Denver, Colorado
410 17th Street, Suite 2440, Denver, CO 80202
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Steven C. Choquette Esq.
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General Biography
Practice Areas
Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities
Background and Education
Steven C. Choquette, Esq. is a JAMS DENVER neutral. JAMS Denver is a licensee office. Policies and procedures may differ between JAMS, Inc., and JAMS Denver. Please visit https://jamsdenver.com/ or contact Lisa Gaige at admindocs@jamsdenver.com or 303-534-1254 for information related to JAMS Denver.
Steven C. Choquette, Esq. (last name pronounced like “Show-KETTE”) is passionate about helping parties and their advocates resolve disputes in a fair, respectful, efficient, and economical manner. His skill in dispute resolution is informed by 20 years of experience as a mediator and arbitrator in hundreds of cases, and more than 30 years as an advocate in trials, appeals, arbitrations, and mediations. The qualities and commitment he brings to alternative dispute resolution matters include:
- Thorough, advance preparation for all cases, whether complex or small
- Empathic listening and guidance
- A calm and reasoned demeanor and good humor
- Creative problem-solving
- Leadership of the process
- Unflagging dedication to helping parties resolve disputes, including via ongoing follow-up when needed.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Steve’s experience in mediations and arbitrations includes:- Construction and construction defects, both residential and commercial for urban, mountain, and farm projects, involving owners, homeowners’ associations (HOAs), architects, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, and interior designers;
- First- and third-party insurance and bad faith claims related to property, casualty, business interruption, and errors-and-omissions coverages;
- Commercial and business contract and tort claims;
- HOA and commercial owners association disputes, including for mixed-use properties;
- Conflicts and, if needed, “business divorces” among owners, managers, and employees of public, private, and professional-service entities;
- Franchisor-franchisee disputes;
- Real estate (commercial and residential) contract, commission, and broker/agent malpractice claims;
- Landlord-tenant disputes, both commercial and residential;
- Professional malpractice disputes, including between insureds and insurance producers;
- Probate disputes; and
- Personal and catastrophic injuries (auto, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, pedestrian), premises liability, and wrongful death claims.
Steve spent two decades of his legal career as a commercial, insurance, personal injury, premises liability, and wrongful death trial and appellate lawyer with Holland & Hart LLP. He then co-founded and managed two other law firms, Choquette & Simons LLP and Choquette & Hart LLP, where he continued such work for nearly twelve more years, and also served as an expert witness in attorney malpractice and attorney fee disputes.
Steve wrote “Colorado Law on Mediation: A Primer” for The Colorado Lawyer in 2006. Since then, he has spoken on the subject to hundreds of lawyers, judges, college and law students, and members of the public. He has also published and lectured on arbitration. He was an adjunct professor of alternative dispute resolution at Denver University’s Sturm College of Law. He is managing editor of Colorado Civil Claims: Elements, Defenses, and Sample Pleadings, 1st ed. (CLE in Colorado, Inc. 2019). In 2020, he became a member of the Executive Council of the Colorado Bar Association’s Litigation Section.
Steve is a Colorado native. He has previously served on boards of the Legal Aid Foundation and Metro Volunteer Lawyers. He was a radio disk jockey in college. Away from work, he enjoys time with family and friends, travel, teaching, theatre, live music, skiing, and hiking.
Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities
Publications
“Is There Still a Mediation Privilege in USDC Colorado? The Evolving Landscape,” presented at the 2024 Federal Practice CLE (CLE in Colorado, Inc. 2024).
Managing Editor, Colorado Civil Claims: Elements, Defenses, and Sample Pleadings, 1st ed. (CLE in Colorado, Inc. 2019). (Prior editions published in 2005, 2008, 2011 and 2016 under the title Colorado Causes of Action: Elements, Defenses, Remedies and Forms.)
“Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Colorado Law on Mediation,” presented annually at the Colorado Statewide ADR Conference (CLE in Colorado, Inc., 2014-present).
“Boot Camp: Colorado Law on Mediation,” presented at the Colorado ADR Conference (CLE in Colorado, Inc., 2013).
“An Overview of Colorado Law on Mediation,” and “Supplement to an Overview on Colorado Law on Mediation,” presented at the Colorado ADR Conference (CLE in Colorado, Inc., 2008).
“Enforcing the Award,” outline, presentation, and panel member, Post-Award Proceedings in Arbitration (CLE in Colorado, Inc., 2008).
