Practice areas: Professional Liability, Business Litigation; view more
Licensed in Colorado since: 2011
Education: University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Languages spoken: English, French, Spanish
Nicole Marie Black is a principal attorney at Vivid Legal, LLC, in Denver, Colorado, where she provides sophisticated and resolute defense for professionals facing high-stakes litigation. With a practice centered on professional liability and legal malpractice, Ms. Black is a trusted advocate for practitioners whose reputations and livelihoods are at risk. Her approach is defined by professionalism and confidence, combining academic training with a deep understanding of the ethical complexities inherent in professional services.
Ms. Black’s practice focuses on the defense of professionals accused of negligence or breaches of fiduciary duty. This includes legal malpractice, ethics and professional responsibility, and business litigation. She also handles broader professional malpractice matters, representing a diverse array of licensed professionals. By providing nuanced counsel on disciplinary matters and complex civil disputes, she ensures her clients receive a defense that is as rigorous as it is discreet.
At the University of Denver, Ms. Black graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in French and a Bachelor of Science in International Business in 2007. Her undergraduate distinctions include induction into Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma. She later earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2011, where she served as the Symposium Editor for the Denver University Law Review.
Ms. Black is admitted to practice before the Colorado State Bar and the District of Columbia Bar. Her jurisdictional reach extends to the federal level, including the United States District Court for the District of Colorado and the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.
Practice areas
Professional Liability: Defense, Business LitigationFocus areas
Ethics & Professional Responsibility, Legal Malpractice, Professional Malpractice - Other
- 70% Professional Liability: Defense
- 30% Business Litigation
First Admitted: 2011, Colorado
Professional Webpage: https://vividlegalnow.com/who-we-are/nicole-marie-black-esq/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Chair of the Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee
- University of Denver, Adjunct Professor, Sturm College of Law, Legal Profession (Spring Semester 2025); Adjunct Professor, Daniels College of Business, Foundations of Business Law & Ethics (Fall Quarters 2014, 2015; Winter 2015, 2016); Advisor and Coach, The Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Case Competition (Spring 2016); Writing Advisor, Bar Success Program (eight bar exams) (Dec. 2011– May 2015); Sturm College of Law Alumni Council (Councilmember, 2013–2014, 2016–Present, Chair 2023-2025); University-Wide Alumni Council (Councilmember, 2024-Present)
- Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program (Mentee, 2012-2015), (Mentor, 2016-Present)
- American Bar Association
- District of Columbia Bar Association
- Denver Bar Association
- Colorado Bar Association, Ethics Committee (Member 2020-Present, Chair 2025); Business Law Section Executive Council (Chair, 2019-2020) (Officer, 2016-2021) (Board of Governors Liaison 2021-2023); Executive Council (Member, 2016-2017, 2021-2023); Implementation Subcommittee of the Diversity & Inclusivity Taskforce (Member, 2019-2021); Sections Best Practices Committee (Chair, 2017-2018); Joint Management Committee (Member, 2016-2019); Strategic Planning Coordinating Committee (Member, Nov. 2014-June 2016); Young Lawyers Division Executive Council (Chair, 2016-2017) (Board Member, 2012-2017)
- Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals
- United States District Court for the District of Colorado
- District of Columbia Bar
- Colorado State Bar
Educational Background
- University of Denver, B.A. in French (with distinction), minor in Spanish, phi beta kappa, magna cum laude
- University of Denver, B.S. in Business Administration - International Business, beta gamma sigma, magna cum laude
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- United States v. Nacchio and the Implications of an Emerging Circuit Split: Practical and Policy Considerations of Amending Gain as a Measure of Culpability, 87 Denv. U. L. Rev. 633 (2010) ~ selected for reprint with First Annual White-Collar Crime Institute, New York City Bar Assoc. (May 4, 2012)
- The Creative Lawyer, Book Review, The Colorado Lawyer (Feb. 2015)
- Succession Planning with the Next Generation of Lawyers, The Docket (Oct. 11, 2018)
- Orientation Boot CAMP, Panelist, Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program (CAMP) of the Colorado Supreme Court (Denver, Colorado, Jan. 23, 2014; Jan. 29, 2015) (Pueblo, Colorado, Apr. 8, 2014)
- Balancing Your Profession, Panelist, DU Women’s Professional Alliance (Jan. 10, 2017)
- Women Mentoring Women CLE, Moderator, Denver Law Alumnae (Feb. 10, 2017)
- Persuasive and Effective Trial Skills, Colorado Bar Association CLE (Nov. 29, 2017)
- Top 10 Pitfalls Lawyers Fall into and How to Avoid Them, Presenter, Colorado Bar Association CLE (Dec. 18, 2018)
- Litigation Nuts & Bolts: Discovery, Colorado Bar Association CLE (May, 24, 2019)
- Persuasive and Effective Trial Skills 2.0, Solo/Small Firm Conference for Colorado Bar Association CLE (June 12, 2019)
