Joaquin G. Padilla

Joaquin G. Padilla is a proud fifth generation Colorado native and from a family of attorneys, is a second-generation Denver attorney. Prior to starting his own law firm in 2001, Joaquin worked in the litigation departments of small, medium, and large national firms, trying commercial litigation, products liability, insurance, insurance coverage, bad faith, construction defect, products liability, and criminal defense cases. 

With more than twenty-six years of experience, Joaquin is a seasoned, skilled civil and criminal law attorney serving clients throughout the State of Colorado and in other jurisdictions. Current and past clients describe Joaquin’s skills as a lawyer and personality as passionate, tenacious, assertive, expert, trustworthy, and focused on getting the best possible outcome for his clients. Joaquin is detail oriented in his analysis of the facts and the law applicable to every case.

“My clients learn and come to understand that I will fight for them in all situations.  I seek to empower my clients so that they are aware of their situation and gain the knowledge to make informed decisions regarding their legal issue. By providing reasoned options and sound legal counsel, I strive to guide all clients through the legal process.”

Experience

Joaquin has proven to be one of the most sought-after legal minds in Colorado. Since his early years as a lawyer, Joaquin has been at the forefront of trying complex civil and commercial litigation cases.  From 2011 through 2018 Joaquin successfully tried a class action employment lawsuit with more than nine hundred putative plaintiffs against the City and County of Denver which resulted in a seven-figure judgment in favor of his clients and a seven-figure award of his attorneys’ fees and costs. 

Joaquin has been lead counsel in numerous cases before the federal and state trial and appellate courts, and notably before the Colorado Supreme Court, where he achieved success for his client at all stages in the case which involved establishing new law in this state concerning the Uniform Commercial Code which culminated in a published decision, West v. Roberts, 143 P.3d 1037 (Colo. 2006). In 2018, Joaquin successfully defended another client at all stages in a wrongful death case before the trial court and Colorado Court of Appeals, where new law was established in Colorado in the area of wrongful death law. See Hansen v. Barrons Oilfield Service, Inc., 429 P.3d 101 (Colo. App. 2018). 

Joaquin also works closely and collaboratively with local Denver businesses as outside counsel, including a premier architectural design and visual merchandising firm, construction firms and professionals, iconic Denver restaurants, as well as a chain of Latin supermarkets. Joaquin advises these businesses in their corporate governance, labor and employment, contracts, and litigation matters. 

Joaquin’s criminal law practice and experience is equally impressive.  As a law clerk at a prestigious Washington, D.C. law firm, Ristau and Abbell, Joaquin was in the fast lane of working on high profile international criminal law cases, notably for the Colombian Cali Cartel.  Joaquin has tried and proceeded to trial in serious criminal law cases involving charges such as murder, assault, sex assault, child abuse, kidnapping, robbery, burglary, and drug possession with intent to distribute. Joaquin successfully defended a client as lead counsel in multiple trials who was charged with over twenty (20) counts of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault resulting in the complete acquittal and exoneration of his client. In another case, Joaquin has successfully represented clients charged with assault and battery resulting in not guilty verdicts. He has also obtained dismissals of all charges against his clients involving driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and possession of drugs and possession of drugs with intent to distribute. 

Many of Joaquin’s cases, both civil and criminal law, have been covered by local and national print, broadcasting, and internet media.

Education & Admissions

• University of California, Berkeley, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science 1993
• University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, Juris Doctor 1996
• All Colorado state trial courts
• Colorado Court of Appeals
• Colorado Supreme Court
• United States District Court for the District of Colorado 
• United States Court of Appeals for the 10^th Circuit
• Past pro hac vice admissions to various state and federal courts in other jurisdictions 

Recognition & Accomplishments

• Outstanding Young Lawyer Award - Colorado Bar Association, September 2002 
• Colorado Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Executive Council Board Member 1998-2002 (Served as Treasurer, Secretary, Chair-Elect and Chair)
• Denver Law Review - selected from all student applicants to write exclusively featured case comment, "Vernonia School District 47J v. Acton: Flushing the Fourth Amendment- Student Athletes’ Privacy Interests Go Down the Drain”
• Colorado Bar Association (1997-2003)
• American Bar Association (1995-2000)
• Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (2008-2011) 
• Board Member, American Lung Association (2013-2014)
• American Lung Association Co-Chair Run the Rocks 5K (2013-2014)