“Colorado Law on Mediation: A Primer,” 35 The Colorado Lawyer 21-31 (March 2006).
“A Three-Year Survey of Colorado Appellate Decisions on Arbitration – Part II,” 34 The Colorado Lawyer 47-58 (March 2005).
“A Three-Year Survey of Colorado Appellate Decisions on Arbitration – Part I,” 34 The Colorado Lawyer 41-48 (February 2005).
Co-editor and co-author, Chapter 180, “Insurance Coverage for Environmental Liabilities,” Environmental Regulation of the Mining Industry, American Law of Mining 2d (Matthew Bender 1996).
Teaching
Presenter, “Is There Still a Mediation Privilege in USDC Colorado? The Evolving Landscape,” Federal Practice CLE (2024).
Panel member, “Construction Mediations Move Toward Resolution,” Colorado Statewide ADR Conference (2023).
Co-presenter, “Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Colorado Law on Mediation,” 6th Annual Litigators Summit (2023).
Panel moderator, “Effective and Ineffective Mediation Strategies for Litigators,” 4th Annual Colorado Litigators Summit, Colorado Bar Association (2021).
Visiting lecturer, “Mediation Law and Process,” Business ADR, Denver University, for Professor Peter “Jeff” Bowen (2019, 2018, 2017, 2011, and 2010).
Visiting lecturer, “Mediation Ethics,” Alternative Dispute Resolution, Denver University, Sturm College of Law, for Visiting Associate Prof. CJ Larkin (2018).
Panel member, “Mediation Advocacy: Best Practices for Attorney Preparation, Participation, and Documentation,” Colorado Statewide ADR Conference (2018).
Panel member, “Navigating Ethical Issues,” Colorado Statewide ADR Conference (2017).
Visiting lecturer, “Mediation Law and Process,” Alternative Dispute Resolution, Denver University, Sturm College of Law, for Adjunct Prof. James L. Stone (2015 & 2016).
Mediation coach, Basic Mediation Training, Colorado Bar Association (2015-Present).
Mediation coach, The Mediation Process and Advanced Mediation, Mares-Dixon and Associates, Louisville, CO (2007-2015).
Adjunct professor, Alternative Dispute Resolution (survey course on law and practice of negotiation, mediation, and arbitration), Denver University Sturm College of Law (2006-08).
Panelist, “A Legal Overview for Non-Lawyer Mediators,” Court-Annexed Mediation Program (now known as Court Mediation Service), Denver, CO (2008, 2007).
Visiting lecturer, “ADR Processes,” Construction Law, University of Colorado, Boulder, for Adjunct Prof. Douglas Karet (2006).
Visiting lecturer, “A Trial Lawyer’s Perspective on Mediation,” Alternative Dispute Resolution, The Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C., for Adjunct Prof. Nancy Lesser (2005).
Honors and Awards
Top Lawyer in Alternative Dispute Resolution, 5280 Magazine, 2024
Colorado Super Lawyer®: alternative dispute resolution (2015-present); civil/commercial litigation (2006-14).
Best Lawyers®, commercial litigation (2014-present).
National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys – Top Ten Personal Injury Attorney for Colorado (2017).
National Trial Lawyers, Top 100 Lawyers in Colorado (2010-18).
Best of the Bar (Pro Bono), Denver Business Journal (2003).
Maroon Citation, Colgate University (2002).
Sen. Edmund S. Muskie Pro Bono Award, American Bar Association, Torts and Insurance Practice Section (2000).
Award of Merit, Denver Bar Association (2000).
Volunteer of the Year Award, Metro Volunteer Lawyers (1998, co-recipient).
Donald W. Hoagland Award, Colorado Bar Association (1991, co-recipient).
American Jurisprudence Award, Constitutional Law (1984).
Memberships and Professional Activities
Member, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (2020-Present).
Professional member, Mediation Association of Colorado (the “MAC”) (2016-Present).
Member, Executive Council, Colorado Bar Association Litigation Section (2020-Present).
Background and Education
JAMS Denver, mediator and arbitrator, 2019-Present
Choquette & Hart LLP, co-founder and partner, 2011-19
Choquette & Simons LLP, co-founder and partner, 2007-11
Holland & Hart LLP, associate and partner, 1986-2007
J.D., Denver University, Sturm College of Law, 1986
B.A., Colgate University, 1982
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