Laura Koupal

Bar / Professional Activity

• ART Deputy Director, Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys
• Professional member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and RESOLVE
• Volunteer, Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel
•  Member of the William E. Doyle Inn of Court
• Member of the Colorado Bar Association, the Denver Bar Association, and the Colorado Bar Association Family Law Section
• Member of the American Bar Association, and is part of the Family Law Section, as well as the Assisted Reproductive Technology committee

Special Licenses / Certifications

•  Fellow of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys (AAARTA),
• Open Door Professional Training Program Beyond Diversity: LGBTQ 101 Creating an Inclusive Practice Trans Fertility Considerations, 2020

Educational Background

• University of Colorado, Boulder, 1999

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• “Protections for Donor Conceived Persons and Families Act”, Co-Speaker, Colorado: A case study., Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, 2023
• Discussion on Ukraine's process to create a formal and comprehensive legal framework to regulate commercial surrogacy, that will include citizenship transmission guidance and seek to protect the rights of surrogates and families. , Virtual Speaker, “Commercial Surrogacy Regulation, A Project for Ukraine", World Denver and Meridian International Center, 2021
• 2019 Annual AAAA Conference, Co-Chair Continuing Legal Education, 2019 Annual AAAA Conference: There's No Place Like Home: Exploring Family Formation in the Emerald City, American Academy Of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, 2019
• The Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorney's 2019 Annual Conference - There's No Place Like Home: Exploring Family Formation in the Emerald City , Moderator, International Mountains and Minefields: How to Spot Tough Terrain, American Academy Of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, 2019
• Family Law Institute: Effective Advocacy in a Diverse World, Speaker, An Overview of ART Law in Colorado, Colorado Bar Association 2018 Annual Family Law Institute, 2018
• Family Law Section CLE: Presentation on Colorado Case Law Regarding Division of Fertilized Embryos, Speaker, Overview In Re the Marriage of Rooks, Boulder County Bar Association, 2018
• "Emerging Issues in Family Law," Guest Lecturer, Advanced Family Law, University of Denver College of Law, April, 2012.
• ABA 2017 FALL CLE CONFERENCE, Beaver Creek, Colorado  , Speaker, An Overview of ART Law in Colorado, 2017
• How and why lawyers are used for 3rd party reproduction., Speaker, How Lawyers are Involved, Colorado Center For Reproductive Medicine, 2016
• Co-Chaired production of all topics and speakers for AAAA Mid-year Conference, Continuing Legal Education Co-Chair, Master the Magic of Family Building: Reproductive Technology Law In a Changing World, Academy Of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, 2017
• “Rubber, Meet Road”, Moderator, ABA Section of Family Law Bahamas Conference, 2016, Moderator, "Rubber, Meet Road", ABA Section Of Family Law Bahamas Conference, 2016
• Developed topic, recruited speakers and moderated presentation., Producer and Moderator, "Surrogacy Rights: A View from the Other Side", AAAA/AAARTA Annual Conference, 2016
• "The A.R.T. of Practice: Blending Personal Passions with Practice.", Wealth Counsel Symposium, 2015
• “LBGT Family Building: What to Know as You Begin Your Journey”, Out Boulder, 2014
• “Family Building Options for LGBT People,”, Task Force, 2014
• "ART Law", Guest Lecturer, Advanced Family Law, University Of Denver Sturm College Of Law, 2013
• "Assisted Reproduction and Child Support", Colorado Family Support Council, 2013
• "Impact of Adoption and ART on DR", Family Law Institute, Vail CO, 2013
• Co-Chair, “Assisted Reproductive Technology: The Process, Bioethics, and How It Will Affect Your Practice”:, Colorado Bar Association CLE, 2012
• "Family Law", Lawyers' Professional Liability in Colorado, Colorado CLE,  Second and Third Ed., 2008
• "Same Sex Rights & Family Law - Protecting the Non-Traditional Family in a System of Tradition," University of Denver College of Law,  2011
• "Emerging Issues in Family Law," Guest Lecturer, Advanced Family Law, University of Denver College of Law, April 7, 2011

Other Outstanding Achievements

• Laura worked with Colorado colleagues to draft and successfully lobby the passage of Colorado Surrogacy Act signed by Governor Polis on May 6, 2021. , 2021

Honors

• Awarded to any Fellow that has distinguished himself or herself in the areas of adoption and/or ART law and/or within or outside of the Academy., Fellow of Distinction, Acedemy Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, 2022
•  AV* rated by Martindale-Hubbell.  *AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories: legal ability and general ethical standards.
• Rated "Superb", Avvo

Industry Groups

• Assisted Reproductive Technology

“I have worked with Laura Koupal for about 17 years. It is always a pleasure working across from Laura. She is a zealous advocate for her clients while maintaining a collaborative approach, which is essential for assisted reproductive technology matters. Laura's knowledge of assisted reproductive law is second to none, and she is generous in sharing what she knows. We work in a highly sensitive area of the law, and Laura is able to handle the most delicate and complicated matters. I am honored to nominate her for a Super Lawyers designation.”

“Top of her field. Excellent attorney.”

“Laura is a fantastic attorney, one of only several in the state who handle artificial reproductive technology law involving surrogates, intended parents, egg donors and sperm donors.”

“Laura is an outstanding attorney! She is smart, funny, and knows her field of practice better than anyone!”