Outstanding Sustained Contribution Award: Dan Sweetser; The Sweetser Law Firm, P.C.

The Outstanding Sustained Contribution Award is presented each year to an individual whose participation with the Colorado Lawyers Committee over many years has significantly and positively promoted its mission, making an important difference in the lives of children and the underprivileged. This year’s recipient is Daniel A. Sweetser of The Sweetser Law Firm, P.C. 

Dan received his B.S. in Business Administration, Real Estate emphasis, from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1979. He earned his J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Real Estate emphasis, in 1986. Dan started his legal career with Bank Western as Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Vice President in 1987. After Bank Western, he worked for DiManna & Jackson, LLP for eight years as an Associate Attorney. In 1998, Dan moved to Robinson Waters & O’Dorisio, P.C., where he was an associate and then Shareholder for seven years. Dan took a brief hiatus from private practice to assist one of his clients, serving as Chief Operating Officer at Alem International Management, Inc. The following year, Dan opened his own firm, The Sweetser Law Firm, P.C., where he has been President and Sole Shareholder since 2006. During his career, Dan played an integral part in the development of both Coors Field and Broncos Stadium at Mile High, handling real estate and finance matters on those projects. Dan is also a frequent lecturer for CLE programs and has authored amicus briefs for the Colorado Supreme Court on behalf of the Colorado Bar Association and Land Title Association of Colorado.

The Colorado Lawyers Committee is honoring Dan Sweetser this year for his long-standing commitment to pro bono work. Dan has been active in the Colorado Lawyers Committee for 26 years and has participated in 13 different Task Forces, beginning in 1993 with the Education Task Force. Dan has spent 17 years working to improve conditions in our Colorado schools. During the 1990’s, Dan was involved in several noteworthy projects through the Education Task Force: the PS 1 Charter School case, the Thurgood Marshall Charter School case, Charter School legislation, and the Rural Education Task Force. In 2009, Dan became a member of the Denver Public School (DPS) Task Force, serving as Co-Chair from 2011-2014. Recently, Dan has been active in the Education Task Force School Discipline Subcommittee. 

Along with Education, Dan has been passionate about donating his time and efforts toward election issues. Dan has been a member of the Election Task Force since 2006. Beginning with the 2008 Election, Dan has been a major contributor to the Nonpartisan Election Call Center, serving on the Steering Committee for most of the last 11 years. Outside of his contributions to education and elections in Colorado, Dan has also been a participant in Denver Legal Night, Hate Crimes Education Program, and Project Homeless Connect. 

In addition to his substantive work on Lawyers Committee projects, Dan has been involved in the leadership of the Lawyers Committee. Dan served on the Board of Directors from 1993 to 1998; he rejoined the Board in 2006 and has remained on the Board for the past 13 years. Dan is an extraordinary legal talent and has offered invaluable, steady, enthusiastic leadership that has benefited both the Colorado Lawyers Committee and the populations we serve. The Colorado Lawyers Committee is sincerely grateful to Dan for his many contributions. We are proud to honor Dan Sweetser with the Outstanding Sustained Contribution Award