Colorado Defense Lawyers Association

What Colorado Defense Lawyers Association does

Colorado Defense Lawyers Association (CDLA) is a non-profit professional membership association serving approximately 800 civil defense attorneys across Colorado. Founded in 1973 and headquartered at 643 Dexter Street in Denver, CDLA's mission is to enhance the skills, effectiveness, and professionalism of Colorado defense lawyers while promoting integrity in the civil justice system. The organization operates five substantive committees covering core practice areas and supports members through continuing legal education (CLE) seminars, webcasts, an active listserv with archival search, a searchable Find-a-Lawyer member directory, and an annual Trial Academy.

CDLA's core products are membership-based rather than technology-based: an annual membership (priced at $375 for Active members and $165 for government-employed attorneys), a multi-day Annual Conference held in Vail (2026 dates: July 30 - August 1, Grand Hyatt Vail), CLE programming delivered via Zoom and in-person, and the CDLA Foundation's charitable outreach including the Hub's Pub memorial event. The organization has no proprietary technology stack or AI capability; its competitive offering is the professional community itself.

The business model is a recurring subscription (annual dues) supplemented by tiered event sponsorships (Diamond, Platinum, Gold) from forensic, ADR, medical-legal, and legal-tech vendors (Filevine, ExamWorks, JAMS, JAG, IME, Litigation IQ, among others), conference registration revenue, and CLE ticket sales. Membership acquisition requires Colorado Bar admission in good standing and substantial practice in civil defense litigation. CDLA is governed by a member-elected board led by Executive Director Bo Donegan, CPA, with no external investors, parent company, or institutional ownership.

Name

Colorado Defense Lawyers Association

Legal name

Colorado Defense Lawyers Association

Website

https://codla.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Colorado Defense Lawyers Association (CDLA) is a Denver-based non-profit professional membership association serving approximately 800 Colorado civil defense attorneys through annual membership dues, CLE programming, a member directory, and an annual conference in Vail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide primary revenue stream. Two-tier pricing structure based on employment type: standard active membership and reduced rate for government-employed lawyers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CDLA is a nonprofit professional membership association that provides Colorado civil defense attorneys with annual membership, expert-led CLE seminars and webcasts, listserves with archival search, a searchable member directory, an annual three-day conference, the Trial Academy, and charitable outreach through the CDLA Foundation. Core deliverables are access to continuing education credits, professional networking with nearly 800 defense practitioners, and practice-area committee dialogue across tort, insurance, employment, construction defect, and bad faith litigation.

Product overview

CDLA offers a membership-based professional association for Colorado defense lawyers. The core offerings include membership services (with access to CLEs, webcasts, and listserves), an annual conference, and a searchable member directory. The CDLA Foundation operates as a charitable sub-brand focused on community outreach and fundraising.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CDLA Membership
• CLE Seminars
• CDLA Annual Conference
• Member Directory (Find a Lawyer)
• Listserves
• Webcasts

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 800 members served
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered platinum, diamond, gold, core and minor.

