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The Harris Law Firm The Harris Law Firm

Katherine Ellis

Partner

  • (303) 622-5502
  • kellis@harrislawcares.com
    • Denver, Englewood, Boulder, Colorado Springs
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    Appeals, Estate Planning, Family Law

    Katherine Ellis Photo
    Katherine Ellis

    Meet Katherine Ellis

    • Overview
    • Experience
    • Recognition
    • Practice Areas
    • Publications & Presentations

    Katherine Ellis

    Katy has been practicing law since 2007. She practices family law in addition to trusts and estate law. Katy finds both areas of law fulfilling because they allow her to assist clients with difficult, deeply personal issues. As an attorney, she believes it is important to use the training and knowledge that she has earned to help her clients achieve fair and reasonable results in their cases. She also feels strongly that it is our duty as attorneys to provide our clients with realistic expectations about their cases. She always remembers that, for her clients, the case at hand is very important to their lives and those of their families.

    When Katy first graduated from law school, she spent one year clerking for the Honorable Russell Carparelli at the Colorado Court of Appeals. She has been in private practice since that time, and her practice includes litigation, transactional law, and appellate law.

    Katy is an active member of the American Inns of Court because she believes that professionalism and collegiality with the Bar is part of our professional responsibility. She has been a member of the William E. Doyle Inn of Court, a member and co-president of the Byron S. White Inn of Court, and a founding member and secretary of the Irving P. Andrews Inn of Court.

    Katy is also an active member of the Colorado Bar Association and the Colorado Women’s Bar Association and served as a vice-chair and chair of the International Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association.

    Katy has always been a student of international affairs and international law, and she earned a Masters Degree in International Studies while she was earning her law degree. She remains actively involved in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, which is the world’s largest moot court competition. She also enjoys taking on cases with an international component, including child abduction cases and cases in which assets or parties are located overseas. This includes estate planning for parties who have accounts, property, or beneficiaries in other countries.

    Katy is fluent in Spanish and French.

    Katie & Son

    Here are Katy and her son experiencing the Toronto Aquarium.

    Background & Experience

    Reported Cases

    Supreme Court:

    • In the Interest of Child: B.B.O., 277 P.3d 818 (Colo. 2012)

    Court of Appeals:

    • In re Marriage of Morales and Meixueiro, 546 P.3d 639 (Colo. App. 2024)
    • In re Marriage of Schaefer and DePumpo, 522 P.3d 732 (Colo. App. 2022)
    • In re Marriage of Thomas, 501 P.3d 290 (Colo. App. 2021)
    • In the Interest of C.N, a Child, 431 P.3d 1219 (Colo. App. 2018)
    • In re the Parental Responsibilities Concerning B.C.B., 411 P.3d 926 (Colo. App. 2015)
    • In the Matter of the Petition of A.T.M., 250 P.3d 703 (Colo. App. 2010)

    Memberships & Affiliations

    • Member, Colorado Bar Association
    • Member, William E. Doyle Inn of Court
    • Founding Member - Irving P. Andrews American Inn of Court
    • Member, Colorado Women’s Bar Association
    • Member, Colorado Lawyers Committee Education Task Force - School Finance Subcommittee
    • Member, Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals Committee for the Colorado Supreme Court
    • Colorado Bar Foundation, Bar Fellow
    • Co-Chair, International Law Section of the Colorado Bar Association, 2012-2016
    • Co-President, Byron White Inn of Court 2016-2017

    Bar & Court Admissions

    • State of Colorado
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • U.S. District Court for Colorado

    Pro Bono

    • Colorado Appellate Pro Bono Committee Volunteer
    • Mi Casa Legal Night
    • Family Tree Legal Clinics
    • Regional Administrator for the Rocky Mountain Region of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition

    Professional Recognition

    • Best Lawyers: Recognized Since 2023
    • Colorado Super Lawyer’s: 2022-2025
    • Colorado Super Lawyer’s Rising Star: 2014-2017
    • National Academy of Family Law Attorneys, Top 10 Attorney under the Age of 40, 2014-2015
    • Member of the Colorado Bar Fellows since 2014

    Services Handled

    Publications & Presentations

    • “APR, PRE, CFI, BFA, or ENA: How to determine where to (sink or) swim in the alphabet soup of evaluations”, presentation at the 2018 Colorado Fall Family Law Update, co-presented with Kevin Albert, Psy.D.
    • “Changing the Legal Landscape: Local Attorneys highlight the year’s most noteworthy family law appellate cases.” - Quoted in Law Week Colorado, June 5, 2017
    • “Understanding Medical and Mental Health Privileges, Including HIPAA and Protected Health Information”, presentation at the 2021 Colorado Family Law Institute, co-presented with Peter B. Goldstein
    • “Decision Making When Parents Cannot Agree”, Presentation to the 1st JD Bar Association, co-presented with Magistrate Tims, Magistrate Allen, and Jennie Wray
    • “Preserving Issues on Appeal: How to Protect your Client”, presentation at the 2019 Colorado Family Law Institute, co-presented with Melinda Moses and Honorable Diana Terry
    • “APR, PRE, CFI, BFA, or ENA: How to determine where to (sink or) swim in the alphabet soup of evaluations”, presentation at the 2018 Colorado Fall Family Law Update, co-presented with Kevin Albert, Psy.D.
    • “Changing the Legal Landscape: Local Attorneys highlight the year’s most noteworthy family law appellate cases.” - Quoted in Law Week Colorado, June 5, 2017

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