Board

Metro Volunteer Lawyers’ Board oversees the organization’s operations. The Board is comprised of volunteer attorney members from the Denver Bar Association, Douglas/Elbert Bar Association, Adams/Broomfield Bar Association, and First Judicial District Bar Association. 

 

Chair 2022-2023

Mindy Moses - Melinda, or Mindy as she is known, is an associate attorney practicing family law at Ciancio Ciancio Brown.  Before practicing family law, Mindy worked as a staff attorney at the Colorado Court of Appeals for almost twenty years.  She specialized in cases involving all aspects of family law, dependency and neglect, and workers' compensation.  The issues she addressed ran the gamut from adoption and paternity to complex financial matters.  In addition to her work at the court and in private practice, Mindy has presented or co-presented at several seminars, including the 2009 Colorado Family Law Institute, where she spoke on "Appellate Practice 101," a 2014 CLE seminar held at the Denver Juvenile Court on "Tips and Themes for Dependency and Neglect Appeals," and at the 2016 Colorado Elder Law Retreat, in a program on Grey divorce.  Mindy also serves as a member of the Board of Law Examiner's Law Committee, which oversees administration of the Colorado Bar Exam.
Mindy completed her undergraduate degree with distinction at the University of Colorado in English Literature, where she was inducted as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, was on the Dean's List all four years, and received the Dean's Scholarship.  She earned her law degree from the University of Colorado School of Law, where she received the Moses Lasky Scholarship and the American Jurisprudence Award for Torts and Legal Seminar.  After law school, Mindy was a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Dale P. Tursi, and the Honorable John A. Criswell, both of whom served on the Colorado Court of Appeals.
Mindy is a fourth-generation Denver native.  She and her husband, an architect, have raised two daughters in their historic Denver square home.  Mindy enjoys time with family and friends, travel, museums, hiking, fiction, and films.
Designee from the Adams/Broomfield Bar Association

 

Vice Chair 2022-2023

Jerremy Ramp is a partner with the firm Lass, Moses, Ramp & Cooper LLC , where his practice focuses on family law. Jerremy grew up in Indiana but has been in Denver since graduating from Notre Dame Law School in 2003. Jerremy serves on the board of Metro Volunteer Lawyers, the Family Law Section Executive Council, and the Family Law Section Legislative Committee. He has been named as a Colorado Super Lawyer, 5280 Top Lawyers and to the Best Lawyers in America. After college, Jerremy spent a fascinating and rewarding year in Jerusalem doing archaeological work and volunteering at a hospital, and he spent his second year of law school in London studying international law. In his free time, Jerremy enjoys house projects, playing in the mountains, and most of all, tries—often unsuccessfully—to keep up with his three little kids.
Designee from the Denver Bar Association

 

 

 

Board Members

Madoche Jean - Madoche Jean focuses his practice on civil litigation, representing clients in all aspects of litigation and concentrating on the defense of claims related to general liability, employment liability, professional liability, premises liability, personal injury, and business and real estate litigation. Madoche also has experience working as a deputy district attorney in Boulder County, where he tried numerous cases and gained extensive courtroom experience.

Madoche is a bilingual first-generation Haitian American and college and law school graduate. He strongly supports the work of MVL and applauds its mission. In his free time, Madoche enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, weight training, and anything football related.
Designee from the Adams/Broomfield Bar Association

Patricia Rosales-Chavez Semi-retired.  Active 1985-2017.  Graduated from University of Northern Colorado with a double major in Communications: Law and Public Policy/Mass Media and Political Science.  Obtained JD from University of Colorado.  Practiced primarily in the public sector.  Began legal career with Colorado Legal Services, representing underserved population, including senior citizens and worked for the Office of Legislative Legal Services serving the Colorado General Assembly, The Colorado Parole Board as an Administrative Law Judge regarding parole revocations and as a member of the Board, The Colorado Attorney General’s Office, Pueblo and Adams County Attorney’s Offices and Weld and Pueblo County District Attorney’s Office.  Worked as an advocate for consumers of  mental health services and their families and other support groups.
Designee from the Adams/Broomfield Bar Association

Emily Koekkoek is an associate at Sherr Puttmann Akins Lamb PC. She focuses her practice entirely on family law litigation and mediation. After earning a Bachelor of Arts from the McGill University, Emily attended the University of Oregon for Law School and earned a Juris Doctor along with a certificate in Environment and Natural Resources Law. She has completed the 40 Hour Mediation Certification course and has presented at the annual Colorado Family Law Institute.