• Impact ForensicsplatinumGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor of 2026 CDLA Annual Conference; provides forensic services to the legal community
• 4ensic ImpactplatinumGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor providing forensic visualization, liability reconstruction, and expert consulting for litigation
• Judicial Arbiter Group (JAG)platinumGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor composed of former judges providing dispute resolution and litigation management services
• JAMSplatinumGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum sponsor providing mediators and arbitrators for alternative dispute resolution
• Integrated Medical Evaluations (IME)diamondGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Diamond sponsor and Bourbon Tasting sponsor providing independent medical evaluations and chart reviews for the legal and insurance community
• Vocational Diagnostics, Inc.diamondGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Diamond sponsor providing medical and vocational forensic damages assessment, life care planning, and expert witness services
• ExamWorksdiamondGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Diamond sponsor providing independent medical examinations, peer reviews, bill reviews, and Medicare compliance services
• Litigation IQdiamondGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Diamond sponsor providing jury consulting services including focus groups, mock trials, witness preparation, and voir dire consultation
• FilevinediamondGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Diamond sponsor providing AI-driven legal tech platform for case/matter management, document processes, and invoicing
• Basecamp AECgoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor providing peer-review services, third-party observations, expert witness services for construction defect litigation
• Biodynamic Research Corporation (BRC)goldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor providing biomechanical analysis and accident reconstruction services for over 40 years
• Nederveld Inc.goldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor providing forensic engineering, forensic consulting, and fire investigation services
• IMS Legal StrategiesgoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor providing advisory services, global expert witness services, litigation consulting, and visual advocacy
• LexitasgoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor and WiFi sponsor providing technology-enabled legal support including court reporting and record retrieval
• Ninyo and MooregoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor providing geotechnical engineering, geological, environmental consulting services; minority-owned business established 1986
• Hodson P.I. LLCgoldGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold sponsor providing private investigation and intelligence services including surveillance, background investigations, and litigation support
• Gordon Rees Scully MansukhanicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Large national law firm with multiple CDLA committee members including Trent Cromartie (Diversity Director), Marilyn Chappell (Amicus Committee), Jack Mann (Amicus Committee)
• Wheeler Trigg O'DonnellcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Prominent litigation firm with multiple members on Amicus Committee (Lamar Jost, Brendan Loy)
• Hall & Evans, LLCcoreOthersLaw firm home of CDLA President Stephanie Montague; Hall & Evans is a significant member firm contributing to association leadership and governance
• Bradley J. Schulz & AssociatescoreOthersLaw firm of CDLA Vice President Rosa Derieux; contributes to association leadership as executive board member
• American Family InsurancecoreOthersInsurance company employer of CDLA Secretary/Treasurer Chris Unger; represents the insurance sector within defense bar leadership
• Buchalter Law FirmcoreOthersLaw firm of Immediate Past President Rob Hinckley; contributes to association governance and transition
• Defense Research Institute (DRI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational defense research organization; CDLA has a State Representative (Hillary Patterson) serving as liaison to DRI for national defense bar connections
• Colorado Bar AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState bar association; CDLA cooperates with other Colorado bar associations to promote inclusiveness and diversity in the legal profession
• Colorado Law SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw schools in Colorado; CDLA collaborates to promote ideals of inclusiveness and support diversity initiatives in legal education
• Food Bank of the RockiesminorOthersCharitable recipient of CDLA Foundation donations and fundraising efforts
• Project C.U.R.E.minorOthersCharitable recipient of CDLA Foundation donations
• Children's Hospital ColoradominorOthersAnnual bicycle donations through Hub's Pub event in memory of Dan Hubbard
• Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)minorOthersBicycle donations through Adams, Broomfield and Jefferson County CASA programs via Hub's Pub memorial event

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC): Peer association of defense and corporate counsel lawyers organized into multiple U.S. regions. Comparable membership model (dues-based, CLE, networking, social events) with similar defense-bar mission and member profile.
• Defense Research Institute (DRI): National defense bar association serving defense lawyers and corporate counsel across the U.S. Most direct comparable — CDLA maintains a state representative to DRI, and both serve the same population (civil defense practitioners) with overlapping CLE, networking, and amicus programming.
• International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC): International membership organization for corporate and defense counsel. Closely comparable mission and member profile (experienced defense attorneys), with similar CLE/networking/amicus offerings, though operating at a higher-end, international scale.
• Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA): National association of defense trial attorneys offering networking, CLE, and trial academies. Highly comparable mission and programming (Trial Academy analog) targeting the same U.S. defense bar population, though at smaller scale than DRI.

Emerging players

• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM): Membership organization for claims and litigation management professionals including insurance, corporate, and defense counsel. Comparable dues-based membership and CLE/conference model, with overlapping member base in insurance defense — relevant to CDLA's insurance-heavy committee work.
• Professional Liability Underwriting Society (PLUS): Membership association for the professional liability insurance industry, with significant overlap in audience (insurance defense counsel). Comparable dues/CLE/conference model with strong relevance to CDLA's insurance defense committee ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• American Bar Association: Largest U.S. legal professional association offering CLE, sections (including Litigation), and networking at national scale. Comparable membership-association model for attorneys, but operates as a broad general-purpose bar rather than a defense-only specialty association.

Regional players

• Colorado Bar Association: Statewide voluntary bar association serving all Colorado attorneys. Directly comparable geographic scope and Colorado-centric programming, though broader (covers all practice areas, not just defense) and includes CDLA as a collaborating partner.
• Texas Bar Association - Litigation Section: State-level bar association with specialized litigation sections that perform a similar role for defense practitioners in Texas. Closely analogous organizational structure (statewide defense/litigation membership, CLE, conferences) operating in a different geographic market.

Others

• National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms: Adjacent professional association in the legal industry with comparable membership-association model. Relevant as a peer in association operations (events, CLE, sponsorships) rather than as a direct competitor in defense bar services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CDLALaw
• Xx.com/CDLAlaw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cdla

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Colorado Defense Lawyers Association