THOMAS J. OVERTON

Phone Number: (303) 832-9249
Email: tom.overton@overtonlawfirm.com

Tom Overton knew what he wanted to do at a very young age. “I always wanted to be a lawyer,” says Overton. “Early on, I understood that as a lawyer, I could help people who might not be able to help themselves.”

As a trial attorney, Overton represents all types of businesses from Fortune 50 companies to family-owned operations, but his passion has always been representing local businesses and individuals. After working with a large national law firm in Denver, he began The Overton Law Firm in 1989.

Overton advises clients who are or might become involved in lawsuits. He handles a wide variety of civil litigation.  During the last 40 plus years, Overton has handled virtually every type of business dispute: complex financial fraud, trademark infringement, corporate espionage, real estate disputes, disagreements over company ownership, injunctions against former employees, and more. “I understand how businesses operate and the problems they face,” he says.

Tom Overton also handles cases involving serious personal injury and death. Overton has tried cases involving car and truck accidents and injuries from defective products. His experience includes cases with catastrophic injures and brain damage as well as most of the common injuries that result from motor vehicle accidents.

Overton has a heart for giving back to his profession and to children’s causes. Overton has served on numerous boards in his profession and remains very active with the American Board of Trial Advocates and the American Inns of Court. He served on the Jefferson and Gilpin County Judicial Nominating Commission. Overton and has served as the President of the Denver Children’s Home and has been honored by CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) as a “Hero for Kids”.

Tom Overton has been recognized by his peers for numerous professional honors, including: Super Lawyers Top 50 Lawyers in Colorado; Denver’s Top Lawyers by 5280 Magazine; Best Lawyers in America; and the Bar Registry of Preeminent Lawyers. He is Board Certified in Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and he is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocacy.

BOARD CERTIFICATIONS / MEMBERSHIPS:     

  • Certified as a Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (accredited by the American Bar Association)
  • Certified as a Civil Pretrial Practice Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow
  • American Academy of Trial Counsel, Fellow

ATTORNEY REGULATION:

  • Hearing Officer and Mediator, Colorado Supreme Court Attorney Regulation Board, 1999-Present
  • Member, Committee on Conduct, United States District Court for the District of Colorado, 2015-2021
  • Chair Committee on Conduct, United States District Court for the District of Colorado 2020-2021

PROFESSIONAL HONORS:

  • Super Lawyers Top 50 Attorneys in Colorado
  • 5280 Magazine Top Lawyers
  • Best Lawyers in America
  • Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
  • AV rating (Highest Level) Martindale-Hubbell

AMERICAN BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCATES:

  • Member American Board of Trial Advocates 2011-Present
  • President Colorado Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates 2023-2024

AMERICAN INNS OF COURT:

  • President, Yasui Inn of Court, 2016-2017
  • Master of the Bench/Mentor, Yasui Inn of Court, 2012 – Present
  • President, Thompson G. Marsh Inn, 2002-2003
  • Master of the Bench/Mentor, Marsh Inn, 1998-2011
  • Master of the Bench/Mentor, IP Inn of Court, 2010-2013

NATIONAL BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCACY:

  • Member, Board of Directors and Board of Examiners, 2000-2005
  • Colorado State Coordinator, 1998-present

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: 

  • Member, Board of Directors, Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado, 2020-2023
  • Member, First Judicial District Nominating Commission 2013-2019
  • Hero for Kids, CASA of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties 2006
  • Member, Colorado Intermountain Fixed Guideway Authority 1998-2000
  • Member, Board of Directors, Denver Children’s Home 1993-1999
  • President, Denver Children’s Home, 1996-1997
  • Member, Denver Children’s Home Advisory Board 1999-2010
  • Member, Board of Directors, Denver Entrepreneurship Academy 1992-1996
  • Member, Board of Directors, The Colorado Ballet 1989-1992
  • Past President, Colorado Lawyers for the Arts

BAR ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES: 

  • Member, Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Member, Life Fellow, American Board of Trial Advocates Foundation
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Colorado Bar Association
  • Member, Denver Bar Association
  • Member, First Judicial District Bar Association
  • Member, Faculty of Federal Advocates
  • Member, CBA Professionalism Committee
  • Member, Diversity Law Institute
  • Member, Trial Law Institute

REPORTED CASES:

Finan v. Vialpando (In re Estate of Gallegos), 449 P.3d 1058  (Colo. App. 2021)
Love v. Klosky, 413 P.3d 1267 (Colo. App. 2018)
Colorado Insurance Guaranty Association v. Sunstate Equipment Co., LLC, 405 P.3d 320 (Colo. App. 2016)
Bailey v. Lincoln General Ins. Co., 255 P.3d 1039 (Colo. 2011)
Lincoln General Ins. Co. v. Bailey, 224 P.3d 336 (Colo. App. 2009)
Olson v. Hillside Community Church, 124 P.3d 874 (Colo. App. 2005)
Hillside Community Church v. Olson, 58 P.3d 1021 (Colo. 2002)
Air Communication and Satellite, Inc. v. EchoStar Satellite Corp., 38 P.3d 1246 (Colo. 2002)
Brawner-Ahlstrom v. Husson, 969 P.2d 738 (Colo. App. 1998)
McRae v. Smith, 968 F. Supp. 559 (D. Colo. 1997)
EchoStar Satellite Corp. v. Advanced Communications Corp., 902 F. Supp. 213 (D. Colo. 1995)
EchoStar Satellite Corp. v. General Electric Co., 797 F. Supp. 855 (D. Colo. 1992)
Greenfield v. Hamilton Oil Corp., 760 P.2d 664 (Colo. App. 1988)
Rice v. Hamilton Oil Corp., 658 F. Supp. 446 (D. Colo. 1987)
Fredenberg v. Superior Bus Co., 631 F. Supp. 66 (D. Mont. 1986)
Adams-Arapahoe School District No. 28-J v. Celotex Corp., 637 F. Supp. 1207 (D. Colo. 1986)
Kopfman v. Freedom Drilling Co., 220 Neb. 323, 370 N.W. 2d 89 (1985)
Knittle v. Miller, 709 P.2d 32 (Colo. App. 1985)

LEGAL EDUCATION:

University of Tennessee

Knoxville, Tennessee
J.D. (with High Honors) June 1982

Honors and Activities:
Order of the Coif
Phi Kappa Phi
Tennessee Law Review, Assistant Editor, 1980-1982
Tennessee Judicial Newsletter, Editor-in-Chief, 1981-1982

Keenan Trial Institute
Graduate, 2019
Masters, 2020

National Institute of Trial Advocacy
Boulder, Colorado
National Program, 1986

UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION:

Davidson College
Davidson, North Carolina
B.A. June 1979

LICENSES:

Colorado
U.S. District Court of Colorado
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court