Laurence I. Gendelman, Esq.

Laurence I. Gendelman

He/him/his

“The Guiding Force”

Laurence I Gendelman, Esq., is a founding partner, attorney, child and family investigator (CFI), child’s legal representative (CLR), and parenting coordinator/decision-maker (PC/DM) at Gendelman Klimas Edwards, Ltd. He received his Bachelor of Arts in both Economics and Political Science as well as his Juris Doctor at the University of Colorado – Boulder.

At Gendelman Klimas Edwards, Ltd., Laurence continues to aggressively, yet mindfully, represent clients in the following types of cases:

• Probate Litigation
• Estate and Trust Administration
• Guardianships and Conservatorships
• Estate Planning
• Divorce and Legal Separation
• Allocations of Parental Responsibilities
• Post Decree Family Law (modifications of parenting time, child support, and spousal maintenance, contempt, parenting time disputes, etc.)
• Marital Agreements
• Premarital Agreements
• Paternity/Maternity
• Protection Orders
• LGBTQ Family and Probate Law
• Non-Traditional Family and Probate Law involving blended families, adoptive children, psychological parents, unmarried long-term partners, polyamory, etc.
• Probate and Family Law Appeals

In many family law cases, probate, trust, and estate issues arise. These issues can take the form of:

• Creating rights for alternative payees of retirement plans in the case of the death of a spouse
• a spouse dying or becoming incapacitated during the pendency of a family law case
• addressing the allocation of parental responsibilities concerning a child with special needs
• protecting a spouse’s family inheritance in a divorce proceeding
• providing analysis of the treatment of trusts in divorce proceedings
• planning for child support and maintenance obligations in divorce proceedings, in the case of the death of the obligor spouse

Likewise, in many probate, trust, and estate cases, many family law issues arise. This can include:

• Claims by commonlaw or putative spouses
• Addressing child support and maintenance issues after the death of the obligor
• Intestacy rights and heirship for non-traditional families
• Parenting of a minor whose parents are unable and/or unwilling to parent
• Lack of compliance with dissolution of marriage orders creating claims in cases regarding decedent’s estates

Laurence’s expertise in both family law and probate law provides him with the unique insight and skills to address these common and intersecting yet often overlooked issues in his client’s cases.

In working with his clients, Laurence is direct, forthright, and pragmatic. His approach to cases is functional and utilitarian, with a tireless dedication to create outcomes that provide a net benefit to his clients. This approach makes Laurence a creative and effective problem-solver, allowing his clients to usually resolve their cases without the hassle of trial. However, as a trained litigator regularly appearing in contested hearings, Laurence is always prepared for trial when the circumstances so require.

Professional Journey

Trained in a large family law firm, Laurence gained experience working with high-asset, high-conflict, and complex divorces and child custody issues. He also advocated for and advised clients regarding the division of complex financial assets including executive compensation packages and retirement benefits.

In 2016, Laurence transitioned his practice to probate, trust, estate law, working with a team of four other attorneys representing clients with estate planning, estate and trust administration, uncontested and contested guardianships and conservatorships, and probate litigation matters.

After gaining extensive experience in these practice areas and learning law firm management and operations, Laurence established Gendelman Law Group, LLC in 2017, where he represented clients in trust, estate, probate, and family law matters.

In 2024, Gendelman Law Group, Klimas Law Firm, and Carlson Edwards, Attorneys at Law, joined forces to create Gendelman Klimas Edwards, Ltd., the firm Where Family is Everything.

Areas of Expertise

Laurence's practice spans a wide range of legal areas, including:

• Probate Litigation
• Estate and Trust Administration
• Guardianships and Conservatorships
• Estate Planning 
• Divorce and Family Law Matters
• LGBTQ Family and Probate Law
• Non-Traditional Family Matters
• Probate and Family Law Appeals

His comprehensive approach allows him to address overlapping legal issues such as spousal rights during estate proceedings, creating alternative payee rights for retirement plans, and more, thus ensuring holistic solutions for his clients.

