Practice Areas: Alternative Dispute Resolution; view more
Licensed in Colorado since: 1998
Education: University of Miami School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2016 - 2023 Details
Robbie Meripol Barr’s experiences make her especially adept at mediation, a skill that has allowed her to resolve thousands of cases over the past 24 years.
Barr’s ability to settle claims stems in part from a diverse legal background that gives her multiple perspectives on the court process. In private practice, she tried complex civil cases, developing special expertise in commercial torts, real estate litigation, construction disputes, professional malpractice and all types of contractual claims.
Only six years out of law school, Barr achieved an AV Martindale-Hubbell rating. She knows how tough it is to manage a practice and to try cases, and she understands the issues that lawyers face in their daily practice.
Barr also understands the court process from the other side of the bench. Barr’s judicial experience began when she took her oath in January of 1991, joining Miami-Dade County’s Circuit Court (the largest circuit in the state and the fourth largest trial court in the nation). To survive, Barr was required to learn trial management quickly.
In addition to trying hundreds of cases in her civil docket, Barr handled 2,300 asbestos cases, which resulted in a 95% settlement rate. Additionally, she assumed duties as an appellate judge, hearing appeals in the Circuit Court’s Appellate Division, as well as twice being invited to sit as a Visiting Judge in Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal.
Barr always excelled academically, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Newcomb College of Tulane University, and serving as an editor on The University of Miami’s Law Review before graduating with honors in 1980. Barr has been invited to teach and train in a wide array of forums, including the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, and the ABA, and to assume positions of leadership in the bar associations to which she belongs.
The types of matters that Barr has handled since focusing her practice on arbitration and mediation have included employment law, professional negligence, environmental issues, construction disputes, probate, civil rights, and personal injury claims. She has been admitted to practice in both Colorado and Florida, as well as before several federal trial and appellate courts, including the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 5th and 11th Circuits.
She is active in numerous professional organizations.
Practice areas
Alternative Dispute ResolutionFocus areas
Arbitration, Mediation
- 100% Alternative Dispute Resolution
First Admitted: 1980, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://barradr.com/about-robbie-barr/
- Supporter Rose Andom Center (2013-Present)
- Supporter, Porter Billups Leadership Academy (2013-Present)
- Supporter, The Center (2013-Present)
- Supporter, Delta Eta Boule (2013-Present)
- Supporter, Matthew Shepard Foundation (2013-Present)
- Founding Member, Teaching and Rehabilitating Our Youth Program (TROY), 1991
- Vice President, Order of the Coif (f/k/a Wig and Robe Honor Society), 1980
- Articles and Comments Editor, University of Miami Law Review, 1980
- B.A. Newcomb College of Tulane University, 1976; magna cum laude; departmental honors (English literature), 1976
- American Jurisprudence Award for excellent achievement in the study of evidence, 1980
- Member, Phi Beta Kappa, 1976
- "Janet Reno: Because She's a Woman", 1993
- Rethinking mediation in the time of global pandemic, and helping lawyers adapt to changed landscape, author, A Message from COVID-19 to Trial Lawyers: Adapt or Die, NITA and Forbes, Legal, Small Business, 2020
- Trials are rare, especially in the age of Covid19. Mediation provides lawyers the chance to simultaneously “keep their axes sharp” for trial and to achieve better negotiated outcomes. This session highlights the overlaps between winning trial skills and winning settlement game plans: (1) telling compelling, fact-based legal stories, whether in opening or in a confidential settlement statement,(2) organizing evidence for the most effective presentation, whether to a jury or to opposing counsel and the mediator, (3) anticipating and planning for overcoming case weaknesses, and (4) thinking strategically about fallback positions and desired goals., presenter, Solo-Small Firm Institute virtual conference , Mediation: Your Best Opportunity to Develop and Practice Critical Trial Skills, Small Business, Legal, 2020