Emily is a member of the Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee, the Colorado Bar Association and its family law section, and the Denver Bar Association. Emily has been named a “One to Watch” on Best Lawyers in 2021 and 2022. Emily is dedicated to giving back to the community through her service with Metro Volunteer Lawyers and Project Safeguard. Emily is honored to join the MVL board and expand her role as a volunteer for the organization.
Designee from the Arapahoe Bar Association

 

Dawn Rodgers is a solo practitioner at Rodgers Law, LLC. Her practice includes family law, CFI, PCDM, mediation, and juvenile matters in the Denver metro area. She was born and raised in Colorado. She earned her B.A. in Sociology with a criminal justice concentration from Colorado State University in 2005. She completed her JD at the University of North Dakota School of Law in 2008. She is a past president of the Douglas Elbert Bar Association. She is currently on the Arapahoe County Bar Association Board’s Events Committee. She is a member of the Douglas Elbert Bar Association, Arapahoe County Bar Association, and the Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee. She believes all people should have equal access to the legal system and donates her time to the Arapahoe County Bar Association’s pro se clinic on an as needed basis. She also occasionally accepts limited pro bono work on a case by case basis. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family in the mountains hiking and biking.

Designee from the Arapahoe Bar Association

 

Erin K. Williams was born in Denver, Colorado and has worked in U.S. immigration for more than 20 years. As a wife, mother of four, and a solo immigration and estate planning practitioner with a small team, Erin seeks to educate and empower her clients in all of their endeavors. Earning her bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University and law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, Erin has owned her firm, Landmark Immigration & Estates Law, since January 2020. She gives back through her legal work, board memberships, and community involvement including Metro Volunteer Lawyers and legal night at Centro San Juan Diego. Erin is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, CBA Immigration Law Section, the Arapahoe County Bar Association and American Immigration Lawyers Association. Erin enjoys traveling and experiencing all life has to offer with her family and friends.

Designee from the Arapahoe Bar Association

 

Kyle W. Brenton is an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.  In that capacity, Mr. Brenton defends the United States and its agencies and employees in civil litigation and conducts affirmative civil enforcement investigations.  Before joining the Department of Justice, Kyle was Of Counsel at Childs McCune LLC, where he led that firm’s appellate practice, and prior to that he was a senior associate at Davis Graham & Stubbs, LLP.  Kyle graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School, after which he clerked for the Honorable David M. Ebel on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. 
Designee from the Denver Bar Association

 

James Garts- James Garts is a family law attorney based in Denver but with a practice that at times spans the state.  First licensed to practice law in Tennessee during 2002 and with more than 17-years of experience, James manages a caseload of clientele with divorce and custody disputes or simply agreements they want made clear and enforceable, but most of all understood.  James excels in client contact and education with one goal in mind — obtaining the best possible outcome in a difficult family situation. James furthers his interest in seeking justice and equity through voluntary dispute resolution and litigation when necessary.  James’ satisfaction comes from having happy and oftentimes relieved clients.

James graduated from The Colorado College in 1999, and obtained his law degree in 2002 from the Samford University Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama. He began his legal career in his birthplace, Memphis, Tennessee and practiced in a variety of fields of law there for several years until he moved back to Colorado during 2006 where his practice now focuses solely upon family law issues. 
As a member and active volunteer with the Colorado Bar Association he finds great personal satisfaction in observing and following the trends in the provision of legal services as the practice of law modernizes and evolves.  
He is an avid road and mountain bicyclist and supports trail conservation and common-use efforts.
Designee from the Denver Bar Association

Martin Champagne Martin J. Champagne, Jr. has tried numerous cases before judges and juries involving multi-million-dollar commercial disputes, contract disputes and various negligence claims. He has served as trial counsel for the trial division of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Companies and has been trial counsel for numerous Fortune 500 companies and municipalities. Martin was awarded a juris doctor, with honors, by the University of Florida College of Law in 2001. He also holds a B.A. in English from Keene State College in Keene, N.H. He currently practices business litigation and appeals in Colorado and Florida.