Leadership and Community Engagement

• Board Positions
• Board Member- Colorado LGBT Bar Association (2013-2023)
• President- Colorado LGBT Bar Association (2020)
• Secretary of the Colorado Bar Association Trust and Estate Section’s Committee on Rules and Forms (2017-2018)
• Denver Bar Association Board of Trustees (2022 to 2024)
• Professions Associations and Community Involvement
• Member of the Colorado Bar Association (2016 to present)
• Member of the Colorado Bar Association – Trusts and Estate Section (2016 to present)
• Representative to the Colorado Bar Association’s Board of Governors (2019)
• Member of Colorado Bar Association President’s Diversity Council (2020)
• Member of the National LGBT Bar Association (2014-2016)
• Member of the Colorado LGBTQ Bar Association (2014 to present)
• Education
• University of Colorado Law School- Juris Doctor

Honors & Awards

2017 People’s Choice Best Trust and Estate Lawyer- Law Week Colorado

2018 Barrister’s Best Trust and Estate Lawyer- Law Week Colorado

2019 Red Bage – Metro Volunteer Lawyers –A Program of the Denver Bar Association

2019 through 2025 Superlawyers Rising Star

2021 through 2025 Best Lawyers- Ones To Watch

Recognitions and Publications

University of Colorado- Bachelor of Arts – Economics, Political Science; Certificate – Leadership

Legal Experience

• Gendelman Klimas Edwards, Partner, January 2024 through present
• Gendelman Klimas Ltd., Partner, January 2020 – December 2023
• Gendelman Law Group, LLC, President, August 2017 – December 2019
• Kirch and Rounds, P.C., Associate Attorney, February 2016 – August 2017
• Gutterman Griffiths, P.C. Associate Attorney, November 2015 – January 2016
• Gutterman Griffiths, P.C. Law Clerk, August 2015 – October 2015
• Beam and Raymond, P.C. Law Clerk August 2014 – May 2015
• Colorado Department of Law, Office of the Attorney General, Business and Licensing Section, Law Clerk, May 2014 – August 2014
• Judicial District of Colorado, Office of the District Attorney, Law Clerk, September 2013 – May 2014
• District Court Department of the Massachusetts Trial Courts, Judicial Intern to the Honorable Mary Dacey White, June 2013 – August 2013
  

