APPEALS | CIVIL LITIGATION + E-DISCOVERY | PUBLIC ENTITY LAW | EMPLOYMENT LAW
Geoffrey Klingsporn is an accomplished appellate practitioner, civil litigator, and former history professor. He solves legal problems with creative, rigorous analysis and finely honed research, writing, and rhetorical skills.
Geoff’s practice focuses on appeals, civil litigation, and employment law for both public entities and private companies and individuals.
APPEALS
Geoff represents both public and private sector clients in federal and state appellate courts in civil rights, election law, employment law, municipal liability, public art, real estate, tort law, and attorney fees cases. Geoff is a former Chair of the CBA Appellate Subcommittee and (to our knowledge) the only attorney in Colorado keeping statistics on the Colorado Supreme Court and Colorado Court of Appeals, presenting his findings annually at the Colorado Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Update CLE.
CIVIL LITIGATION + ELECTRONIC DISCOVERY
Geoff is a seasoned litigator representing public entities, private corporations, and individuals. Prior to joining BHGR, he served as a Senior Assistant City Attorney and the lead eDiscovery attorney for the Denver City Attorney’s Office, advising City officials and developing policies and procedures regarding litigation holds and other compliance issues. Geoff is a frequent presenter to public and private attorneys on eDiscovery and technology, and the interaction between open records laws and discovery.
PUBLIC ENTITY LAW
Geoff spent more than eight years at the Denver City Attorney’s Office advising and representing the City and its employees in tort and civil rights suits. In private practice, he represents public entities in police and sheriff actions, prisoner lawsuits, election controversies, land use litigation, employment claims, and protest and other First Amendment litigation. Notably, Geoff has defended multiple class action lawsuits brought on behalf of prisoners and detainees as well as by people experiencing homelessness.
EMPLOYMENT LAW
Geoff defends public and private-sector employers in federal and state courts in breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, employment discrimination, non-compete, non-payment, non-solicitation, and proprietary information claims, and in retaliation claims based on age, disability, free speech, gender, national origin, and race.
More About Geoff
EDUCATION + ADMISSIONS
EDUCATION
J.D., University of Denver, Sturm College of Law
In law school, Geoff received the Faculty Prize for highest GPA in his graduating class, served as a Staff Editor on the Denver University Law Review, and won first prize in the 2005 Legal Affairs National Writing Contest.
Ph.D., University of Chicago
M.A., University of Chicago
B.A., Columbia University (Magna Cum Laude)
ADMISSIONS
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
Colorado
ASSOCIATIONS
Colorado Bar Association
- Appellate Subsection (Chair, 2021-2022)
- Litigation Subsection (Executive Council, 2021-present).
- Appellate Pro Bono Screening Committee (2020-present)
Colorado Lawyers Committee
- Election Law Task Force (2008-present)
Faculty of Federal Advocates
Sedona Conference on Electronic Discovery, Work Group 1
Tenth Circuit Historical Society
PUBLICATIONS + PRESENTATIONS
Geoff routinely teaches continuing legal education courses and is a frequent presenter at professional conferences on a variety of topics. Recent presentations include:
Statistics Update, Presenter, Appellate Practice Update, Colorado Bar Association (2013-present).
Mastering Legal Holds: Sustaining Defensibility Amidst Growing Data Risk Considerations, Presenter, Exterro, Inc. (July 2021).
How Government Agencies are Effectively Managing E-Discovery Amidst Growing Data Risks, Presenter, Digital Government Institute (May 2021).
2020 Case Law Update: Important Rulings Legal Teams Should Know, Presenter, Exterro, Inc. (March 2021).
Must-Have E-Discovery Technology for Attorneys (Webcast), Presenter, Exterro, Inc. (November 2019).
A full list of Geoff’s presentations is available upon request.
PUBLISHED CASES
Bella Health and Wellness v. Weiser, ___ F. Supp.3d ___, 2023 WL 6996860 (D. Colo. 2023).
Denver Homeless Out Loud v. Denver, 32 F.4th 1259 (10th Cir. 2022).
White v. Chafin, 862 F.3d 1065 (10th Cir. 2017).
Verlo v. Martinez, 820 F.3d 1113 (10th Cir. 2016).
Warne v. Hall, 373 P3d 588 (Colo. 2016) (as amicus curiae).
Rags Over the Arkansas River, Inc. v. Colorado Parks and Wildlife Board, 360 P.3d 186 (Colo. App. 2015).
Jones v. Samora, 318 P.3d 462 (Colo. 2014) (as amicus curiae).
Shaw v. 17 West Mill St., LLC, 307 P.3d 1046 (Colo. 2013) (as amicus curiae).
Payan v. Nash Finch Co., 310 P.3d 212 (Colo. App. 2012).
A full list of cases is available upon request.
HONORS + AWARDS
Colorado Lawyers Committee Community Service Award (2014).
Colorado Lawyers Committee Team of the Year Winner (2011).
Colorado Lawyers Committee Individual of the Year Finalist (2010).
PRO BONO
Geoff is a volunteer attorney for Just Vote Colorado (2008-present). He also represented two plaintiff school districts in the Lobato v. State school finance litigation.
OUT + ABOUT
When he is not in the office, Geoff enjoys spending time with his wife, three children, and their schnoodle. He is a rower and annually races in the Head of the Charles Regatta in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is also a marathon runner, cyclist, and lifelong Cubs fan.