Geoffrey Klingsporn - Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti, LLP

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Geoff 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.

Overview

Geoff’s practice focuses on appeals, civil litigation, and employment law for public entities and private companies and individuals.

Appeals

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, as well as retaliation claims based on age, disability, free speech, gender, national origin, and race. He also regularly consults with both employers and employees regarding employment law matters.

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 e-discovery attorney for the Denver City Attorney’s Office, advising City officials and developing policies and procedures regarding litigation holds and other compliance issues. His work for the City included high-profile constitutional cases as well as regulatory and tort-law matters. Before that, Geoff spent many years practicing civil litigation and appeals at a large Denver law firm. Geoff is a frequent presenter on e-discovery 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.

Education + Admissions

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

Colorado
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado

Associations

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

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).

Theory and Practice of Protective Orders, Presenter, Faculty of Federal Advocates (July 2024).

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

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 P.3d 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

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

Pro Bono

Geoff has served as a volunteer attorney for the Colorado Lawyers Committee and Just Vote Colorado since 2008. He has authored numerous pro bono amicus briefs before Colorado’s appellate courts, on behalf of a variety of public-interest nonprofits. In 2012-2013, he volunteered to provide pro bono representation for two plaintiff school districts in the Lobato v. State school finance litigation.

Out + About

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.