Growing up in a family of modest means, he recalls the Lions Club delivering food and presents to his family one Christmas Eve when he was 9-years-old. The generosity of a group of strangers left an indelible impression on him. Since becoming a lawyer, he has volunteered as a guardian ad-litem for neglected children, regularly accepted pro bono cases on behalf of those in need and helped people with their legal problems at monthly legal aid clinics. He believes Metro Volunteer Lawyers serves a critical need in the community.
Martin lives in Denver with a very big German Shepard.
Designee from  the Denver Bar Association

Noah Patterson Noah Patterson is a Senior Assistant Attorney General at the Colorado Department of Law. His practice focuses on tax litigation and general counsel work. Noah is also an Assistant Solicitor General and works on appellate matters throughout the Department of Law. Noah graduated from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2010, after which he served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Diana Terry on the Colorado Court of Appeals.

Noah is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the Denver Bar Association, and is dedicated to furthering access to justice efforts in Colorado. As part of those efforts, Noah has worked as a volunteer attorney in MVL’s post-decree clinic since 2014. He is thrilled to join MVL’s board and support MVL’s great work.
Designee from the Denver Bar Association

Zachary Roeling 

Solution-oriented and child-focused, Zachary S. Roeling (Zac) brings a track record of problem-solving to the practice of Colorado family law, whether the issue is financial or concerning children. He represents clients in legal issues both complex and simple related to legal separation and divorce, custody, spousal and child support, post-Decree modifications of prior orders, including child relocation and removal disputes, same-sex divorce, civil unions and other LGBTQ+ relationship issues, unmarried partner disputes and premarital and marital agreements. He is as equally comfortable in court as he is settling cases in the spirit of compromise without resorting to judges. 

Mr. Roeling is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, the National LGBT Bar Association, the Colorado LGBT Bar Association and the Denver Bar Association. Fluent in both English and French, his experience includes complex dissolution matters regarding trusts, business valuations, and complicated custody issues. He is adept at distilling nuanced issues into simple language everyone can understand. He neither picks fights nor backs down from them when warranted.

Zac, a Colorado native, holds a BA in English Literature and French from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with a Dean's Scholarship and the Katherine Jacob Lamont Scholarship in the Humanities. He then graduated from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law with his Juris Doctor as a recipient of the Robert B. Yegge Memorial Scholarship.

Zac’s first experience in a legal work environment was as a law student at Colorado Legal Services, where he gained a deep understanding of the need for pro bono services and for attorneys to support their communities’ underserved populations. He is thrilled to be a part of an organization like MVL. As a classically trained pianist and former English teacher to middle-school and elementary students in France, in his spare time you will find him buried in a novel, at the keyboard or planning his next trip overseas with his partner.
Designee from the Denver Bar Association

Ben King - W. Benjamin King is a Colorado native and third-generation trial attorney. Mr. King attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, Leeds School of Business. where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing. Subsequently, he received his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Miami’s School of Law in Florida and is licensed to practice law in the state and federal courts of Colorado.   Mr. King began his legal career with a prestigious Denver family law firm where he specialized in litigating highly-contested divorces and child custody cases.  Additionally, he also has experience in appellate work and has prevailed on issues in both the Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court. Mr. King’s  practice now focuses on construction related matters, including construction defect claims, general insurance defense, personal injury, and family law.  
 
Mr. King has authored multiple legal publications and is a member of: the American Bar Association (ABA), Colorado Bar Association (CBA), Denver Bar Association, Arapahoe County Bar Association,  Colorado Bar Young Lawyers Division, Faculty of Federal Advocates, Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee (MDIC), the Douglas-Elbert County Bar Association (DEBA), and acts as the DEBA Representative to the Metro Volunteer Lawyers (MVL) Board of Governors.
 
Mr. King is a fitness enthusiast who enjoys volunteering when he is not exploring the Colorado mountain ranges and spending time with his family.
Designee from the Douglas/Elbert Bar Association

Ric Morgan has long been deeply involved in Access to Justice programs, and was the founding co-chair of the 18th Judicial District’s Access to Justice Committee. Over the past dozen years, he developed and supported Pro Se Clinics and Domestic Violence programs in four nearby counties. In 2011, he coordinated efforts to set up a new Veterans Treatment Court in the 18th Judicial District, which was funded, established, and had its first graduates in 2015.   In 2013, he founded the Virtual Pro Se Clinic (VPC) program, which is a public-private collaboration delivering free monthly legal clinics to local libraries in 35 Colorado Counties, all by computer link. Ric also provides pro bono legal counsel for various local non-profit organizations, including farmers & ranchers organizations, veterans groups, municipal districts, local citizens groups, and governmental bodies.    

