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Alison E. Zinn

Alison Zinn is a trial attorney focused on trust and estate litigation and elder law. She is committed to helping families work through and resolve intricate situations that involve inherited property when a loved one dies as well as situations where a loved one is disabled or incapacitated. More specifically, she handles disputes concerning wills, trusts, probate fiduciaries, beneficiaries, guardianships, and conservatorships. Alison also accepts appointments to serve as guardian ad litem.

Alison is well-versed in all areas of trial strategy.  Despite her experience with large and complex matters, Alison also enjoys working closely with families on a much smaller scale.

Before turning her focus to trust and estate litigation, Alison represented a variety of commercial clients in areas that include banking, mortgage-backed securities, insurance, and construction defect litigation. 

Presentations

  • Co-presenter at June 2022, Estate Planning Retreat, Colorado Legal Education Seminar, “Representing Clients with Diminished Capacity,” Vail Colorado.
  • Co-presenter at March 17, 2022, Denver Estate Planning Council Virtual Meeting, "How to Reduce the Likelihood of Estate and Trust Litigation in the Planning and Administration Phases." 
  • Lecturer at September 9, 2021, Lathrop GPM internal programming, “Fiduciary Issues in Trust and Estate Litigation.” Virtual Presentation.
  • Co-lecturer at June 30, 2021, “Avoiding Litigation as a Fiduciary,” sponsored by Lathrop GPM. Virtual.
  • Co-lecturer – April 8, 2021, “Dealing with ‘Civilian’ Trustees When there is a Dispute During Trust Administration,” sponsored by the CBA Trust and Estate Section. Virtual.
  • Panelist at October 21, 2020, 1st Judicial Bar Association, “We Want You: How to Apply for Judgeship in the 1st JD,” Golden, Colorado.
  • Panelist at February 10, 2020, Colorado Women’s Bar Association, “Storming the Commissions,” Denver, Colorado.
  • Panelist at November 14, 2019, Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program, “Demystifying the Partnership Track,” Denver, Colorado.
  • Lecturer at September 26, 2019, Rocky Mountain Area Conference for Finance and Accounting Professionals, “If you Wrestle With a Pig You Might Get Dirty,” Arvada, Colorado.
  • Panelist at September 20, 2019, 1st Judicial Bar Association, “We Want You: How to Apply for Judgeship in the 1st JD,” Golden, Colorado.
  • Faculty at June 6-8, 2019, Estate Planning Retreat, Colorado Legal Education Seminar, “Back to Basics for the Courtroom,” Vail, Colorado.
  • Co-lecturer at February 27, 2019, “Practical Tips and Considerations Under the Colorado Uniform Trust Code,” sponsored by Lathrop Gage, Denver, CO.
  • Faculty at December 6-8, 2018, “Rocky Mountain Deposition Skills Program,” sponsored by National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Boulder, CO.
  • Lecturer at November 6, 2018, “Top 10 Tips for the Professional Fiduciary to Avoid Litigation,” sponsored by Lathrop Gage, Overland Park, KS.
  • Lecturer at October 17, 2018, “Top 10 Tips for the Professional Fiduciary to Avoid Litigation,” sponsored by Lathrop Gage, Denver, CO.
  • Lecturer at October 11, 2018, “Top 10 Tips for the Professional Fiduciary to Avoid Litigation,” sponsored by Lathrop Gage, Kansas City, MO.
  • Moderator at September 23, 2018, “Business-Education Partnerships for a Ready Workforce”, Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Denver, Colorado.
  • Lecturer at May 17, 2018, “Back to Basics for the Courtroom,” sponsored by the CBA Trust and Estate Section, Denver, CO.
  • Lecturer at April 3, 2018, “Working with GALs: Inside the World of a Problem Solver,” sponsored by the CBA Trust and Estate Section, Denver, CO.
  • Lecturer at April 12, 2017, “Mental Capacity,” sponsored by the El Paso Bar Association Trust & Estate Section in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
  • Lecturer at March 17, 2017, “When Guardianship Will Only Make Things Worse,” sponsored by the CBA Trust and Estate Section (Spring Update) Denver, Colorado.
  • Lecturer at May 4, 2016, “Attorney-Client Privilege” Trusts and Estates Lunch & Learn Series
  • Lecturer at August 8, 2015, Family Law Institute, “Divorce, Dementia, and Disability…Not So Happily Ever After,” sponsored by Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc., Denver, Colorado.
  • Panelist at October 24, 2014, program, “Presidential Pathways: Navigating the Leadership Pipeline in CBA, DBA, and CWBA,” Colorado Bar Association and Colorado Women’s Bar Association Program, Denver, Colorado.
  • Panelist at March 5, 2015, program, “The Grit Project,” Colorado Women’s Bar Association Program, Denver, Colorado. 
  • Lecturer at February 22, 2013, Continuing Legal Education Seminar, “Ethics and Advising the Fiduciary,” sponsored by Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc., Denver, Colorado.
  • Lecturer at September 21, 2012, Continuing Legal Education Seminar, “Trial of a Will Contest,” sponsored by Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc., Denver, Colorado.
  • Panelist at November 8, 2013, Colorado Women’s Bar Association Program, “Asserting Your Worth: Communicating with Confidence and Power,” Denver, Colorado.
  • Panelist at January 10, 2013, Continuing Legal Education Seminar, “Bias and Discrimination Within the Legal Profession,” sponsored by Continuing Legal Education Seminar, Denver, Colorado.