- "Mediation: Developing Trial Skills While Practicing as a Peaceful Warrior", Author, Law Week Colorado, 2019
- Speaker, "Common Pitfalls for Women Advocates: Strategies to Identify and Combat Difficult Scenarios in Negotiation, Deposition, and Trial", Colorado Women's Bar Association, 2018
- Presenter, "Well Begun is Half Done: Opening Statements", Faculty of Federal Advocates, 2018
- Presenter, "Closing Argument: Learning to Close Like the Pros", Faculty of Federal Advocates, 2018
- "Effective Opening and Closing Statements", Presenter, FFA Trial Advocacy Training Program, 2015
- Author, "The Legal Services Committee is Up and Running in 2013", The Advocate, 2013
- Presenter, "ADR Society Presents: Former Judge and JAG Arbiter Robbie Barr", University of Denver Sturm College of Law, 2012
- Presenter, "Witness Interviews", Colorado Women's Bar Association, 2011
- Presenter, "He Said WHAT? Ethical Issues in a Mediation Setting: Challenges for Advocates and Mediators", American Bar Association, 2010
- Presenter, "Mediation Ethics: Avoiding the Pitfalls", Colorado Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, 2008
- Panelist, "Uno" - Judges' Panel, Colorado Women's Bar Association, 2008
- Panelist, "Alternative Dispute Resolutions: Secrets for Success", American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Mass Torts and Products Liability Committees Joint CLE Seminar, 2006
- selected every year since inception, Denver Top Lawyer, 5280 Magazine, 2022
- Mediation (2020), The Best Lawyers in America©, 2019
- Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2019
- Denver Top Lawyer, 5280 Magazine, 2019
- Barrister's Choice Best Mediator, Law Week Colorado, 2018
- Denver Top Lawyer, 5280 Magazine, 2018
- Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2018
- Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2017
- Denver Top Lawyer, 5280 Magazine, 2017
- Denver Top Lawyer, 5280 Magazine, 2016
- Colorado Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2016
- Denver Top Lawyer, 5280 Magazine, 2015
- Member, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (2013-Present), 2022
- Member, Colorado Bar Association (1998-present), 2022
- Faculty Member, NITA trial skills program (2013-Present) , 2022
- Faculty Member, National Institute of Trial Advocacy (2015-Present), 2022
- Member, Colorado Women's Bar Association (2009-Present), 2022
- Board Member, Colorado Women's Bar Association (2013-2014), 2014
- Member, Boulder Bar Association (1998-2011), 2011
- President, Boulder Bar Foundation, 2010
- Director, Boulder Bar Foundation (2005-2010), 2010
- Adjunct Professor, University of Miami School of Law Litigation Skills Program (1991-1997), 1997
- Member, Eugene P. Spellman American Inn of Court (University of Miami) (1992-1997), 1997
- Member, The Florida Bar's Judicial Administration, Selection, and Tenure Committee (1992-1997), 1997
- Member (by appointment of Chief Justice), Florida Court Education Council (1995-1997), 1997
- Chair, Education Section, Florida Conference of Circuit Judges (1996-1997), 1997
- Member, American Bar Association, Environmental Committee of Litigation Section (1995-1997), 1997
- Appointed Member, Article V Advisory Committee, Florida Conference of Circuit Judges (1995-1997), 1997
- Third DCA Representative, Executive Committee, Florida Conference of Circuit Judges (1995-1997), 1997
- Director, Young Lawyers Section of Dade County Bar (1985-1987), 1987
- Chairperson, 1986 Law Week Committee, 1986
- Associate Editor and Editor-in-Chief, Dade County Bar Bulletin (1983-1985), 1985
- Volunteer Lawyer, Dade County Bar Association (1981-1982), 1982
- Member, Speakers Bureau (1981-1982), 1982
- Chairperson, Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Parental Leave Survey Committee (1981-1982), 1982
These comments were made by fellow attorneys during the annual nomination process.
“Robbie Barr is an outstanding mediator. Her ability to identify and accommodate subtle and challenging interpersonal dynamics sets her apart from her colleages. She is both empathetic and powerful.”
“Robbie Barr is a wonderful mediator, whose thoughtful and professional approach to cases helps to resolve them as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
“Colorado's best mediator.”
“An excellant mediator!”
“Robbie is absolutely the best in the field!”
“Robbie is a fantastic mediator - she gets the job done and both sides can walk away feeling like they have been listened to in a meaningful way.”
Office location for Robbie M. Barr
1777 South Harrison Street, Suite 1504
Denver, CO 80210
Phone: 303-579-1188
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2016 - 2023
