Kerry Simpson

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Kerry Simpson is a 1998 graduate of the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law.  She received her undergraduate degree from Baylor University.  Kerry was admitted to the Arizona bar in 1999 and to the Colorado bar in 2004.

Kerry focuses her practice on representation of foster parents, relatives, non-relative caregivers and step-parents in child welfare, adoption, allocation of parental rights and guardianship cases. 

Kerry began her legal career in 1999 working as a criminal prosecutor for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in Phoenix, Arizona.  There she prosecuted felonies ranging from Theft to Vehicular Manslaughter.  She handled almost thirty jury trials in her four years at that office.  After Kerry and her family moved to Colorado in 2003, she worked for a general practice firm in Littleton.  During her 13 years there, she represented clients in child welfare, delinquency, adoption, paternity, and allocation of parental rights cases.  Kerry then spent two years as an Assistant County Attorney litigating on behalf of the Clear Creek County Department of Human Services.  She obtained emergency protective orders, filed Petitions in Dependency and Neglect, and represented the Department in adjudicatory and termination trial proceedings. 

As a private practitioner, Kerry has litigated numerous jury trials and dozens of contested court trials.  She has also handled several appeals.  Kerry’s litigation experience supports Grob & Eirich’s niche specialty in representing and litigating on behalf of intervening family members and foster parents in the child welfare system. 

Kerry has twice presented to the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, a multi-disciplinary world-wide group of professionals dedicated to preventing child abuse.  There, she presented on humanitarian aid for orphans and on the patient-psychotherapist privilege as applied to children. She has also presented on several occasions through the Colorado Bar Association on family-law related matters such as allocation of parental rights, child support, the Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure relating to family law case management, and the intersection of family law, child welfare, and criminal law.

Kerry’s volunteer experience includes presenting to domestic violence victims at the Family Tree Law Clinic on topics of divorce, civil protection orders, and child-related matters.  She has mediated high-conflict parenting-time disputes through the Turelli Foundation.  Kerry has been an active member of the 1st Judicial District Bar Association as a former board member, former Continuing Legal Education chair, and former Membership chair.  She was honored to receive the Linda T. Palmieri Award for Outstanding Service on Behalf of Children in 2010.

Areas Of Practice

  • Adoption
  • Contested Adoption Litigation
  • Child Welfare Litigation
  • Family Law

Education

  • University of Arizona College of Law, Tucson, Arizona
    • J.D. - 1998
  • Baylor University, Waco, Texas
    • Bachelor of Business Administration - 1991
    • Major: Marketing and International Business
    • Minor: German

Classes/Seminars

  • “Impact of War and Catastrophic Events on Orphans,” Honolulu, Hawaii (September, 2010), International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
  • “Waiver of the Child Therapeutic Privilege in Dependency and Neglect Cases,” Istanbul, Turkey, (September, 2012), International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.
  • “Waiver of the Child Therapeutic Privilege in Dependency and Neglect Cases,” Denver, CO (2012), Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Council and Best Practices Committee for Dependency and Neglect.
  • “Preparation of Joint Trial Management Certificates,” Vail, Colorado (August, 2013). Family Law Institute.
  • “Appellate Process in Dependency and Neglect,” Golden, Colorado (May, 2015), 1st Judicial District Bar Association.
  • “Intersection of Criminal Law and Family Law Issues,” Vail, Colorado (August, 2015), Family Law Institute.
  • “Post-Decree Modification of Parenting Time and Child Support,” Denver, Colorado (2015-2016), Colorado Law Day.

Honors and Awards

  • Trial Group Attorney Recognition Award- Maricopa County Attorney’s Office
  • Linda T. Palmieri Award for Outstanding Service on Behalf of Children, 1st Judicial District Bar Association
  • Pro Bono Commitment Awards (2009-2016), Colorado Supreme Court

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Colorado Bar Association
  • 1st Judicial District Bar Association