DEBORAH A. SPERLAK

(303) 257-2908

SERVICES

  • Mediator
  • Arbitrator
  • Consultant
  • Coach

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

MEDIATOR, 2004-Present

Mediator in Private Practice (11/2004-Present); Contract Mediator for Colorado Agriculture Mediation Program(4/2008-Present) and The Resolution Group (4/2010-Present); Volunteer Mediator with CBA/DBA CAMP/CMS mediation program (2004-2010)

  • Mediated 140+ cases from 11/2004 to 2/2013; Over 500 total mediation hours
  • Subject areas mediated include: General Civil, Real Estate, Contracts, Landlord-Tenant,Commercial, Business, Debts, Construction, Home Repair, Car Repair, Property Damage, Security Deposit, Earnest Money, HOA, Home Sales, Mortgage Refinance, Insurance, Subrogation, Employment, Workplace, EEO including Age and Race, Farm Loans, USDA Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Contracts, Relationships, Neighbors, Professional Fees, Malpractice, Post-Judgment

ARBITRATOR, Private Practice, 2008-Present

PRACTICING ATTORNEY, Private Practice, 1976 – 2010 (All “AV” firms)

  • Denver, CO: Sole Practitioner (1990-2010); Durham & Baron (1989-1990); Loser, Davies, Magoon & Fitzgerald (1987-89); and Towey & Zak (1983-86)
  • Chicago, IL: Collins & Amos (1981-83); Sole Practitioner (1976-1981)
  • Representative areas of practice include: ADR, Commercial Litigation, Real Estate Litigation, Employment Litigation, Bankruptcy Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation, Other Civil Litigation, Foreclosures,Commercial Loans, Loan Workouts, Commercial Transactions,Contracts, Real Estate Transactions, General Practice including DUI, Traffic, Dissolution of Marriage, Child Support, Post-Decree, Adoptions, Wills, Probate, Enforcement Foreign Judgments, Name Change

MEDIATION COACH/TRAINER, 2005-Present

  • Coach student mediators in role play situations in mediation training programs
  • Representative Trainers and Sponsors: Robin Amadei, Common Ground Mediation: University of Denver University College;Mountain States Employer’s Council; and Judy Mares-Dixon:Colorado Bar Association CLE; Boulder Valley Community Hospital; Mares-Dixon & Associates

ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2008-2010

  • Taught Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) – primarily negotiation, mediation and arbitration –

to second and third year law students through lecture, discussion and simulations

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR(Volunteer Position), 2006-2009

Director (2009) and Co-Director (2006-2009)

CBA/DBA Court-Annexed Mediation Program (“CAMP”), now known as Court Mediation Services

  • Managed, expanded and saved program that promotes mediation and mediation excellence, provides mediators at low or no cost in civil cases in Denver County and Small Claims Courts, and provides continued education and training for mediators

INSTRUCTOR, LEGAL WRITING AND RESEARCH

Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago IL, 1977-78

Loyola University School of Law, Chicago IL, 1976-77

OTHER EXPERIENCE

TEACHER, ENGLISH (Volunteer)

Mahayana Monastery, Thali, Kathmandu, Nepal, February 2012

  • Taught English to 4 different classes and levels of student monks, most aged 10 to 18

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLISHED CASES (As Attorney)

  • Title Insurance Company v. Minnesota v. American Savings & Loan Ass’n, 866 F.2d 1284 (10th Cir. 1989), rev’g, 655 F. Supp. 450 (D. Colo. 1987)
  • Caley Investments I v. Lowe Family Associates, 754 P.2d 793 (Colo. App. 1988)
  • Garcia v. Title Insurance Company of Minnesota, 712 P.2d 1114 (Colo. App. 1985)
  • Pittman v. Larson Distributing Company, 724 P.2d 1379 (Colo. App. 1986), cert. denied
  • Newell v. Field Enterprises, Inc., 415 N.E.2d 434, 20 A.L.R.4th 551 (Ill. App. 1980)

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit, 1987
  • Colorado and U.S. District Court, Colorado, 1983
  • Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois,1976

EDUCATION

  • Continuing courses and study in areas of law, mediation, arbitration, negotiation and more
  • Certificate of Completion, Mares-Dixon & Associates, Advanced Dispute Resolution, 2007
  • Certificate of Completion, CDR Associates, The Mediation Process, 2004
  • J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, with honors, 1976

-Editor-in-Chief and Notes and Comments Editor, Law Review

-Member, Moot Court Honor Society and Bar & Gavel Society

  • B.A., University of Illinois, Chicago, with distinction, 1973

RECOGNITION

  • Martindale Hubbell “AV” (highest) rating as attorney as judged by peers
  • Listed as a top lawyer in ADR for 2010, Denver Magazine
  • Designated a citizen lawyer by President of Denver Bar Association, 2009)
  • Fellow, Colorado Bar Foundation
  • Strathmore’s Who’s Who, 2001-2002

REFERENCES

  • Available upon request

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