Ric is a graduate of Denver University Law School, and has an MS from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and his BS from Colorado State University. He and his wife operate a small dairy goat farm in rural Elbert County, and they have two grown sons, and three grand-daughters. In addition to goat farming, he enjoys genealogy, shooting sports, carpentry, beekeeping, and is an avid student of history.    
Designee from the Douglas/Elbert Bar Association

Aaron Suazo Aaron is dedicated to helping his clients and their families, whether it is through a divorce, fighting criminal charges or helping them navigate through parenting disputes and other issues.  Aaron is a tireless worker who works closely with his clients to help bring a favorable resolution their problems.   

Aaron brings a long history of courtroom and negotiation experience to Suazo Law LLC. He began his legal career as an intern at the Denver District Attorney’s Office while attending law school at the University of Colorado. Preceding his formal study of law, Aaron served in the United States Marine Corps for 12 years. He began his military career as a military policeman and was later sent to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California, where he learned to speak the Korean language. He then worked as an interrogator in the military intelligence field for the rest of his Marine Corps career.  

Immediately after graduating from Law School, Aaron worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Frank Plaut in the Jefferson County District Court. While with Judge Plaut, he was able to see firsthand the inner workings of the court and how domestic relations and criminal law was practiced.  After his clerkship, Aaron returned to the Denver District Attorney’s Office where he was eventually promoted to the position of a Senior Deputy District Attorney before joining moving into private practice. During his stretch with the Denver District Attorney’s Office, Aaron was assigned to several specialized units, including the High Impact Drug Trafficking Area where he focused on prosecuting criminals involved in multi-state drug trafficking organizations and was appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney.  

Aaron was also assigned to the Family Violence Unit where he gained valuable experience dealing with issues concerning families. While in the Family Violence Unit, Aaron prosecuted individuals charged with domestic violence crimes such as sexual assaults on their spouses or significant others, sexual assault on children and other crimes involving child victims, and all forms of domestic violence.  

Aaron has tried countless jury trials, ranging from simple assaults to complex multi-defendant homicides.  

Aaron moved to private practice was eventually became a partner at a major domestic relations law firm in the Denver metro area.  While there, Aaron handled both domestic relations and criminal cases.  Aaron’s background as a prosecutor with extensive litigation experience helped prepare him to handle both domestic relations and criminal cases.  Indeed, his experience prosecuting domestic violence crimes has given him a unique perspective on domestic violence as it relates to dissolutions of marriage and child custody issues.   
Designee from the Douglas/Elbert Bar Association

Stephen Cook is the managing partner at Smith & Cook, LLC, a general litigation form with an emphasis in Criminal Defense, Family Law and General Civil Litigation. Stephen currently volunteers at the Legal Clinic for the Women in Crisis Center with Family Tree, Inc. and is the Continuing Legal Education Chairperson for the 1st JD Bar Association.  Graduating law school from Valparaiso University in 1996 and Indiana University with a bachelor of science in Marketing in 1993, Stephen has called Colorado home since 1996.  He is married with 3 children and in his spare time enjoys golfing, fly fishing and reading history. 
Designee from the First Judicial District Bar Association

Andrew “Andy” Hart. Andy got involved with Metro Volunteer Lawyers after obtaining his Juris Doctorate from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in 2007. Andy was then employed with Metro Volunteers Lawyers as the Family Law Court Program Coordinator for two years before going off into private practice. He has served on the Board of Directors since 2012. In his spare time, Andy spends time with his family exploring Colorado and all it has to offer - hiking, backpacking, cycling, and skiing all over the state. When not engaged in outdoor pursuits, Andy enjoys spending time with friends, family, a good book, and rabidly cheering on the University of Oregon Ducks. Andy remains grateful for the opportunity to have worked for an organization that helps so many people who lack the resources to hire an attorney, and continues to support their efforts as a volunteer. At a young age, he learned that the practice of law is an honorable profession full of good, dedicated people. Andy is partner at the family law firm of Radeff & Hart.
Designee from the First Judicial District Bar Association

Joe Maher is a Senior Associate with Griffiths Law PC.  Joe began his legal career with a judicial clerkship prior to entering private practice.  His practice now involves all aspects of family law from the trial level through appeals. 