- Ethics and Business Lawyers, Business Law Institute for Colorado Bar Association CLE (Sept. 12, 2019)
- Tips for Finding a Job During an Economic Downturn, Panelist, Sturm College of Law Career Development Office (June 8, 2020)
- Key Ethics Concerns for the Business Attorney, Co-Presenter, WealthCounsel (August 13, 2020)
- Sexual Harassment Crosses the Ethical Line and is Not Tolerated in the Legal Profession, Colorado Bar Association CLE, Litigation Summit (September 25, 2020)
- New Solo Lawyer Series: Legal Technologies and their Ethical Implications (Session 4), Colorado Bar Association Business Law Section/Solo Small Firm Section/Young Lawyers Division (January 28, 2021)
- Effective Networking, Sturm College of Law Professional Mentoring Program (August 28 and 30, 2021)
- Ethical Implications of Offering Affordable Legal Services, Business Law Institute for the Colorado Bar Association (Sept. 9, 2021)
- Social Media: Ethical and Professional Obligations for the Tweeting Lawyer, Colorado Bar Association Young Lawyers Division/Colorado Attorney Mentoring Program (CAMP) (Oct. 20, 2021)
- Family Law Update: Ethics Hot Topics, Colorado CLE and the Colorado Bar Association Family Law Section (Nov. 12, 2021)
- Mandatory Reporting: Requirements for You, Me, and the Judge, Ethics 7.0, Colorado CLE and the Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee (Nov. 19, 2021)
- Resolving Conflicts and Disagreements with Clients During the Representation, Best Practices and Ethics in the Profession Seminar, Colorado Bar Association Lawyer’s Professional Liability Committee for the Colorado Bar Association CLE (June 7, 2022)
- Effective Networking, Sturm College of Law Professional Mentoring Program (August 30, September 1, 8, and 10, 2022)
- Successfully Launching and Running Your Own Practice: The Lawyering Relationship and Ethics Basics for Solo Small Firm Life, Colorado Bar Association Lawyer’s Professional Liability Committee for the Colorado Bar Association CLE (August 10, 2022)
- The Fine Line Between Zealous Advocacy and Bullying, Annual Ethics Update, Colorado Bar Association Government Counsel Section and the Colorado Department of Law (Dec. 17, 2024)
- Show Me the Money! Fee Agreements, Fee Disputes, and Collections Best Practices, Business Law Institute for the Colorado Bar Association CLE (September 9, 2022)
- Building the Whole Lawyer, Panelist, Sturm College of Law Externship Program (November 10, 2022)
- Ethics for the Modern Generation: Navigating Your Online Presence and Client Communications in Today’s Digital Environment, Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee, Ethics 7.0 for the Colorado Bar Association CLE (November 18, 2022)
- I’ve Made an Error in My Legal Practice! Now What?, Panelist, American Bar Association Center for Professional Responsibility (February 22, 2023)
- Careers in Business Law, Panelist, Sturm College of Law Corporate and Commercial Certificate Program (March 15, 2023)
- Professionalizing the Lawyering Relationship: Ethics Basics for Solo and Small Firm Life, Hanging Your Own Shingle: Successfully Launching and Running Your Own Practice, Colorado Bar Association CLE and the Solo/Small Firm Section (August 16, 2023)
- Effective Networking in the Mentoring Relationship, Sturm College of Law Professional Mentoring Program (August 29, 31, September 7 and 9, 2023)
- Ethical Issues Facing Business Lawyers, Business Law Institute for the Colorado Bar Association CLE (September 8, 2023)
- Supervising Non-Lawyer Staff and Others, 2023 Solo and Small Firm Institute, Colorado Bar Association CLE (September 20, 2023)
- Drama on the Courthouse Steps: is the (In)Civility of Counsel Enabling or Impeding the Administration of Justice?, Litigator’s Summit, Colorado Bar Association CLE and the Litigation Section (November 16, 2023)
- Effective Networking in the Mentoring Relationship Ethics CLE, Sonia Sotomayor Inn of Court (November 16, 2023)
- Client Communications Update: What to Know About Ethics Opinion 148, Colorado Bar Association Lawyer’s Professional Liability Committee for the Colorado Bar Association CLE (June 20, 2024)
- Ethics Basics for Solo and Small Firm Life, Hanging Your Own Shingle: Successfully Launching and Running Your Own Practice, Colorado Bar Association CLE and the Solo/Small Firm Section (August 14, 2024)
- Quick Topic: Effective Networking in the Mentoring Relationship, Sturm College of Law Professional Mentoring Program (September 4, 5, 10 and 14, 2024)
- Competence and Lawyer Diminished Capacity, Ethics 7.1 for the Colorado Bar Association CLE, Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee (November 15, 2024)
Honors
- Colorado Super Lawyers®, Super Lawyers Magazine® (2022- 2025)
- Member, Beta Gamma Sigma Society
- Member, Phi Beta Kappa Society
- COBALT: Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training Program (Class of 2014)
- Member, Colorado Lawyers Committee Chair’s Roundtable (2017-Present)
- Commissioner, Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice’s Commission on Development of the Profession (2015–2019)
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation (2018-Present)
- Fellow, Colorado Bar Foundation (2014-Present)
- Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee (Member 2020-Present, Chair 2025)
- Colorado Rising Stars®, Super Lawyers Magazine® (2018-2021)
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2026
- Rising Stars: 2018 - 2021