Kirsten J. Crawford

Prior to Joining the Firm

• While serving as Breckenridge Town Attorney, Kirsten negotiated and drafted a wide array of land use entitlement legal instruments, including annexation, zoning, and real estate agreements for Breckenridge’s largest mixed-use development that included a 36-room hotel, single and multi-family residential development, and rental restricted workforce and affordable housing units.
• As Legislative Counsel for the Denver City Council, Kirsten served as a top leader in the City Attorney’s Office overseeing legal advice on high-level policy matters for the City. Kirsten has developed exceptional legal draftsmanship having lead efforts for complex regulatory frameworks, and formal legal opinions to decide important issues of law.  Kirsten’s unique responsibilities included  serving as impartial legal advisor to the Denver County Court, overseeing review and comment hearings on citizen initiatives, providing new board member training and orientation for over 130 of Denver’s boards and commissions, and overseeing Denver’s legal analysis of state bills introduced at the Colorado General Assembly.
• Advised the City of Denver on complying with election laws and rules for referring measures to the ballot such as drafting ballot titles in compliance with single subject rules, strategy for crafting ballot questions, and deadlines for adoption of ordinances to meet ballot production.
• Negotiated agreements for innovative public/private venture involving land contribution from county and modular units from private partner, with expedited approval process leading to development of 60-unit workforce housing project that has garnered state and national recognition.
• Served in leadership roles for diversity and inclusiveness boards and initiatives; legal education and mentorship programs; and initiatives for cross departmental collaboration.
• Negotiated and drafted agreements and legal transactions including acquisition and disposition of real property, purchase and sale agreements, leases, licenses, easements, restrictive covenants, deeds of trust, promissory notes, appreciation limiting notes, and agreements for design, construction, and professional services.
• Implemented innovative legal frameworks, setting a precedent for efficient municipal operations and governance, and administrative compliance program leading to dramatic increase in regulatory compliance.
• Advised elected/appointed municipal officials and employees on federal, state, and municipal laws, including home rule charter interpretation, land use, rezoning, development, municipal finance, open meetings, open records, collective bargaining.
• Negotiated and drafted capital construction and professional services contracts for major infrastructure projects, including federally funded projects.