Joe has always had an interest in public service.  Prior to law school, he worked with at-risk teenage you to develop their civic knowledge and awareness as an AmeriCorps volunteer.  He now sits on the Associate Board for the same organization’s Denver location, City Year.  As an attorney, he has always been active in the local bar associations and fundraisers to contribute to resources available to litigants and families.

Outside the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children.
Designee from the First Judicial District Bar Association

Kama McConaughy Sarkissian focuses her practice in all areas of family law. Ms. McConaughy Sarkissian has an extensive background in complex litigation, settlement negotiations, and appeals, having represented clients throughout the state of Colorado. Ms. McConaughy Sarkissian is licensed to practice law in Colorado, where she has lived since 1979. She attended Cherry Creek High School. Thereafter, she graduated in 1993 from the University of Colorado, Boulder, summa cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Ms. McConaughy Sarkissian attended Tulane School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana, where she earned her Juris Doctorate, cum laude. During law school, Ms. McConaughy Sarkissian was an associate editor of The Tulane International and Comparative Law Journal. Upon graduating law school in 1997, Ms. McConaughy Sarkissian returned to Colorado and began practicing family law. Ms. McConaughy Sarkissian is experienced in representing clients in all areas of family law, from financially complex divorce cases to high profile custody matters. While she strives to develop creative settlement solutions for her clients, she has the litigation experience necessary to successfully represent her clients in court when settlement is not possible. Ms. McConaughy Sarkissian is a member of the Colorado Bar Association, CBA Family Law Section, and the Arapahoe County Bar Association. Metro Denver Interdisciplinary Committee (MDIC), the Douglas-Elbert County Bar Association.   Ms. Sarkissian is the Arapahoe County Bar Association Representative to the Metro Volunteer Lawyers (MVL) Board of Governors. Ms. McConaughy Sarkissian is trained in Collaborative Law and is a member of the Denver Source for Collaborative Divorce.  She is married with three hockey playing children. In her free time, she enjoys watching ice hockey, skiing, and spending time with her family. 
Member at Large

Leo Milan is a retired Senior Assistant Attorney General and Pro Bono Coordinator with the Colorado Department of Law. He represented the Colorado Department of Transportation in litigation and in an advisory capacity. He also represented the Colorado Division of Aeronautics and its Board of Directors. During his tenure at the Attorney General’s Office, and in conjunction with Metro Volunteer Lawyers, the pro bono program grew to over 40 volunteers and over 200 clients per year, serving both Adams and Arapahoe Counties. Prior to his appointment at the Attorney General’s office, Leo was actively involved in Missions for Ministries, building houses in Juarez, Mexico for the poorest of poor. More recently he has been involved with Habitat for Humanity and participated in local builds. He often offers his time for judging and mentoring high school students in a variety of civic and legal opportunities.

Leo is humbled with his selection to the MVL Advisory Board of Directors. He hopes to use his legal and business background to assist in creating the awareness necessary to attract new interest in program participation from the legal community.   Although the MVL programs are incredible already, this additional community outreach may provide even more legal guidance to a severely underserved population.
Member at Large

Heather Strack is an associate at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath. She focuses her practice on all areas of family law litigation, as she has since 2012 after working at the Colorado Supreme Court. Heather graduated in 2007 from Dartmouth College and returned home to Colorado for law school, graduating in 2011 from the University of Colorado Law School. Heather started volunteering in the Colorado legal community in 2005, as an intern with the legal department of the Rocky Mountain Survivors Center. Since then, Heather has routinely donated her time and services to serve the Colorado community. She has volunteered with Metro Volunteer Lawyers since 2012, and she also serves on the board of Project Safeguard. Heather is a member of various bar associations and is a collaboratively trained divorce professional who is a member of the Denver Source for Collaborative Divorce. Heather has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Star every year since 2017 and was recently named to the Best Lawyers in America. Outside of the office, Heather spends her time with her husband, a Colorado native and another attorney, their children, and their dog—cooking, hiking, and cheering on Colorado sports teams. Heather is excited to join the MVL board. After having volunteered with MVL for almost a decade, Heather was eager for the opportunity to give back to the organization at a bigger level. Time and time again, Heather has found that her volunteer work with MVL is profoundly rewarding—not just for the clients, but also for Heather as the attorney. She looks forward to helping the organization continue to provide pro bono legal services to those in need.
Member at Large