James M. Cordes

About James M. Cordes

For over a decade, Mr. Cordes has developed a superior reputation for successfully litigating complex family law, contempt, and civil cases in both the trial and appellate courts, including permanent orders, temporary orders, child support and maintenance, common law marriage, protection orders, attorney fees, child relocation, paternity, and the emergency restriction of parenting time.

Mr. Cordes’ extensive and varied experience with the courts guides him in negotiating fair and creative settlements during mediation. He has the experience to guide clients through complicated and unique financial issues, including dividing business interests, trusts, and pensions (including military pensions and defined benefit plans), determining child support and maintenance obligations, and the division of marital property.

Drawing upon his experience as a mediator, Mr. Cordes understands his clients’ needs while providing effective, honest, and high-level legal advice. In addition to his success in the courtroom and in mediation, Mr. Cordes practices Collaborative Law and is a strong believer in limiting the harmful impact of divorce on children and families.

Mr. Cordes received his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 2006, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2010. He is a member of the Sotomayor Inn of Court, is a contributing author to the Colorado Lawyer and Law Week Colorado, and was faculty at the 2012 and 2017 Annual Family Law Institute, in addition regularly appearing as faculty for legal continuing education courses. Mr. Cordes is on the board of the Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee and is a member of the executive committee of the Colorado Collaborative Divorce Professionals. He has been selected as a Super Lawyers Rising Star for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, and has a “Superb” rating from Avvo.

James M. Cordes

Rated by Super Lawyers

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Education/Trainings

• Colorado Collaborative Law Divorce Training – Advanced, August 2022
• Colorado Collaborative Law Divorce Training – Level 1, June 2020
• 40-Hour CBA/CLE Mediation Training Certificate, January 2019
• University of Denver Sturm College of Law, J.D., May 2010
• University of Colorado, Boulder, B.A. in Sociology, December 2006

Presentations/Publications

• Retroactive Child Support: Conflicting Decisions and Practical Advice, 41 Colo. Lawyer 91 (2012)
• Child Support Essentials, 2012 Annual CBA Family Law Institute, Faculty
• Attorney Fees, Liens and Malpractice, 2017 Annual CBA Family Law Institute, Faculty
• Six Strategies for Successful ADR in Family Law, Law Week Colorado (August 2019)
• Protection Orders in Family Law: Grounds, Procedure and Practical Advice, 2020 Family Law Basic Skills CLE
• Enforcement Measures in Family Law: Contempt is Not Always the Best Answer, CBA/CLE 2020
• The Higher the Conflict, the Higher the Stakes – Practical Tools and Methods to Manage High Conflict Cases and Clients – CBA/CLE 2022

Professional Associations

• Colorado Collaborative Divorce Professionals, President, 2023
• Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee, Vice President, 2023
• Colorado Collaborative Divorce Professionals, Vice President, 2022
• Colorado Collaborative Divorce Professionals, Executive Committee, 2020 – Present
• Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee, Board Member, 2020 – Present
• Sotomayor Inn of Court, 2019 – Present
• Family Law Section of Colorado Bar Association, Member – Present
• Denver Bar Association, Member – Present
• South Denver Collaborative Divorce Professionals, Member – Present
• Rocky Mountain Collaborative Law Professionals, Member – Present

Speaking Engagements

• Presenter/Moderator, HB 1178 Q&A with Jaime Watman, JD, Metro Denver IDC, September 2023
• Presenter, Screening Collaborative Law Cases, CBA/CLE Level 1 Collaborative Training, December 2022
• Presenter, Screening Collaborative Law Cases, CBA/CLE Level 1 Collaborative Training, June 2022
• Panelist, The Ethics of Hybrid Models: Creative Ways to Settle Cases and Alternatives to Traditional Evaluations, Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee, May 2022
• Moderator, Collaborative Law Intakes, Colorado Collaborative Divorce Professionals, April 2022
• Panelist, The Higher the Conflict, the Higher the Stakes – Practical Tools and Methods to Manage High Conflict Cases and Clients, CBA/CLE, March 2022
• Presenter, Enforcement Measures in Family Law: Contempt is Not Always the Best Answer, CBA/CLE, 2020, September 2020
• Presenter, Family Law Basic Skills CLE | Protection Orders in Family Law: Grounds, Procedure and Practical Advice, February 2020
• Presenter, Annual Family Law Institute | Attorney’s Fees, Liens, and Malpractice: Strategies and Ethical Considerations, August 2017
• Presenter, Annual Family Law Institute | Child Support Essentials, August 2012