 

Publications

Client Alerts and Blog Posts

News Releases

Professional Affiliations

  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow, 2022
  • Appointed by Colorado Supreme Court as Commissioner to the Office of Public Guardianship (April 2019- October 2021).
  • Colorado Supreme Court Attorney Regulation Advisory Committee, appointed member 2020
  • Appointed to Judicial Nominating Commission, 1st Judicial District, by Governor John Hickenlooper in 2017 for a seven-year term.
  • Colorado Legal Regulation Committee, Appointed by the Colorado Supreme Court, 2016-Present, Vice Chair, 2020
  • Colorado Bar Association
    • Executive Counsel, 2016-2018
    • Board of Governors, 2016-2018
    • Elder Law Section, Executive Council, Member at Large 2019-2021
    • Trust and Estate Section, Probate Trial and Procedures Subcommittee, 2005-Present
    • Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training (“COBALT”), Class of 2016; 2017 Sessions Committee
  • Chief Justice Nancy Rice’s Commission on Professional Development: Commissioner, Mid-Career Working Group 2014-2019
  • Colorado Women’s Bar Association
    • Nominating Committee 2019-2020
    • Board of Directors: Vice President 2018-2019; Executive Committee 2018-2019
    • Nominating Committee, 2017
    • Board of Directors: Vice President 2016-2017; Executive Committee 2016-2017
    • Board of Directors: Immediate Past President 2015-2016; Executive Committee 2015-2016
    • Board of Directors: President 2014-2015; Executive Committee 2014-2015
    • Board of Directors: President-Elect; Executive Committee 2013-2014
    • Board of Directors: Co-Chair Membership Committee 2012-2013
    • Board of Directors: Co-Chair Professional Advancement Committee 2011-2012
    • Board of Directors: Co-Chair Legal Services Committee 2009-2010, 2010-2011
  • Colorado Supreme Court Committee, Judicial Dream Team, Committee member, 2018-present
  • National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), faculty 2018-present
  • Denver Bar Association: Member; 2016-2018 served as a Governor to the Colorado Board of Governors on behalf of the Denver Bar Association
  • Center for Work Education and Employment, Leadership Advisory Board, 2016
  • Colorado Women's Bar Foundation, Board of Directors, 2013-2014; Circle of Minerva
  • Colorado Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • American Bar Association
  • GLBT Bar Association
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 2012-2015

Community Involvement

  • Denver Probate Court, Probate Pro Se Clinic, Volunteer, 2015-Present
  • Griffith Centers for Children, Peaks Challenge, Leader, 2010-2014
  • Breast Cancer Research: More than years of raising funds through personal efforts and the Susan G. Komen Foundation

Honors

  • Chambers High Net Worth Guide, "Leading Practitioner of Private Wealth Law," 2023
  • Selected among The Best Lawyers in America®,  2016-2024
    • "Lawyer of the Year," 2018, 2020, 2023
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, 2018-2023
  • Thomson Reuters, "Colorado Super Lawyers," 2021-2024
    • "Rising Star," 2013-2020
  • 5280 Magazine: "Top Lawyer," Probate Litigation, 2015-2024
  • Law Week Colorado: Barrister's Best People's Choice, "Best Trust/Estates Attorney," 2019 
  • Law Week: "Top Woman Lawyer," 2019
  • ColoradoBiz Magazine: Top 25 Most Influential Young Professionals, 2015; Top Five, "The Builder"
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys: Member, 2012-2015
  • Gary McPherson Outstanding Young Lawyer Award:
    • Nominee, 2010-2011, 2013-2014
    • Finalist, 2013
  • 5280 Magazine: Featured in "The Colorado Woman" article, December 2013
  • CBS4 Denver: Featured for healthy lifestyle and fundraising as a family member of breast cancer survivor, 2010
Photo of Alison E. Zinn
  • Denver

    675 15th Street
    Suite 2650
    Denver, CO 80202
F: 720.931.3201

Assistant

Hollie McCrary
720.931.3171

Court Memberships

  • Colorado
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit 

Education

University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, J.D., 2004

University of Colorado at Boulder, B.A., 2001