Publications & Presentations

• Laurence I. Gendelman, Chairperson, Adoption CLE Series, CBA-CLE (September 2025), forthcoming
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Sarah Mitchell, Will Erwin, and Christina Brown, Navigating Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Cases: A Judicial Focus, Colorado Probate Domestic Relations Institute, Colorado State Judicial (June 2025), forthcoming
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Managing Experts- LLP Practicum, CBA-CLE (June 2024)
• Magistrate Rachel Catt, Laurence I. Gendelman, Kaitlyn Davis, & Paige Palladino, Litigating Non-Traditional Family Structures in Domestic Relations and Probate Cases- Probate and Family Law Institute, Colorado Judicial Branch (May 2024)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, The Allocation of Parental Responsibilities, Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association (February 2024)
• Laurence I. Gendelman and Katie Ahles, How to Prepare Your Client for a CFI/PRE- Family Law Fall Update, CBA-CLE (November 2023)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, A Look into Parentage, Parent and Non-Parent Rights, and the Parent-Child Relationship, Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association (September 2023)
• Magistrate Rachel Catt, Laurence I. Gendelman, & Hannah Leisman, Planning for Polyamory from A-Z, A Panel Discussion of Premarital Agreements, Parenting, Divorce, and Death in Polyamorous Relationships- Family Law Institute, CBA CLE (August 2023)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Drafting Pattern and Non-Pattern Discovery, Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association (July 2023)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Hannah Leisman, & Kaitlyn Davis, Considerations in Estate Planning for Polyamorous Relationships- Estate Planning Retreat, CBA CLE (June 2023)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, et. at., Participant in Skit- Estate Planning Retreat, CBA CLE (June 2023)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Multi-Family Estate Planning, Denver Senior Law Day (September 2023)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, et. al., How to Build a Firm Culture that Attracts and Retains Talent, Clio Cloud Conference- Nashville, Tennessee (October 2023)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Building an LGBTQ+ Inclusive Law Firm, Rocky Mountain Paralegal Association (September 2022)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Top 10 Things Every Divorce Lawyer Wishes all Financial Planners Knew, Financial Planning Association of Colorado (September 2022)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, et al., Participant in Skit at Elder Law Retreat Regarding CRPC Rule 1.16, CBA CLE (August 2022)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Marlo’s Law- HB22-1153, Moderator, Colorado LGBT Bar Association (August 2022) 
• Laurence I. Gendelman and Rachel Catt, Colorado Common Law Marriage Case Law Update for Judicial Officers(December 2021)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Pronouns and Professionalism: Lightning Session, Family Law Fall Update, CBA CLE (November 2021)
• Laurence I. Gendelman & Molly Zwerdlinger, Exploring The Free Brittany Movement, CBA CLE (July 2021) 
• Laurence I. Gendelman & Molly Zwerdlinger, Exploring The Free Brittany Movement, ABA YLD (November 2021)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Magistrate Michal Lord Blegen & Hon. Nikea Bland, Walking a Fine Line: Ethical Considerations in Representing Clients Against pro se Litigants, Family Law Institute, CBA CLE (August 2021) 
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Maha Kamal, Sarah Morris, Engels Tejeda, & Anthony Zarsky, Coming Out in the Legal Workplace (November 2020) 
• Laurence I. Gendelman and Various Presenters, Presentation by President of Colorado Diversity Bar Associations to Colorado Judicial Officers, DCJA/CCJA (September 2020)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Estate Administration- Basic Skills: Rights of Surviving Spouse and Family, Estate Administration Basic Skills, CBA CLE (February 2020) 
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Cultivating LGBTQ Inclusive Law Firms, GLBT Center of Colorado (December 2020)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Moonlight: Informative Panel, CBA DBA (November 2020)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Family Law Institute: Colorado Common Law Marriage: Effective Strategies for Same-Sex and Different Sex Couples in the Current Legal Landscape, CBA CLE (August 2020)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Magistrate Michal Lord Blegen & Magistrate Sarah Zane, Challenges, Strategies, and Ethical Considerations for Judicial Officer in Working with Pro Se Parties, Colorado Judicial Institute (Colorado State Judicial) (February 2020)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Estate Administration- Basic Skills: Rights of Surviving Spouse and Family, CBA CLE (February 2019)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Towards Equality: Motivating Inclusiveness in Legal Workplaces, Denver Bar Association (October 2018)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Advance Medical Directives- Living Wills and DNRs, Seventeenth Judicial District Senior Law Day (June 2018)
• Laurence I. Gendelman & Molly Zwerdlinger, An Estate Administration Focus on Digital Assets, CBA CLE (March 2018)
• Laurence I. Gendelman & Molly Zwerdlinger, Digital Assets and Estate Planning, CBA CLE (March 2017)
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Josie Faix, Elizabeth Bryant, Navigating LGBTQ Issues in Your Trust & Estate Practice, CBA CLE (March 2017) 
• Laurence I. Gendelman & Molly Zwerdlinger, Digital Assets, Colo. Est. Planning Handbook § 51 (2022), forthcoming.
• Laurence I. Gendelman, Case Note: Kindred Nursing Centers v. Clark: United States Supreme Court Decisions on Mandatory Arbitration Provisions, 15 National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Journal (Spring 2019) (e-Issue)
• David W. Kirch & Laurence I. Gendelman, Estate Planning Tools for Second Marriages, 45 The Colorado Lawyer 45 (Dec. 2016).
• Contributing co-author of Equitable Remedies, David K. Johns et al., Colo. Est. Planning Handbook § 51, CBA CLA (2016). 
• Research assistance to Professor Amy J. Schmitz, Secret Consumer Scores and Segmentations: Separating “Haves” From “Have-Nots,” 2014 Mich. St. L. Rev. 1411 (2014)