Leia Ursery, Of Counsel

Leia Ursery's practice focuses on trust and estate and elder law matters. She specializes in estate and tax planning, estate and trust administration, and protective proceedings. Additionally, she has extensive experience in probate litigation, breach of fiduciary duty and removal actions, fiduciary surcharge actions and asset recovery actions. Ms. Ursery enjoys working with clients and families to proactively problem-solve and she aggressively advocates for the rights and positions of her clients.

Prior to joining Goodspeed & Merrill, Ms. Ursery held various positions at Lathrop Gage LLP, Lindquist & Vennum, LLP and Olsen Traeger & Ursery, LLP. Additionally, Ms. Ursery served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable C. Jean Stewart of the Denver Probate Court.

Education

LL.M., Taxation, University of Denver, Graduate Tax Program, 2010

J.D., University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2004

B.B.A., International Business/Marketing, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2000

Bar Admissions

State of Colorado, 2004
United States District Court - District of Colorado, 2004
United States Court of Appeals - Tenth Circuit, 2004
United States Supreme Court, 2010

Professional Associations

The American College of Trust and Estate Council, Fellow, 2017 - present
American Bar Association, Member, 2004 - present
Colorado Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2007 - present
- Board of Trustees, 2019 - present
Colorado Bar Association, Member, 2004 - present
- Executive Council and Board of Governors, 2008 - 2009
- Legislative Policy Committee, 2014 - present
- Trust & Estate Section, 2004 - present
- - Executive Council, 2014 - present (Past Chair)
  - Statutory Revisions Committee, 2004 - present (Past Chair)
  - Orange Book Committee, 2004 - present (Past Chair)
  - Liaison for Taxation Law Section, 2013 - 2015
- Taxation Law Section, 2012 - 2015
- - Executive Council, 2013 - 2015
  - Liaison for Trust & Estate Section, 2013 - 2015
- Elder Law Section, 2004 - present
- Young Lawyers Division Executive Council, 2006 - 2011 (Past Chair)
Denver Bar Association, 2004 - present
- Board of Governors Representative, 2013 - 2015
Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training Program (COBALT), 2013-2018 (Past Chair)
Chief Justice Commission, 2015 - 2017
Colorado Supreme Court Probate Rules Committee, 2018 - present
Rocky Mountain Estate Planning Council, 2013 - present

Professional Recognition

AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, 2014 - 2019
Colorado Super Lawyer, 2016 - 2019
Colorado Super Lawyer: Rising Star, 2010 - 2015

Publications and Presentations

Co-Presenter, "If You Wrestle with a Pig, You Both Get Dirty!," Rocky Mountain Area Conference for Finance & Accounting Professionals, September 2019
Co-Presenter, "Conveyance of Decedents' and Trusts' Mineral Interests Probate Proceedings - What to Do with a Gap in Title or Missing Estate," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, September 2019
Presenter, "Planning and Administration for Multi-State Clients," Colorado Bar Association - Continuing Legal Education, October 2017
Co-Author/Co-Editor, "Estate Planning: Use of Wills," Elder Law in Colorado, Continuing Legal Education in Colorado, Inc., Fifth Edition, 2011 - 2019
Presenter, "The New Determination Statute… When Will We Need It?" Colorado Bar Association - Continuing Legal Education, December 2016
Presenter, "Nuts and Bolts of Mineral Title Examination - Probate Proceedings in Conveyance of Mineral Interests," Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation, April 2015
Presenter, "Orange Book Forms: The Engagement Letter: Factfinder, Beneficiary Designations and Deeds," Colorado Bar Association - Continuing Legal Education, October 2012

Volunteer Activities

Volunteer Attorney for Denver Probate Court Pro Se Clinic
Supervising Attorney for University of Denver Sturm College of Law - Tribal Wills Clinic, which hosts legal clinics at various Navajo Nations throughout New Mexico, Arizona, Montana and Colorado
Medical-Legal Partnership with Children's Hospital of Colorado