Practice Areas: Business Litigation, Construction Litigation, DUI-DWI; view more
Licensed in Colorado since: 2006
Education: University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2023 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2010 - 2021 Details
Driven by the desire to help the Latino community with custom-made solutions, Derek Blass established Blass Law in 2017 in Denver, Colorado. His diverse legal practice encompasses simple to complex cases involving:
- Â Â Civil litigation: Construction defects, insurance defense, business disputes, personal injury
- Â Â Corporate law: Business and entity formation, contract review
- Â Â Criminal defense: Misdemeanors to felonies
- Â Â Family law: Divorces, child custody disputes and more
A seasoned attorney who employs a rare blend of aggressive and reason-based strategies, Mr. Blass has efficiently settled hundreds of cases over his 10-plus years of practice via trials, negotiations and mediation. Extremely knowledgeable, straightforward and responsive, he has numerous successful case outcomes, including overturning the Colorado Court of Appeals’ judgment on distributing attorney’s fees in the Colorado Supreme Court.
Mr. Blass joined the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity while studying English and economics at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and he finished with a bachelor’s degree in 2002. In 2005, he graduated from the University of Denver – Sturm College of Law with a Juris Doctor degree, where he also served as president of the Latino Law Student Association and was honored with the first-ever DU Schimberg Diversity Scholarship for academic performance and community service.
Licensed to practice law in Colorado, Mr. Blass maintains significant involvement in professional organizations such as the American Bar Association, the Colorado Bar Association and the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association. He is the recipient of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association’s Outstanding Young Hispanic Lawyer of the Year and the finalist of the Law Week Colorado’s Up and Coming Lawyers. Furthermore, his writing skills were highlighted by TheLatinoAuthor.com.
Practice areas
Business Litigation, Construction Litigation: Business, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Family Law, Civil Litigation: Plaintiff, Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFocus areas
Child Support, Construction Defects, Custody & Visitation, DUI/DWI, Divorce, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Non-Compete Agreements, Personal Injury - Plaintiff, Trade Secret
- 20% Business Litigation
- 20% Construction Litigation: Business
- 20% Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI
- 20% Family Law
- 10% Civil Litigation: Plaintiff
- 10% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2006, Colorado
Professional Webpage: https://blass-legal.com/about-derek
- Delegate to City and County of Denver's Human Rights and Community Relations Agency's Advisory Board, 2007-2009
- Career fair volunteer for Colorado UpLift, 2006-present
- Member of Dean's Diversity Pipeline Working Group, 2007-2008
- Board member for Escuela Tlateloco, 2008-present (Vice Chair August 2009-present)
- Board member and volunteer attorney for Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network, 2006-present
- Member of Federal Magistrate Judge Michael Watanabe's Dream Team for Diversity Pipeline Program, 2008-2009
- Co-Chair of Denver Latino Commission, 2007-2012
- Co-Chair of the Denver Chapter of the Colorado Latino Commission, 2011
- AVI Roofing and Gutters, Inc., Santiago's Mexican Restaurant, NPW Contracting, Inc., Frank's Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., Steamers Coffeehouse, Summit Steel, Inc., Planning Partners International, Premier International Tours
- Colorado Hispanic Bar Association Young Attorney of the Year 2010
- Colorado Law Week Up and Coming Lawyer Finalist, 2011
- Founded in 1982, the Marshall Memorial Fellowship (MMF) was created by the German Marshall Fund of the United States to introduce a new generation of European leaders to America's institutions, politics, and people. Â The German Marshall Fund launched a companion program in 1999 to introduce America's leaders to Europe., Nominee, Marshall Memorial Fund Fellowship, 2009
- Recognition of Up and Coming Young Lawyers in Colorado, Up and Coming Lawyers--Finalist, Colorado Law Week, 2010
- Colorado Super Lawyer Rising Star from 2010 to the present.
- Duke University, B.A. Economics and English, 2002
- American Bar Association, 2006
- Colorado Bar Association, 2006
- Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, 2006
- Article addressing the efficiencies of retaining a Spanish-speaking attorney to represent Spanish-speaking clients., Top Five Reasons to Retain a Spanish-Speaking Attorney to Represent Your Spanish-Speaking Client, American Bar Association, Minority Trial Lawyer Section, ABA Minority Trial Lawyer, 2008
- Subject of Law Week Colorado article regarding certiorari to Colorado's Supreme Court on the issue of allocation of attorney's fees., 2013
- Released my first novel, entitled Enemy in Blue, on June 24, 2011. Enemy in Blue has been a bestseller in the US and UK several times over in 2011-2012. Released my second book, Allegiance, in May of 2012., 2011
- Obtained defense verdict in favor of cardiologist. Â This was a civil jury trial in Jefferson County District Court., 2013
- Successfully defended orthopedic surgeon in medical malpractice claim before Judge Dennis Hall of the Arapahoe County District Court. Â After trial to a jury, obtained complete defense verdict., 2011
- Argued on certiorari to Colorado's Supreme Court on the issue of allocation of attorney's fees. Â Was successful in reversing the ruling of Colorado's Court of Appeals. Â Was first chair on this matter., 2013
- Second-chaired a complex, commercial litigation trial in Denver District Court regarding a commercial incentive trip that went awry because of skyrocketing fuel prices in 2007 and 2008. Â Client was awarded all of their claimed damages (with some offset on a counterclaim) as well as approximately 80% of the attorney fees and costs claimed., 2009
- Full defense verdict in medical malpractice action in El Paso County District Court. Â Responsible for opening statement, examinations of witnesses, and trial efficiency matters., 2013
- Successfully defended general practice dentist in dental malpractice lawsuit in Arapahoe County District Court. Â Allegations dealt with alleged malpractice in performance of equilibration and restorative dentistry. Â Trial to jury resulted in defense verdict., 2011
- Construction
- Medical
- Restaurants
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2023
- Rising Stars: 2010 - 2021
