto, Recht Kornfeld

To Register, Click Here

Let's Talk About Consent: The Pros of Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction

December 3, 2025, 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Honorable Charlotte N. Sweeney, U.S. District Court Judge, District of Colorado
Honorable S. Kato Crews, U.S. District Court Judge, District of Colorado
Ashley Larson, Sutton Booker, PC
Katie Reilly, Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell, LLP
To Register, Click Here

PRE-HEARING AND SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE WORKSHOP Presented by: Pre-Administrative law Judge Gregory Plank

December 9, 2025, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
PALJ Plank will review updates from the DOWC and review the effect the new DIME Rules
To Learn More and to Register, Click Here

New Lawyer Boot Camp

December 12, 2025, 8:00 AM
through December 6, 2025,
To Learn More and to Register, Click Here

More events + details